Smoking First Small Turkey

[jtothemak]

Looking for recommendations for smoking my first turkey for Thanksgiving in my MES40.  Only plan on doing an small 8-10lb bird as my Dad is also doing his traditional one in the oven.  What temp and how long will it take to smoke is probably my biggest question?  Any recommendations so I don't screw it up are appreciated.  

 

[noboundaries]

Wow, no answers in a week.  Sorry about that. 

Now that this has been bumped up someone with your smoker will be along shortly.

Although I use a charcoal smoker, temperature is temperature.  For poultry I recommend as high a chamber temp as possible, which in your case is 275F.  An 8-10 lb thawed turkey should take roughly 2.5 to 3 hours at that chamber temp, possibly longer.  Use a meat thermometer to determine when it is done.  The coldest part of the turkey, usually the thickest part of the thigh, should be at 165F internal temp.  

Sticking a thermometer in the breast is easy to figure out temp.  The way I smoke roast my turkeys I check the thigh from inside the cavity (see arrow on pic below).  Just make sure you're not hitting any bone and you are in the thickest part of the meat.  I usually poke and wiggle it around a few times until I hit the sweet spot. 

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• noboundaries
• Nov 16, 2016

 

[goldmine1965]

Yeah, sorry you have not gotten much response. I've been away for two weeks and just getting back on. Below is a link from the site owner. Should get you started.

http://www.smoking-meat.com/tag/thanksgiving

Goldmine1965