Smoking Turkey Breasts

[vternie]

Starting this one tomorrow morning. The high here in VA is 70 today but it's supposed to be 48 with a wind chill of 20 tomorrow morning! Perfect time to fire up the smoker! I've got 2 turkey breasts, totally 15 pounds! I do a non-traditional way and I pull the turkey like a pork shoulder. The most moist turkey you'll ever have!! I just took them out to start thawing. Looking at a sunrise start tomorrow!

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• vternie
• Nov 19, 2016

 

[SmokinAl]

I'm in!

Al

 

[hardcookin]

Turkey breasts are always good! Enjoy your smoke!

 

[bdskelly]

Sounds goooood! b

 

[b-one]

Good luck,looking forward to the finish!

 

[vternie]

Last night...

I pulled both turkeys out of the wrappers. They were mostly thawed so I put them in turkey bags to brine for the night. I used Captain Morgan, apple juice, chicken broth and water to fill the bag then I put in spices that I planned on using the next day. They went in the fridge around 9 last night and I plan on getting them out around 5:30 the next morning.

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• vternie
• Nov 20, 2016

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• vternie
• Nov 20, 2016

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• vternie
• Nov 20, 2016

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• vternie
• Nov 20, 2016

 

[vternie]

This morning...

I woke up at 5:00 and began the process. I took the turkeys out of their bags and patted them down. I sprayed olive oil on them and brushed my rub on, using most of the same ingredients from the brine. I also used some white and brown sugar. I ALWAYS cook with trays. Helps keep the moisture in the meat. In the tray, I put some form of liquid. This time, I poured a beer, chicken broth and squeezed some butter in as well. This is also the first time I'm using my meat thermometer that I purchased. I'm going for "Well" done so it's easier to pull.

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• vternie
• Nov 20, 2016

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• vternie
• Nov 20, 2016

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• vternie
• Nov 20, 2016

 

[tropics]

I'm in

Richie

 

[vternie]

Update. This picture was from 9:00 this morning, 3 hours into the cook. Been watching the temps and the big breast stalled out at 123 degrees. I foiled the trays and reentered at 116. It's already back to 120 within minutes.

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• vternie
• Nov 20, 2016

 

[vternie]

12:30 update, 6+ hours in:

Temps are around 140 degrees. Hoping to see them climb to close to 160 in the next hour or 2 and then pull them off.

 

[redsautorehab]

What temp are you smoking at? I am planning on doing one of these for the first time tomorrow, and just trying to get some ideas. Love the rub selection.

 

[bdskelly]

Don't want to hijack the thread. But I usually smoke my birds at 225 or 250ish.