THANKSGIVING TURKEY HELP

[DeRail]

Anyone out there smoke a turkey for Thanksgiving before? If so any tips for cooking solid turkey or rubs that give good flavor?

 

[TampaNole27]

I would listen to others' opinions too, but I really love my Thanksgiving Turkey, and it was a hit last year.
For starters, I ALWAYS do a practice turkey. Gonna do one this Sunday. Just need to make sure Im in tip top shape to do 3 birds for 30+ people on TDay.

I dry brine my turkey. Rub Salt and Garlic Powder over the entire turkey. Place directly on fridge grates and place a bowl beneath the grates to catch any drippings. Let sit for 12-16 hours in fridge.

Then rinse completely. Dry it off with paper towels. Rub it.
I do one with standard poultry rub, and then one with traditional thanksgiving rubs.
Thanksgiving Rub

• 3 TBS Brown Sugar
• 2 TBS Kosher Salt
• 2 TBS Paprika
• 1 TBS Pepper
• 2 TBS Garlic Powder
• 1 TBS Onion Powder
• 2 tsp Crushed rosemary
• 1 tsp Thyme
• 1 tsp Sage
• 1 tsp Celery Salt
• 1/2 tsp Cayene Pepper

Put back in fridge for 12 hours.

Pull and place in aromatics.

Remove Legs.

Preheat smoker to 225-250. Apple wood.
Throw in full breast (full cavity, do not carve breasts off). Throw legs on 1.5 hours after.

Breasts, smoke to 140, then wrap in foil. Cook to 160, pull and let rest until 170
Turkey legs cook unwrapped all the way to 160, rest until 170.
Spray every hour with Apple Cider and Coke Mixture.

Most others I feel do a wet brine, so curious too to see what others do.

 

[SmokinVOLfan]

What type of smoker will you be using?

Turkey is fairly simple IMO. Check out the spatchcock method and tips slaughterhouse brine.

First make sure you got plenty of cold beer on hand.

I brine mine in tips brine then once its done remove the back bone and lay it flat. Place poultry rub(whatever you prefer) and pats of butter under the skin on the breasts. Coat the rest of the bird in the rub as well.

Smoke at 300-325 until the breast hits 165. Rest for 30 minutes then carve!

 

[noboundaries]

Anyone out there smoke a turkey for Thanksgiving before? If so any tips for cooking solid turkey or rubs that give good flavor?

What smoker are you using?

 

[zwiller]

Not trying to be a buzzkill but I always advise against doing anything for the first time for a holiday. So much that can go wrong. I am also not a fan of smoked turkey for TG dinner. That said, smoked turkey is and will always be my favorite smoked food. I cure mine in Pop's Brine (low salt) and smoke a long time.

 

[markusaustingriller]

Hello,

I actually created an awesome guide - https://www.grillinsider.com/how-to-smoke-turkey/ on how to smoke a turkey.

I provide the hours, recipes and step by step process.

Many people found this guide helpful.