Thanksgiving turkey

[ngb5083]

Hello I’m looking for advice on if I can smoke a 18 pound turkey at about 200 degree Fahrenheit. I’ve smoke dozens of bricks of cheese and sausage but never a full turkey. Just want to know if I could at that temperature, how long it would probably take or if I’d be wasting my time. Thanks

 

[Marknmd]

If you're smoking, then in reality your temp will be in a range. Plenty of people have smoked turkeys at 225 which is to say, the actual temp of the smoker would swing - generally 200-250, or maybe 210-240, depending on your smoker and how close you're monitoring it.

Are you stuffing it? A stuffed turkey will take extra time. I stuff mine with apples and onions and cook at 225, and it takes about 35 mins per pound.

An empty carcass would cook quicker.

I think you could cook it at 200 (175-225) but I'm not sure you'd want to do it that way deliberately. I would push it up to 225 at least. Also, it will take a looooong time to cook it that low.

But at 200 or 225, know that your skin won't be crispy, but your meat should be plenty juicy.

Good luck.

 

[ngb5083]

Sounds good thanks! I have a smoker I built and it heats using propane. I tried to see how hot I could get it tonight but it didn’t get past 200-205

 

[Winterrider]

At that low of temp, I certainly would spatchcock it. No crispy skin !

 

[gmc2003]

It's not recommended smoking a turkey above 12lbs at that low a temp, You don't want to risk anyone getting sick.

Chris

 

[tbern]

Sounds good thanks! I have a smoker I built and it heats using propane. I tried to see how hot I could get it tonight but it didn’t get past 200-205

Don't know where you are located, but if you are in a cold part of the world right now and the weather is holding your max temps down in your smoker, can you wrap your smoker in a welders blanket to try and raise your temps higher? Have you also verified the accuracy of the thermometer you are checking your temps with?

 

[ngb5083]

Hello I’m looking for advice on if I can smoke a 18 pound turkey at about 200 degree Fahrenheit. I’ve smoke dozens of bricks of cheese and sausage but never a full turkey. Just want to know if I could at that temperature, how long it would probably take or if I’d be wasting my time. Thanks

Could I smoke it for a 5-6 hours and then put it in the over? Of cook it in the over first and then smoke it a couple hours?

 

[SecondHandSmoker]

Since poultry takes on smoke relatively quickly, you could smoke the turkey at 200° for 90 mintues then transfer it a preheated 325°- 350° oven to finish it.
An 18lb whole bird at 200° would take forever and the skin will be rubbery.