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Tired of cooking your Thanksgiving turkey the same old way? Try smoking it! Smoking your turkey adds a warm, moist flavor to the meat and does not take any longer than traditional roasting.
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Introduction
- Smoked turkey is a delicious way to enjoy America's favorite bird, but buying smoked turkey is expensive.Fabulous Foods: How to Smoke A Turkey Try smoking a turkey this Thanksgiving, or any time for a delicious family meal!
Brine the Turkey
- Brining allows the turkey to retain much of its moisture and gives it a stronger, more flavorful taste.Smoker Cooking: Make Perfect Turkey Brine For best results, you'll need to brine a day before smoking.
Materials Needed
- A large container with lid for brining, such as a 5 gallon bucket or stock potAbout.com: Brining Turkey
- -Make sure you have enough room in your fridge. If not, use an insulated cooler to brine your turkey.FoodNetwork.com: Honey Brined Smoked Turkey
- -For easy clean up, use large oven roasting bags to brine your turkey. Epicurious: Brining a Turkey Time: (2:01)
- Two gallons of water
- -You'll need more or less depending on the size of your turkey. Make sure there is enough brine to cover the turkey.
- Non-iodized salt
- -Use one full cup per gallon of water.
- Sugar
- -You don't have to use sugar, but it's a nice complement to the salt. Use equal parts salt and sugar.About.com: Brining Turkey
- -Instead of sugar, try honey or maple syrup.FoodNetwork.com: Honey Brined Smoked Turkey
- Spices and herbs of your choice.
- -Traditional seasonings used with turkey, include: rosemary, thyme and poultry seasonings.
Make the Brine
- It is a good idea to make the brine the day before you brine the turkey, as this allows the flavors to infuse the brine and also allows the sugar and salt to dissolve completely.Smoker Cooking: Make Perfect Turkey Brine
- Pour water into the large container
- To help the salt and sugar dissolve, try using hot water.FoodNetwork.com: Honey Brined Smoked Turkey
- Add salt and sugar.
- Stir vigorously until the salt and sugar is dissolved completely.Epicurious: Brining a Turkey Time: (2:01)
- Add the spices and herbs.
- Place the container in a refrigerator.Smoker Cooking: Make Perfect Turkey Brine
- -If you are using a cooler, freeze a milk jug filled with water and place in the cooler.About.com: Brining Turkey
- Your brine should be between 35-40 degrees Fahrenheit.Smoker Cooking: Make Perfect Turkey Brine
- -Over 40 degrees is too warm and allows bacteria to grow, and fewer than 35 degrees will slow the brining process.Smoker Cooking: Make Perfect Turkey Brine
Prepare the Turkey
Before placing the turkey into the brine, you need to prepare it first.- Remove the giblets and neck.How To Do Things: How to Smoke a Turkey
- Remove excess fat.Smoker Cooking: How to Make Smoked Turkey
- Leave the skin.
- Rinse the outside and the inside of the turkey with cold water.How To Do Things: How to Smoke a Turkey
- -Make sure to rinse inside the body cavity!
- Loosen the skin from the breast, so the brine can reach the meat.Smoker Cooking: How to Make Smoked Turkey
Rinse and Rest the Turkey
- Remove the turkey from the brine.
- Rinse the outside and inside in cold water.About.com: Brining Turkey
- Pat the turkey dry.FoodNetwork.com: Honey Brined Smoked Turkey
- Rub wet or dry seasonings on it to taste.All Recipes: Turkey Tips
- Let the turkey "rest" uncovered in the refrigerator overnight. Smoker Cooking: How to Make Smoked Turkey
Brine the Turkey
- Place the turkey into the container head first, so no air is trapped in the body cavity.Epicurious: Brining a Turkey Time: (2:01)
- Make sure the turkey is completely submerged.About.com: Brining Turkey
- Slosh the turkey in the brine every hour or so.Smoker Cooking: How to Make Smoked Turkey
- Keep the turkey submerged for 8 to 24 hours; 8 hours for a 10 lb turkey.Smoker Cooking: How to Make Smoked Turkey
Smoke Your Turkey Using a Water-based Smoker
- Now that your turkey is washed, brined, rinsed, rested and ready to go, it's finally time to smoke it! These directions are for a water-based charcoal smoker, but the general steps are the same for any type of water-based smoker you may choose.
- Start the charcoal.
- -You will want to wait until the flames completely burn out and the charcoal is white.All Recipes: Turkey Tips
- Add wood chips to the charcoal.FoodNetwork.com: Honey Brined Smoked Turkey
- Fill the water pan with a liquid of your choice.What's Cooking America: Smoked Turkey Tips
- Place the lid on the smoker and wait until the temperature reaches the "safe" zone as labeled on the smoker.What's Cooking America: Smoked Turkey Tips
- Place the turkey breast-side up on the rack.All Recipes: Turkey Tips
- Replace the lid.
- Start timing when the temperature returns to the safe zone.What's Cooking America: Smoked Turkey Tips
- Check the water and charcoal every 2-3 hours, and add more as needed.
- You will want to smoke the turkey for 30-40 minutes per pound.What's Cooking America: Smoked Turkey Tips
- Cook the turkey to an temperature of 165 degrees F.About.com: Turkey: Smoking
- -The turkey must be cooked to this temperature, or it will be dangerous to eat!How To Do Things: How to Smoke a Turkey
- -Use a meat thermometer to test the temperature of the turkey in at least two places away from bone.FoodNetwork.com: Honey Brined Smoked Turkey
- You now have a yummy, smoked turkey. Enjoy!
Smoke Your Turkey Using a Grill
- If you don't have a smoker, you can smoke your turkey right on your charcoal or gas grill. This is an indirect method, which means the heat source is on either side of the of the turkey. A drip pan is placed under the turkey.Epicurious: Charcoal Grill: Indirect Method (Time: 4:16)
Smoking on a Charcoal Grill
- Place your drip pan in the middle of the grill.Epicurious: Charcoal Grill: Indirect Method (Time: 4:16)
- Add liquid to the pan.Epicurious: Smoking on a Charcoal Grill (Time: 3:21)
- Pour the charcoal around the drip pan.Epicurious: Smoking on a Charcoal Grill (Time: 3:21)
- Place the rack inside the grill.
- Close the lid.
- Let the grill preheat. The coals are ready when they turn white.How To Do Things: How to Smoke a Turkey
- Place a handful of chips on top of the coals on each side of the grill.Epicurious: Smoking on a Charcoal Grill (Time: 3:21)
- -Soak your wood chips before use. This will create more smoke.Fabulous Foods: How to Smoke a Turkey
- -You can also create a pouch out of aluminum foil to hold wood chips. Place the pouch on top of the coals. Make sure to leave the pouch open at the top.FoodNetwork.com: Honey Brined Smoked Turkey
- Place the turkey breast-side up on the rack.All Recipes: Turkey Tips
- Close the lid.
- You will want to smoke the turkey for 12-15 minutes per pound.About.com: Smoked Turkey on the Grill
- Replenish the wood chips every time you replace the coal.Fabulous Foods: Indirect Method for Smoking Meats on a BBQ Grill
- Cook the turkey to an temperature of 165 degrees F.About.com: Turkey: Smoking
- -The turkey must be cooked to this temperature, or it will be dangerous to eat!How To Do Things: How to Smoke a Turkey
- -Use a meat thermometer to test the temperature of the turkey in at least two places away from bone.FoodNetwork.com: Honey Brined Smoked Turkey
Smoking on a Gas Grill
- Put the wood chips in a small aluminum pan.
- Place in a cool grill off to one side underneath the rack.Epicurious: Smoking on a Gas Grill (Time: 2:26)
- Preheat the grill on high for about 20 minutes.Epicurious: Smoking on a Gas Grill (Time: 2:26)
- Turn off the middle burners.Epicurious: Smoking on a Gas Grill (Time: 2:26)
- Place the turkey breast-side up away from the wood chips over the turned off burners.Epicurious: Smoking on a Gas Grill (Time: 2:26)
- Close the lid.
- You will want to smoke the turkey for 12-15 minutes per pound.About.com: Smoked Turkey on the Grill
- Cook the turkey to an temperature of 165 degrees F.About.com: Turkey: Smoking
- -The turkey must be cooked to this temperature, or it will be dangerous to eat!How To Do Things: How to Smoke a Turkey
- -Use a meat thermometer to test the temperature of the turkey in at least two places away from bone.FoodNetwork.com: Honey Brined Smoked Turkey
Tips and Tricks
- The following are some general tips to follow when smoking a turkey:
- Size matters when it comes to smoking a turkey!
- Do not stuff your turkey before smoking.Fabulous Foods: How to Smoke a Turkey
- To add even more moisture and prevent sticking, brush on oil or butter before smoking.All Recipes: Turkey Tips YouTube: Smoked Turkey using Water Smoker
- Don't smoke on a windy day; this will affect the temperature of the smoker.Fabulous Foods: How to Smoke a Turkey
- Don't open the lid too often.YouTube: Smoked Turkey using Water Smoker
- -Each time you open the lid of your smoker, add 15 minutes to your cooking time.Fabulous Foods: How to Smoke a Turkey
- Do not use a lot of charcoal. Rather, burn smaller amounts as you go.What's Cooking America: Super "Smoked Buzzard" Turkey
- Let the turkey rest for 15 minutes before carving.About.com: Smoked Turkey on the Grill
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