I smoked a turkey for Thanksgiving

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DeadHeadHorn

500+ Posts
Is it me or have we really lacked in the smoked foods posts recently on Horn Depot? Maybe we finally got a smoked foods board and I've just been missing out...
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So I tried smoking my second turkey on Thanksgiving. My first one was a couple months ago and it turned out nicely, except for the appearance, which looked laughably bad: completely black and charred-looking, but the taste was amazing.

I brined the bird in a basic brine, using equal parts brown sugar and salt. After it brined for 24 hours, I rinsed it off and let it rest overnight in the fridge, per the suggestion of someone on this board. I only rubbed it with cracked pepper, and slathered a little butter on it to help with the moisture, but that was it. Very simple.

It was a bit tricky regulating the temperature, but it was around 230 for most of the six hours I let it smoke. Also per the board's suggestion, I wrapped it in aluminum foil after it had taken in about 3 hours of smoke. This helped significantly with the appearance, as well as with the moisture.

It was a 12 pound bird and I cooked it for just over 6 hours. The meat was a beautiful pink and it was tender and delicious.

I just killed the leftovers and it was a great success. I'm considering a deep-fried turkey next year, but considering how great it tastes smoked, I might have to stick with smoking.

Yummy.
 
If you want to get crazy you can try a smo-fried turkey. You smoke it at the beginning up to a temp of about 120-130 then finish off in the fryer.
 
worthless without pics.

seriously though i've been wanting to smoke a turkey for a while. seems like a short smoking time for a 12 lb bird but glad it worked out -- good job. sounds great.

agree, where are the smoked meats threads we used to see so often.
 
Baboso and I traded T-giving experiences in an email. This was my response. Hopefully, he will post his here.
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I started brining the turkeys and myself on Wednesday evening. Turkey's in an apple juice/brown sugar/honey/salt mixture....myself in a bevy of Sierra Nevada Celebration ales. It don't take many of these, and I had a lot.

Outta bed at 6am. Baileys and coffee...about a 50/50 mix. Had a pot of coffee, so I guess that equates to a pot of Baileys.

One whole 13 pounder and 2 - 6 lb bone-in turkey breasteses. Tits went on the lower rack of the Weber Smokey Mtn, whole bird on top. I had another 6 pack of Celebration ales that had to be finished before company showed. (Another couple with 2 daughters...ages 10 and 6.) They are nice people. Too bad there isn't a call for nice people. They don't drink much...barely at all. They were also amazed at my internet connection as I was checking my bodog account. "This sure beats our dial-up connection honey!" No **** there Al Gore.....

As I got the birds toasting, I needed some grub, so I made some apple coffee cake.....and bloody marys. Steph (18 yr old daughter, home from college) was in charge of keeping my glass full....and apparently hers empty. I finally have a drinking partner at home for the holidays. She can put away the vodka, though her mixology skilz are a bit lacking.

Birds were done in about 3 1/2 hours, so I set them out to rest, had me another beer, then off to SS&S and attempt to wash some of the drunk off without dampering the buzz completely. Mission accomplished, and I somehow managed to shave without damaging myself (unlike last year at my brother's house).

More beer while I knocked stuff over in the back yard attempting to clean up a bit. That was really a dumb idea. The guests are supposed to help with that kind of stuff. So, I talk the dude (also named Doug) into drinking a beer. (Sam Adams? Sierra Nevada? Shiner? Miller Light it is then Dougie!) I got his wife started on some plum wine, ala Benihana style.

With the meal, the women drank that or blush wine while Steph and I knocked back a Malbec and a Pinot. Those two bottles didn't stand a fuckin' chance agin us two.

Food was mighty tasty. As far the drunkest ************ there? I was....by a furlong, with Steph outdistancing the field for 2nd by a LARGE margin. Now if she will only bring a hot friend or two over for Christmas Dining with Hullabelew.
 
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