Meat, not tobacco! While the wife is cooking her 25lb or so turkey in the oven this year, I decided to smoke a turkey. Just ordered 12/14lb free range, non-frozen turkey, no chemicals. no injections, etc. I have my mix or apple/maple chunks, brining solutions, creole/butter injection mix, etc. I have smoked many a beer can chicken, ribs etc, but never a turkey. From what I have "googled", all states to smoke about 25/30 minues per pound around 225-275*. A 12 pound bird then should take 6/7 or so hours. A couple of my "smoker" friends think this should take much longer. My thermometer will tell the true story. This will be my first "smoked" turkey, and if it goes wrong, at least we have my wife's turkey. I will be using my CharGriller Duo with side firebox, which I have much experience with. Anybody have any ideas. tips, cautions? Thanks.

 

Yeh, I gotta tip for ya. You tell us what time to be over for dinner.

I think it will be more like 5 hours. But, it's better to go a little long than short. I'm a big smoker too but have never done a turkey. For long smokes I like to wrap the meat in heavy duty foil for about the last 1/3rd of the smoke so it it stays moist and doesn't get too dry.

And, I ALWAYS use natural charcoal. Never use the processed charcoal or lighter fluid.


Have you done a deep-fried turkey? I did my first a few years ago. That was unbelievably good.

 

I have smoked turkey in the past, I would only use the wood for about 2 hours or less.
When I tried smoking longer, the outside was so smokey I could not eat it.
Never tried Maple, but it does sound like a good choice, Apple is my fav.

Enjoy!

 

Yeah, call me when it's done and I'll be right over - I'm just down the 5 FWY in Orange County. What kind of beer do you like?

 

Mike will detail your car before he eats too.

 

So how was your smoked turkey?

 

Was up at 6am, so much for sleeping in! 13lb bird took about 7 hours at abot 240*. Soon as temp was at about 180* in different spots, pulled off the smoker, cooled for about 15 minutes and servered. Was just about perfect, then my sister-in-law blurted out "I think it would be better with BBQ sauce". I had to school her in the fine arrt of smoking a turkey. That's like putting A-1 on a Kobe steak! Nothing left of the bird! Now sitting on back porch having a 5 Vegas cigar and a glass of "Tia Marie"

 

I usually stick to camels, LOVE the New Crush

Squeeze Click Change FTW!

Although the Signature blends camel frosts are promising

 

Hahaha GB! Glad it everyone enjoyed it. I know the feeling about getting up early. When I smoke briskets, I smoke them for about 24 hours which means I’m up several times during the night to check the fire. Enjoy your cigar and Tia Marie, they are well deserved.

 

OH WOW i failed here big time