How To Smoke A Turkey?

How long does it take to smoke a turkey?

It depends on the size of your turkey and the smoker you’re using. Generally, though, you should allow for about 30-40 minutes of smoking per pound. So, if you have a 20-pound turkey, it’ll probably take 10-12 hours to completely smoke it. You should always determine doneness by internal temperature and not by time.Jul 21, 2020

How do you keep a turkey moist when smoking?

Turkeys should be brined overnight, coated with fat only initially, and minimally seasoned. Brining keeps the turkey from drying out during the smoking process. Basting the turkey only results in soggy skin. Overly seasoning the skin just makes inedible skin – let the brine and aromatics add flavor.Oct 1, 2013

How long do I smoke a turkey at 225?

Low & Slow Smoked Turkey – Smoke your turkey at the low temperature of 225 degrees F for approximately 6-8 hours for a 22 pound turkey. Remove turkey from the brine and pat dry with paper towels (this is an important step, don’t skip it).

Do I need to wrap my turkey in foil while smoking?

About 3 hours into the smoke, check the turkey and if the wings or other extremities are getting too brown you can wrap them with small pieces of foil to stop the browning process. I prefer a nice dark mahogany look so I occasionally wrap the wings at about 4-1/2 to 5 hours into the smoke but usually not before that.

What wood is best for smoking turkey?

Hickory is a classic hard wood choice for smoking turkey for several reasons. It has a distinct flavor that is robust and very forward and is familiar to those who enjoy smoky flavors. Maple wood gives off a sweeter smoke and can add a lovely golden hue to anything you smoke with it.Jun 29, 2019

What is the best temperature to smoke a turkey?

Turkey can be smoked at a smoker temperature as low as 225 degrees, but it’s much quicker if smoked at 275-300 degrees, or even higher. When smoking at a lower temperature you’re looking at more time in the smoker, but that means the turkey could potentially have a richer smoke flavor.

Do you smoke a turkey covered or uncovered?

Try to completely cover the exposed flesh. Pull the skin back into place after you’ve seasoned the bird. I use a couple of toothpicks to hold the skin in place, since it shrinks as it cooks. You don’t want the meat uncovered as it smokes.

Do you use a water pan when smoking a turkey?

Tips For Using a Water Pan When Smoking a Turkey In cold weather, a water pan filled with boiling hot water can help maintain the smoker temperature, plus it gets the temperature up quickly for a fast start. This is especially helpful if your smoker can’t quite do the job when it’s cold outside.

Do I need to brine turkey before smoking?

But guess what? With a smoked turkey, you don’t have to brine the turkey first, which is awesome. That is because, with a smoked turkey, the long slow and low heat actually doesn’t dry the bird out too quickly. The low heat draws the moisture into the bird, not evaporate it out.

How long does it take to smoke a 20lb turkey at 250 degrees?

At 225 degrees, a 20-pound turkey should cook at a rate of 30 to 40 minutes per pound. If you increase the temperature to 250, it will take 25 to 30 minutes per pound.

How long does it take to smoke a 12 pound turkey at 250 degrees?

Smoking a turkey can be a long process, so be sure to start early in the day so that the turkey will be done by dinner time. Typically, it takes at least 6 hours to smoke an average sized turkey at 250 degrees F. Plan on having your turkey cook for about 30 minutes per pound.Oct 25, 2018

How long do I smoke a 15 pound turkey?

Smoke the turkey. At 225 degrees F, you can plan on approximately 30 minutes per pound for your turkey to smoke. For example, this 15 pound turkey will take 7 and 1/2 hours at 225 degrees F. I always plan an extra 30 minutes, just in case.Oct 22, 2019

How do you get crispy skin on smoked turkey?

For a turkey with crisp skin, smoke it until the internal temperature of the bird reaches 145°F. Transfer the bird to a hot grill preheated to 350° to 375°F and finish it off until the temperature bumps up to 165°F.Nov 11, 2013

What supplies do you need to smoke a turkey?

If you don’t, you can do as we did and use a charcoal grill for smoking turkey. You’ll also need two sets of tongs, a few different disposable aluminum pans (two will serve as drip pans, the other a steam pan), a baking sheet, oven mitts, a couple buckets of water, an oven thermometer and a meat thermometer.Nov 27, 2019

Should I put butter on my turkey?

Don’t butter your bird Placing butter under the skin won’t make the meat juicier, though it might help the skin brown faster. However, butter is about 17 percent water, and it will make your bird splotchy, says López-Alt. Instead, rub the skin with vegetable oil before you roast.Nov 23, 2015

Do I need to soak wood chips before smoking?

In truth, soaking your wood chips and chunks isn’t necessary and here’s why. Wood chips and chunks that have been soaked have to get rid of any moisture before they can produce smoke. The water on the wood will have to heat to 212°F (the boiling point of water) and will stall there until the water has been evaporated.

What flavor of pellets is best for a turkey?

For many, cherry wood is the best choice for smoking a whole turkey. The naturally bland and lean nature of turkey is perfectly complemented by the deep, rich, smoky flavor that cherry can impart to the meat.

How long does it take to smoke a 20 pound turkey at 300 degrees?

The rule of thumb is to smoke the turkey at 300 degrees, 15 minutes for each pound. This is the FASTER method for smoking a whole turkey.Nov 3, 2016

Should I put a bowl of water in my smoker?

You can put the roast holder in the drip pan or put the drip pan below the cooking grate. If you are using a smoker you will want to put the 2-3 liters of water, beer, apple juice or wine in the water pan. You can then put a drip pan on bottom cooking grate with a dash of water in it to collect the drippings.

What do you put in a turkey drip pan?

To collect the drippings, place a large drip pan filled with a liter of water, beer, wine, or juice underneath the turkey while it is cooking. You will want to make sure that they turkey is not sitting in the pan, you can put the pan below the grate or use a roast holder for the turkey.

Can you use beer instead of water in a smoker?

Beer can be used to impart flavor while you are roasting, using the rotisserie, and even smoking. It’s as simple as adding beer to your drip pan or the water basin in your smoker.Jul 18, 2016

Should I inject my smoked turkey?

A meat injector – Injecting is a great way to get some more flavor and moisture into the bird. Poultry shears or a sharp knife – Makes it much easier to spatchcock the turkey. Drip pan for gravy – Even if you’re not making gravy, you’ll want a pan to catch the dripping to keep everything clean.Nov 11, 2019

Do you rub a turkey after brining?

After your turkey has brined, remove from liquid and discard remaining brine. Rinse and pat your bird dry. Place in a roasting pan and generously seasoning the outside and cavity with salt and pepper. Place compound butter under the skin of the bird and rub the entire outside with the butter.Nov 1, 2021

Can you smoke a 25 pound turkey?

However, you can smoke your turkey at 250 F/120 C to reduce the cooking time a little. Plan on 25 minutes per pound at this temperature. This is a better strategy for larger turkeys since it reduces the amount of time that bacteria can potentially grow.May 14, 2019

Is turkey done at 165 or 180?

While some recipes state that turkey should be cooked to 180 degrees Fahrenheit, the meat is safe to consume once it reaches the 165-degree mark. Cooking the breasts past 165 can result in dry meat, but the dark meat can be cooked to 180.

How long should you brine a turkey for?

Brine your turkey for 12 to 24 hours. The longer the better, but honestly, even a quick brine does wonders for the turkey. If you only have a few hours before it needs to go in the oven, then it’s still worth doing. Be sure to keep your turkey covered and refrigerated while brining.