Cooking a Turkey in a Trash Can: A Guide to Deliciousness

If I told you that this recipe for garbage can turkey turns out to be one of the best turkeys I’ve ever had, would you believe me?

When I first witnessed a turkey being cooked in a garbage can it blew my mind. I couldn’t fathom how that was even possible!.

We’ve cooked a lot of turkeys this way since then, and it’s quickly become my go-to method for creating the tastiest, most moist turkey I’ve ever had. Let me show you how….

No seriously, this turkey was cooked in a garbage can in 1. 5 hours you guys! It’s super easy to set up and makes the tastiest trash can turkey.

We also have an amazing Smoked Turkey recipe that is to die for. Full of rich, smokey flavour, it’s another one that you should add to the must try list!.

If you’re too busy to make this now, save this article for later and save this recipe for turkey to your preferred Pinterest board so you can access it whenever you’re ready.

Are you looking for a comprehensive guide to preparing the ideal Thanksgiving feast? The pages of this eBook contain a carefully selected selection of our tried-and-true, family-approved recipes!

If this is your first time cooking a trash can turkey, make sure to burn off the turkey’s galvanized coating before cooking. To achieve this, heat the can to a very high temperature; while a campfire worked well, a torch or smoker would also work.

An additional option is to cook the bird in an oversized stainless steel stock pot (cooking times will vary for this method).

This garbage can turkey recipe makes one of the best turkeys that I have ever tasted!

Ever heard of cooking a turkey in a trash can? It might sound strange, but this unique method is gaining popularity for its speed, simplicity, and surprisingly delicious results.

This guide combines the best of two popular “trash can turkey” recipes, offering you a comprehensive overview of the process and tips for achieving the perfect bird.

Get ready to impress your family and friends with this fun and flavorful Thanksgiving tradition!

What is Trash Can Turkey?

Trash can turkey, also known as garbage can turkey, involves cooking a whole turkey inside an overturned metal trash can using hot coals.

Think of it as a DIY outdoor oven. The trash can and hot coals create a high-heat environment that cooks the turkey quickly and evenly, resulting in juicy, flavorful meat and crispy skin.

Bonus: This method is perfect for outdoor gatherings camping trips, or simply trying something new!

Why Cook a Turkey in a Trash Can?

Here are some reasons why you might want to try this unique cooking method:

  • Fast cooking time: A 20-pound turkey can be cooked in just 2 hours!
  • Moist and flavorful turkey: The high heat and enclosed environment lock in moisture, resulting in a juicy and flavorful bird.
  • Crispy skin: The hot coals create a crispy, golden-brown skin that everyone will love.
  • Fun and unique experience: This method is a fun and memorable way to cook a turkey, especially for outdoor gatherings.
  • Easy cleanup: Most of the cleanup involves disposing of the coals safely.

Before You Begin: Important Considerations

Before diving into the recipe, there are a few important things to keep in mind:

  • Safety first: Always use caution when working with hot coals and open flames.
  • Choose the right trash can: Use a clean, metal trash can with a metal lid and handles. Do not use a plastic trash can.
  • Burn off the galvanized coating: If your trash can is new, burn off the galvanized coating by lighting a fire inside it before cooking. This will prevent any metallic taste from transferring to your turkey.
  • Prepare your workspace: Choose a safe and clear area outdoors for cooking.

The Ultimate Trash Can Turkey Recipe

Now, let’s get cooking! Here’s what you’ll need:

Equipment:

  • Large (20-gallon) metal trash can with metal lid and handles
  • Long metal stake or rebar (shorter than the trash can)
  • 2 bricks
  • Several large aluminum roasting pans
  • Aluminum foil
  • Large bag of charcoal (40 lbs)
  • Long-handled metal shovel
  • Well-insulated flame-resistant outdoor cooking or welding gloves
  • 2 large charcoal chimneys
  • Large ash can for safe disposal of hot coals
  • Campfire pit
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Completely thawed raw turkey (20-25 lbs)
  • Salt, pepper, and your favorite seasonings
  • Instant-read probe thermometer

Instructions:

Prepare the turkey:

  1. Remove the turkey from the cooler or refrigerator and place it in a large foil pan.
  2. Wash, rinse, and pat it dry. Remove the neck and giblets from the cavity.
  3. Season the inside and outside generously with salt, pepper, and any other seasonings you enjoy.
  4. You can pin the wings and tie the legs if you wish to keep them from drying out.
  5. Let the turkey continue to dry and for the seasonings to permeate the meat while you prepare your trash can cooker.

Set up your cooking area and light your charcoal:

  1. Choose a safe area to make your trash can turkey, such as a campfire pit.
  2. Clear any debris or flammable materials and set up on a clean dirt or gravel bed.
  3. Light two large charcoal chimneys full of charcoal. These will take about 20 minutes to fully heat up.
  4. If you only have one chimney or smaller chimneys, you can light your charcoal in batches and then add it to the unlit charcoal around the base and on top of the trash canister.

Set up your trash can cooker:

  1. While your charcoal chimneys are lighting, set up your trash can cooker.
  2. In the center of your cooking area, push your rebar stake into the ground so that it is sturdy and sticks out of the ground lower than the height of your trash can.
  3. Wrap your 2 bricks in aluminum foil and place them on either side of the stake. These will keep your turkey off the ground after you position it on the stake.

Position the trash can turkey:

  1. Slide your turkey down the metal stake through the neck cavity and position it sitting upright on top of the foil-wrapped bricks.
  2. Place your metal trash can upside down over your turkey so that the bottom of the can is facing up and is now the “top.”
  3. Use your shovel to push some dirt around the bottom perimeter of the can and create a nice seal.

Spread the hot charcoal:

  1. Place the metal lid upside down on top of the trash can so it resembles a dinner plate. This will be where you place some of your hot coals.
  2. Wearing your flame-resistant gloves, go get your now fully lit charcoal chimneys and spread one batch around the base of the can.
  3. Then, using a metal shovel, spread some more unlit coals on top of the lit ones and push them all up against the sides of the trash can.
  4. These other coals will start to ignite and smoke. This is normal.
  5. Shake out the second batch of lit coals gently on top of the overturned trash can lid. Do not pour on so many that they are falling off or that they will make the lid difficult to pick up and move later.
  6. If you need more, add some more unlit coals here as well.

How long does it take to cook a trash can turkey?

  1. Now, you just have to wait for the inside of your trash can to heat up and for the turkey to cook!
  2. Resist the urge to check on your turkey as you will lose the airtight seal you created, possibly resulting in a flare-up. This will also significantly increase your cooking time.
  3. You can add more unlit charcoal to the top and the base if you feel you do not have enough.
  4. A 20-25 lb. trash can turkey will take roughly 2 hours to cook.
  5. However, other variables such as wind, outside temperature, humidity, the size of your turkey, the size of your trash can, the quality of your air seal, and the amount of hot charcoal used will all play into your cook time.

Removing the turkey from the trash can:

  1. Prepare the area where you are going to move the hot trash can and lid once you remove them from around the turkey.
  2. Make sure there is no debris or flammable material.
  3. Be extra cautious when removing the lid and can as they are EXTREMELY hot.
  4. Only do this part while wearing high heat and flame-resistant outdoor cooking gloves, and even then, minimize the amount of time you need to touch the can and lid as much as possible.
  5. Do not attempt this with conventional household cooking mitts!
  6. For best results, put a sheet of aluminum foil between your gloves and the metal lid handles to keep your gloves from sticking to the hot metal. Place the lid and hot coals aside.
  7. Use the same technique with gloves and foil to remove the metal trash can itself and also to slide the hot turkey up off the stake and into a large aluminum pan.
  8. At this point, the turkey should be done, but make sure to check it with an instant-read thermometer.
  9. The middle of the thigh meat should read at least 175 degrees, and the breasts should read 165 degrees.

Clean up:

  1. Make sure to safely dispose of your hot charcoals after you have removed the turkey from the cooking area.
  2. Do not cover them with dirt or leave them scattered and unattended at your campsite. The best practice is to shovel them into an aluminum ash can and cover with a lid to extinguish over a 24-hour period.

Enjoy your garbage can turkey!

  1. Fancy it up if you want to, or eat it with your hands!
  2. After removing the trash can turkey from the cook area and checking for doneness, let the turkey rest for about 20-30 minutes before carving into it.
  3. This will help the juices dissipate evenly and make it easier to carve while retaining moisture.
  4. We recommend using a long slicing knife and cutting in long even strokes while holding the bird with your other hand while wearing insulated carving gloves. (Do NOT use these types of gloves to handle the hot metal trash can outside, these are for food prep only).
  5. Depending on the size of your crowd, your best bet is to carve only what you need to eat initially rather than carving the entire bird.
  6. Once the bird is completely cooled, you can carve the rest to store for later. This will help the turkey retain the most moisture.

Additional tips:

  • If you have a meat thermometer, insert it into the thickest part of the turkey thigh to monitor the internal temperature.
  • You can add wood chips to the coals for extra flavor.
  • Be sure to have a fire extinguisher on hand in case of emergencies.
  • Always

How to cook delicious garbage can turkey:

1: Prepare the turkey for cooking. We discovered that brining the turkey with this incredible recipe the day before cooking produced the best results.

After removing from the brine we then coated it in melted butter and our favorite Mango Chipotle Seasoning. You could also use this herb butter rub recipe. Fasten the wings to the bird with twine and tuck the legs in or fasten together with twine.

cooking a turkey in a trash can

2: Prepare the cooking area. You will need to make a stake that sticks out of the ground by 14″. To make this recipe while camping, all we have to do is take a branch and bury it at least 4 inches into the ground to make it strong enough to support a 15-pound turkey.

At home we’ve created a stake using an old ground tamper that we cut to 14″. The weighted end of the tamper is enough to hold up the turkey.

A little bit of preparation…

cooking a turkey in a trash can

3: Wrap the stake in tinfoil, creating a ball of foil at the top to support the turkey. Layer about 2 ft of tinfoil on the ground around the stake.

cooking a turkey in a trash can

4: Place the bird on the stake.

At this point you can insert a wireless meat thermometer, like the Meater, into the bird to help determine the perfect doneness.

cooking a turkey in a trash can

5: Place the garbage can over the turkey, making sure it is centered and not in contact with the can.

cooking a turkey in a trash can

6: Pour 1/3 of the bag of briquettes into the garbage can lid and light them. Tip: Be sure to use oven mitts when handling the hot lid and garbage can.

cooking a turkey in a trash can

7: Pour lit briquettes around the base of the can.

cooking a turkey in a trash can

8: Scatter the remaining briquettes around the base of the can on top of the already lit ones.

cooking a turkey in a trash can

9: Set your timer for 1. Cook for 1 hour and 45 minutes for an 18–20 lb turkey, or for 5 hours and let the garbage can do its magic!

cooking a turkey in a trash can

10: Using oven mitts, lift the can to reveal the delicious turkey underneath.

cooking a turkey in a trash can

Doesn’t this turkey just look amazing you guys?! Trust me, it tastes even better!

When you’re camping and don’t have access to an oven, or when you want to make the best-tasting turkey ever but don’t want to heat up the whole house with the oven, this garbage can turkey recipe is ideal!

cooking a turkey in a trash can

We also adore this simple recipe for Beer Can Chicken because it produces the best-tasting bird we have ever had. Try this recipe for a smaller dish and let us know how it turns out!

My friend Michelle cooks her turkey in an air fryer!! Have you ever tried it?! Be sure to check out her Air Fryer Turkey for all of the details!

Cooking A Turkey In A Trash Can

How do you cook a Turkey in a trash can?

Time to season that bird—rub your turkey with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Herbs de Provence. Set the turkey on the roasting stand, in the tray/pan, and UNDER the trash can. Start up the charcoal using a charcoal chimney. Once the charcoal is white, layer it on top of the trash can and all around the bottom.

Can you cook a Turkey in a garbage can?

Important! If this is your first time making trash can turkey, be sure to burn the galvanized coating off of your garbage can before cooking. This is done by heating the can to a very high temperature – we did this over a camp fire, using a torch or smoker would work too.

How long does a trash can Turkey take to cook?

Similar to a trash can smoker, you are essentially making a DIY outdoor oven. Using the trash can and hot coals placed on top and around the base with the turkey inside, you create the perfect environment for a moist, juicy turkey with crispy skin, cooked in record time. A 20 lb. Trash Can Turkey usually only takes around 2 hours to cook!

Do I need a trash can before cooking a Turkey?

Before you start cooking the turkey, you MUST pre-burn the trash can to burn off the galvanization (if you only have a galvanized trash can) because nobody wants heavy metal poisoning. We built a fire inside the can, then used a blower on the lowest setting to help oxygenate the fire and allow it to burn faster and hotter.

Leave a Comment