This “How to Smoke a Turkey” tutorial will show you how simple it is to make the best turkey you’ve ever had if you’ve always wanted to make your own!
This will be the best Thanksgiving turkey you’ve ever tasted, in addition to being the best smoked turkey you’ve ever had. Get ready for a Thanksgiving dinner that will wow!.
Smoked Turkeys have something of a mystique surrounding them. Eight weeks before Thanksgiving, people swarm to a nearby store to order smoked turkeys for their Thanksgiving feast.
Everyone in these parts agrees that smoked turkeys are where it’s at flavour and texture-wise. I’m not sure why, given how simple and forgiving the smoking process is, so few people attempt to do it themselves.
The truth is that you’re far, FAR more likely to render a turkey inedibly dry when roasting it. Think of Clark Griswold’s sister-in-law on ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’. Remember how that thing was turkey jerky?.
Smoked Turkey: How to Smoke a Turkey and Why
The short answer is no, you don’t need to wrap a smoked turkey. Wrapping a turkey in foil can prevent the skin from crisping up and can also trap moisture, making the turkey soggy. However, there are a few reasons why you might want to wrap your turkey in foil.
If you’re worried about the turkey drying out, you can wrap it in foil during the last hour or two of smoking. This will help to keep the turkey moist.
If you’re using a smoker that doesn’t have a water pan, you can wrap the turkey in foil to help create a more humid environment. This will help to prevent the turkey from drying out.
If you’re smoking a turkey that is particularly large, you may want to wrap it in foil to help it cook more evenly
How Long to Smoke a Turkey
The general rule of thumb is to smoke a turkey for 30 to 40 minutes per pound. However the actual cooking time will vary depending on the size of the turkey, the temperature of the smoker, and the type of wood you’re using.
To check if the turkey is done, insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh The turkey is done when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit
Smoked Turkey Tips
Here are a few tips for smoking a turkey:
- Brine the turkey before smoking it. This will help to keep the turkey moist and flavorful.
- Use a smoker that can maintain a consistent temperature of 225 to 250 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Use a hardwood like apple, hickory, or oak for smoking.
- Baste the turkey with olive oil or melted butter every hour or so during the smoking process.
- Let the turkey rest for at least 30 minutes before carving and serving.
Smoked Turkey Recipe
Here is a recipe for smoked turkey:
Ingredients:
- 1 whole turkey, 12 to 14 pounds, fresh or thawed if frozen, giblets and neck removed and reserved for another purpose
- 1/4 cup peanut oil
- 3 tablespoons kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons granulated garlic
- 1 teaspoon granulated onion
- For the aromatics:
- 2 yellow onions halved, papery skin removed
- 3 fresh apples stems removed and cut into wedges
- 3 cloves garlic pulled apart, papery skins removed, but left in the peel
- 1 bundle fresh sage
Instructions:
- Pat the turkey dry and set it, breast side up, on a roasting rack in a roasting pan. Let rest, uncovered, in the refrigerator for 4 hours or overnight to dry.
- The day of smoking, heat your smoker to 250°F according to manufacturer’s instructions or build a bed of low coals off to the side of a grill. Either way, use apple wood chips to produce smoke for 30 minutes before putting the turkey in the smoker.
- Stuff the onions, apples, garlic, and sage in the cavity of the turkey. Drizzle the peanut oil over the dried turkey and rub with the salt, granulated garlic, and granulated onion.
- Put the turkey into the smoker and smoke for 30 to 40 minutes per pound, or until an instant read thermometer (or stay-in-the-bird probe thermometer) reads 160°F in the thickest part of the breast meat.
- Use silicone oven mitts or two sets of tongs to carefully shift the smoked turkey to a rimmed half sheet pan or clean roasting pan and tent lightly with foil for 30 minutes before slicing, giving the juices time to redistribute. This also makes the meat easier to slice evenly.
Smoking a turkey is a great way to cook a delicious and flavorful meal. By following the tips and recipe in this article, you can smoke a turkey that is sure to impress your family and friends.
Do I need to brine a turkey to smoke it?
My short answer is no. That said, you can certainly brine your turkey if you prefer it that way.
The longer version is that I don’t find brining to the worth the effort and mess it creates. Although some people vouch for it, I believe it adds unnecessary effort to something that is already quite tasty without it.
You can dry brine the turkey by following the directions in my post on smoked whole chicken if you want the brining effect without the mess. Just follow the instructions there, but size up in proportion to the weight of your turkey.
I know that people often brine their turkey because they’re afraid the roasting process will dry it out. The truth is that roasted turkey can often get a little dry.
Smoked Turkey Breast vs. Smoked Whole Turkey
You can absolutely, positively use my drumstick removal method before smoking the turkey. I’ve done it both with the drumsticks attached and detached and had good results both ways.
When detached, the drumsticks cook a little faster, so if they are cooked for the same length of time as the larger portion of the bird, they will be more “done” when the breast meat is almost done. This is exactly how I prefer my turkey. Choose accordingly.
I also do not recommend trussing the bird or otherwise tying the legs together. The dark meat cooks more slowly when the bird is trussed; it cooks at a slower rate than white meat.
Although it may not have the same aesthetic appeal as a trussed bird, eating a bird with its legs free is far safer!
You can also use a bone-in turkey breast to make smoked turkey breast. If you would really rather have just the white meat, you can still fill the cavity with all the goodies.
Should I wrap my turkey in foil while smoking?
FAQ
Should you wrap a smoked turkey?
Do you wrap turkey in foil after smoking?
How do you keep smoked turkey moist?
How do you prepare a turkey that is already smoked?