smoking a turkey


ALAN

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Some folks soak their birds in brine before smoking them, some rub them. I have tried both, and will usually just salt the cavity and under the fat, then next morning on to the smoker with hickory. Be sure you do not overcook your bird, get it just to temp(165) and pull it off, I immediately wrap mine in foil when taking it out. Also be sure to use a water pan with enough water to last the entire time you are cooking.

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Some folks soak their birds in brine before smoking them, some rub them. I have tried both, and will usually just salt the cavity and under the fat, then next morning on to the smoker with hickory. Be sure you do not overcook your bird, get it just to temp(165) and pull it off, I immediately wrap mine in foil when taking it out. Also be sure to use a water pan with enough water to last the entire time you are cooking.

I season my bird up with a good rub. Have done the cajun injector type things but I wasn't too fond of the results. To me a good rub and a full pan of water below works well.

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has anyone nuked it in microwave for awhile just to get some tempture into the bird then throw it on smoker? was looking for maybe a brine recipe..i had a recipe once for a brine but cant find iit and the recipe you also put fruit and a few vegs in the cavity then smoke it.. what kind of wood do you guys use??

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has anyone nuked it in microwave for awhile just to get some tempture into the bird then throw it on smoker? was looking for maybe a brine recipe..i had a recipe once for a brine but cant find iit and the recipe you also put fruit and a few vegs in the cavity then smoke it.. what kind of wood do you guys use??

Microwave, NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! That will ruin your bird. It needs to cook slow over a low heat, 225 is where I set my thermostat.

Brine, I always used just salt or leftover maple salt cure from hi mountain jerky kits, we always have leftover cure since we use ground meat for jerky.

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i have no thermostat on mine just a gauge that says warm..its a very cheap bottom of line smoker.. i have the brinkman smoke n grill

Those charcoal smoke 'n grill can produce some mighty fine eating. You really need a thermometer, and also need a thermometer for your meat as well. The brinkman I had did have a thermometer in the lid.

Keep the temp low, try not to let it get much over 230 and you will be fine.

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William, The Brinkman smoke'n'grill thermo I have has these ranges -low-good-high-.

When I've smoked Turkey Breasts on mine I kept it in the "Good" range and they turned out quite moist and completely cooked after 5hrs(165*). I used water soaked Mesquite woods chips to top off the charcoal about every45mins. I kept enough woods chips on the coals that the smoke was rolling off and never let it go without smoke.

I also had apple juice filling the water pan above the charcoal to keep moisture in the meat. I would start with a full pan of hot coals and add a couple handfulls every hour.

When I deboned the meat off the breast there was a nice red smoke color a full inch into the meat.

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