Smoking Turkey?

[crewsk]

OK, I need all of you smoking aficionados to help me out!(Pretty please, I'm beggin' here!) My hubby came up with the brilliant :roll: idea for me to fix Thanksgiving dinner for his family. I want to smoke the turkey so it frees up oven space. My dad has a smoker & has agreed to let me use it. I have never smoked anything in my life. I can't remember what kind of smoker it is off the top of my head right now. Anyway, here's what I want to know...How long(as in hours per pound)would I smoke the bird, what kind of wood chips would be best(flavor, type, anything else you can think of), & what do you think about smoking a turkey in general? Thank you all for any advice & help! I really appriciate it! :D

[Raine]

I would suggest you get the smoker and practice on a few before Thanksgiving. You don't want to run the risk of the family turkey not coming out right. It normally takes a little while and practice to learn and get it down.

Fire control is key when bbqing/smoking. Too much smoke and it will be bitter and black.

Here is how we do ours.

We use hickory and pecan wood, pieces about the size of your fist. Cook it at about 240-250. We use the pop-up turkey timers in ours and it usually takes 4-5 hours fo rthe timer to pop.

[crewsk]

Thanks Raniee! :D

[Lifter]

Crewsk, we'd all love to see this come out, but I'm intimidated by Rainee's prowess on the BBQ, and anything I add would be challengeable...

On the other hand, use her suggestion, and try brining one of your "test birds", to see if that doesn't do better for you!

Lifter

[crewsk]

Thanks Lifter. I plan on trying to do a bird this weekend if nothing changes. But here lately, I can't make plans without them changing at the last minute.

[Raine]

Practice with chickens, they are a lot cheaper and take less time. You will still learn fire control.

[crewsk]

Thanks Raniee! Yuo must have read my mind this morning. I was getting ready to ask if it would be ok to practice with chickens!

[Raine]

Or how about a SMOFRIED turkey?

[crewsk]

What is a SMOFRIED turkey?

[Raine]

You smoke it a little, then fry it.