Add in the smoke, then deep fry for your cooking process and you’ve got a turkey filled with flavor and amazing texture from the inside out. One quick tip for this recipe: skip the seasoning. This turkey is seasoned from the inside out, so I don’t think it needs an additional dry rub.
Can you smoke a turkey and then bake it?
You can smoke turkey and then fry or bake after smoking for a few hours for smoky flavor to get a crispier skin.
Can you smoke a turkey the day before Thanksgiving?
Smoke the turkey all the way a day or two before, chill, re-heat in the oven at some temperature on Thanksgiving day to attempt to crisp the skin. Slice and serve. 2.) Smoke the turkey all the way a day or two before, chill, slice, re-heat in the oven or crockpot on Thanksgiving day and serve.
Is smoked turkey better than fried?
Cooking a smoked turkey is a much safer process than frying. A patio gazebo or other dedicated outdoor space is recommended to keep the smoker protected from the elements and separated from children and pets while it is being used.
Can you deep fry an already cooked turkey?
You sure can! I personally like to use up the breast this way because it’s the part of the turkey that tends to dry out the quickest if you are storing the leftovers. However you can also use cuts of thigh meat if you have that leftover. Just make sure you can get good slices that won’t fall apart on you!
Can you smoke a turkey halfway and finish later?
Never brown or partially cook meat or poultry to refrigerate and finish later because any bacteria present would not have been destroyed. It is safe to partially cook meat and poultry in the microwave or on the stove only if the food is transferred immediately to the hot grill to finish cooking.
Are smoked turkeys good?
Juicy, tender and deliciously smoky, this Smoked Turkey recipe is the perfect dish for any celebration, taking an old classic to a whole new level. Smoking a turkey may take longer than roasting, but it creates a whole new flavor profile that is sure to delight your guests.
Can I smoke my turkey the night before?
If you must cook the turkey ahead of time due to time constraints or to travel to grandma’s house then simply smoke the turkey and once it is cooled, wrap in foil and place in the fridge. To reheat, place in a 250 degree F oven for 2 – 2.5 hours or until it is hot enough for your liking.
How do you smoke a turkey and keep it moist?
My solution is to smoke the turkey directly on the grill grates, with a roasting pan filled with 1″ water underneath the grates, about 3-4 inches from the meat. This will keep the cooking environment moist but let the turkey get evenly crisp on the outside.
Does smoked turkey stall?
Smoking is almost impossible to mess up. When I’ve done it, I’ve found there’s a natural stall point where the meat temperature kind of drags for 60-90 minutes between about 145-155 F.
Are deep fried turkeys good?
Deep-frying a turkey is a vastly superior option for countless reasons. The most important: Like everyone who’s ever tried it will tell you, it tastes better than roast turkey. The white meat is moister, the dark meat is even more flavorful, and the skin, while not always totally crispy, is never slimy and gross.
How long do you deep fry a turkey after smoking it?
Drop the “smoked” turkey into the 350 degree oil. Fry until you reach 160 in the deepest part of the breast. The fry will take approximately 1 – 1/2 mins per lb at 350. This part of the cook will take approximately 20 minutes on a 15 lb turkey.
Why did my turkey turn black in the deep fryer?
The general consensus around the fryer was that the blackness was caused by the sugar in the rub.
Why is my fried turkey floating?
If the temperature drops below 350 degrees, adjust the burner to increase the heat. Chickens, game hens, quail or cuts of turkey will cook more quickly than a whole turkey. Adjust the cooking time as necessary. Often, these smaller birds will begin to float in the hot oil as they become fully cooked.
Do you wrap a turkey when you smoke it?
He wraps the turkey in heavy duty aluminum foil and finishes the cooking in the smoker until the turkey’s internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. Once the turkey is cooked through, allow it to rest for five to 10 minutes before carving.
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.
Do you put a turkey in a pan when smoking it?
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.
Does smoking a turkey dry it out?
Turkey is a delicate meat that doesn’t have a lot of connective tissue or fat. It will dry out and darken quickly, as well as absorb the flavors of smoke more than other meat does.
What do you spray on a turkey when smoking?
If you decide to baste the turkey while smoking, good options are chicken stock, apple juice or apple cider vinegar diluted with water. You can also spray the turkey with cooking spray.
How long does it take to cook a 20lb turkey in a smoker?
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.
How long do you smoke a 15lb 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.
Should I stuff my turkey before smoking?
Do not stuff your turkey. Brush the skin with vegetable oil and insert an oven-safe meat thermometer deep into lower thigh. Set the smoker to 225° F. Place the turkey on a cooking rack and cook for 8 to 12 hours or until the inner thigh temperature reaches 180° F.
How long does it take to smoke a 12 pound turkey?
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO SMOKE A TURKEY? It’s good to plan 30 minutes per pound when you smoke a turkey between 225-250 degrees Fahrenheit.
What is the best wood to use for smoking a 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.
Can you smoke a 20 pound turkey?
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. It’s best to keep the smoker temperature above 225 when smoking a bird this large.
Is it better to smoke a turkey at 225 or 250?
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.
Is it safe to slow smoke a turkey?
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).
Can you smoke a turkey at 150 degrees?
Transfer the turkey to the smoker, insert the probe of a digital meat thermometer that is safe for BBQing into the thickest part of the breast, and smoke on 150-160 degrees F for 3 – 4 hours.
When should you inject a turkey before frying?
Traditionally, a fried turkey is injected with a marinade before it’s cooked; how long before cooking is a subject of debate. You can inject the turkey anywhere from 24 hours to 5 minutes before frying. We had good results injecting two hours before frying.
Why You Should not deep-fry a turkey?
The Cosumnes Fire Department warns that cooking with deep fat turkey fryers can be very dangerous as they have a high risk of tipping over, overheating, spilling hot oil, and could lead to fires, burns, or other injuries. If a turkey fryer fire occurs, call 911 immediately.
Can a Butterball turkey be deep fried?
If your turkey is 14 lbs. or less, you can deep-fry it whole. If it’s 15 lbs. or more, separate the legs and thighs from the breast and fry them separately; or use a Butterball XL Turkey Fryer. Be sure your turkey is completely thawed.
How long do you deep fry a 20lb turkey?
When the oil reaches the target temperature, slowly lower the turkey and basket into the fryer. Set the timer for 3 to 4 minutes per pound. For example, if you’re trying to decide how long to deep fry a 20 pound turkey, 3 x 20 = 60 minutes minimum. Turkey fry time for a 10 pound bird should be 30 to 40 minutes.
How much oil do you need to deep fry a turkey?
Fill the pot with peanut or canola oil up to the mark you made earlier—you’ll need 4 to 5 gallons to fry a 12- to 14-pound turkey in a 30-quart pot. Turn the burner on, adjust the heat to moderately high, and heat the oil until the thermometer registers 375°F.
Do you fry a turkey at 325 or 350?
Heat oil in pot (allow enough room in pot for turkey to be placed, too much oil will cause overflow), bring oil to at least 375 degrees F. Placement of turkey will bring temperature down and you will want to keep temperature at 325 degrees F. while cooking.
How do I make my fried turkey skin crispy?
Top 5 Biggest Tips For Deep Fried Turkey
- Do not heat the oil over 325 degrees F.
- Fully thaw and dry off the turkey before frying.
- SLOWLY lower the turkey into the oil.
- Fry the turkey for 3 minutes per pound and check the internal temperature after about 20 minutes.
What kind of oil do you use to fry a turkey?
Good oils for frying turkeys include peanut oil, corn oil, canola oil, cottonseed oil, safflower oil, soybean oil, and sunflower oil.
How long does it take to deep-fry a 17 pound turkey?
Once the turkey has been submerged in the hot oil, cook for 3 to 3 1/2 minutes per pound. Fry turkeys that are 10 to 13 pounds for 3 minutes per pound, and for turkeys from 14 to 20 pounds, cook for 3 1/2 minutes per pound.
Can you use vegetable oil to fry a turkey?
Deep-frying makes the turkey crispy on the outside and super juicy on the inside (even the white meat). It also leaves the heat outside! You can deep-fry the turkey in either peanut or vegetable oil, your choice.
How long does it take to deep-fry a 23 pound turkey?
Maintain the temperature of the oil at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C), and cook turkey for 3 1/2 minutes per pound, about 35 minutes. Carefully remove basket from oil, and drain turkey. Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh; the internal temperature must be 180 degrees F (80 degrees C).
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.
Should I smoke my turkey upside down?
When you smoke a turkey breast side up, you’re positioning the delicate white meat further away from the heat source. This helps to prevent overcooking. On the other hand, smoking it with the breast side down allows the fat from the legs and thighs to glide down over the white meat, which may keep it from drying out.
Why is my smoked turkey rubbery?
High heat is required to render some of the fat from the skin and crisp it up. Temperatures between 275-325 are the ideal temp. Cooking at temperatures lower than that is the biggest cause of soft and rubbery skin.
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.
Should I brine or inject my turkey before smoking?
Advantages of injecting turkey:
Injecting works faster than brining. You can inject the bird immediately before cooking. Fats like melted butter, duck fat, or olive oil can be delivered deep into the breast meat, increasing its succulence.
Does injecting a turkey make it juicier?
Flavor injecting turkey not only adds flavor to the meat but also results in a moist and juicy bird. The flavoring is injected into the meat of the turkey as opposed to rubs that only season the skin. Injecting a turkey with a flavored liquid is a good technique for producing moist, flavorful meat.
Why is my turkey juice pink?
Pink meat and thin pink juice in chicken, turkey, and even pork is due to a protein called myoglobin that is stored within the muscles and usually found mixed with water, making a pink fluid. It is not blood, which is dark red, and thick.
Can you smoke a turkey the day before Thanksgiving?
Smoke the turkey all the way a day or two before, chill, re-heat in the oven at some temperature on Thanksgiving day to attempt to crisp the skin. Slice and serve. 2.) Smoke the turkey all the way a day or two before, chill, slice, re-heat in the oven or crockpot on Thanksgiving day and serve.
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.
How long does a turkey take to smoke at 250?
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.
Is smoked turkey healthy?
You can find fully cooked, smoked turkeys and turkey parts in specialty shop, but you also can choose to smoke a turkey at home. Smoked turkey is a healthy lean meat choice for most people, full of vitamins and minerals, although it is high in sodium and might not be appropriate for a low-sodium diet.
Can I smoke a frozen turkey?
Is it safe to smoke a frozen turkey? Unfortunately, the only safe way to cook a frozen turkey is in the oven. You can try smoking a frozen turkey, but you will risk the possibility of food poisoning.
What size turkey is best for smoking?
Whole turkeys that weigh 12 POUNDS OR LESS are the recommended size for safe smoking. A larger turkey remains in the “Danger Zone” – between 40°F and 140°F – too long. Doesn’t mean don’t do them, just consider food safety when you do.