How long do turkeys take to smoke?
It depends on the size of your turkey and the smoker you’re using. 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.
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.
Do turkeys stall when smoking?
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.
How do you make smoked turkey skin crispy?
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. Of course, too high and the fragile skin burns away and the flesh dries out resulting in dry white meat.
Do you flip a turkey when smoking?
And using a DOT (probe thermometer) will allow you to monitor the Turkey while you cook and even set to alarm when it hits the right internal temp. When the timer goes off, rotate the turkey on the rack to ensure it is cooking evenly on all sides. I never flip the turkey.
Should you use a water pan when smoking turkey?
Tips For Using a Water Pan When Smoking a Turkey In cold weather, a water pan filled with boiling hot water can help maintain the smoker temperature, plus it gets the temperature up quickly for a fast start. This is especially helpful if your smoker can’t quite do the job when it’s cold outside.
Should I smoke my turkey breast up or down?
Whether you’re using a smoker or a grill, have the bird breast side up. Insert a digital probe meat thermometer, if you have one, into the thickest part of the breast or thigh.
Should you inject turkey before smoking?
A meat injector – Injecting is a great way to get some more flavor and moisture into the bird. Poultry shears or a sharp knife – Makes it much easier to spatchcock the turkey. Drip pan for gravy – Even if you’re not making gravy, you’ll want a pan to catch the dripping to keep everything clean.
How do you get smoked turkey skin crispy?
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.