Turkey - Post Game Report

[tatoosh]

Sorry, no photos as camera battery died and replacement batteries did not arrive in time for the turkey smoke.

I smoked 2 turkeys on the Weber 22.5 using the Smokenator.

Turkey #1 (smaller 11 pounds) was done with minimum prep and returned minimum flavor. Just an exterior rub of salt, pepper, and corn starch for a crispy skin. Smoked with a mix of hickory and apple. Came out a bit too smokey and not very juicy.

Turkey #2 (medium 13 to 14 pounds) received much more attention ahead of time and we were rewarded with a much better bird on the table. It had a pop up thermometer which we immediately removed. Injected the turkey with a compound rosemary butter (3 to 4 ounces melted), then rubbed the same "under" the skin. On the outside of the skin we did the salt, pepper, and corn starch again. Also draped some bacon over the breast.

I used pot turned upside down to rest a pan on. The pan held a reversed rib rack (Charcoal Companion Non-Stick Reversible Roasting / Rib Rack) and the turkey sat in that. It worked well, moved the turkey a couple of inches lower so the breast was not so near the top of the dome.

The Smokenator ran about 300F to 310F at the food grate/rib rack level. After 3 1/2 hours, I flipped the bird over so breast was on the bottom and the underside could brown for an 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

We used a small amount of apple wood on this one, maybe a baseballs sized amount total, split into 2 foil pouches. This turkey came out superb! Guys came back for more two or three times.

Between the two turkeys, we used it to do baked potatoes, about 20 of them. So it was doing double duty as a back up oven as well. It really worked out well and the Thanksgiving turkey is no longer something I worry about.

Also, should mention that the Charcoal Companion Non-Stick Reversible Roasting / Rib Rack, works okay for smaller ribs, maybe not great for larger sets of ribs. However, had two of these and that made flipping the turkey over very easy. I simply turned the 2nd rack upside down over the turkey sitting in the first rack. Then picked the two racks up together and rotate the turkey. Sat it back down in the pan and removed the 1st rack that is now on top, upside down. Nice, minimum fuss with little loss of juice.

So if you want to do a turkey for Christmas and need your kitchen oven for other things, do your turkey on your Weber/Smokenator. It works really well!

[tatoosh]

I did another turkey for a local Christmas party, by invitation. Again, it was one of the best turkeys I have ever tasted. I credit my success to three things:

1. The Smokenator
2. Injecting Compound Butter in the breast
3. Flipping the turkey breast side down for the last hour of cooking.

The Smokenator take a bit of watching since there is a limited amount of charcoal space. I monitor the temperatures at the roasting pan level and in the turkey's thigh with a Thermoworks dual probe themometer.

I injected the turkey with a compound butter (mixture of rosemary spice and butter), but even if you did butter only, I think it would be fine. Strain the rosemary out before filling your injector, you just want the flavor, not the long leaves. I took 3 or 4 ounces of butter (total for both sides) and injected the breast in 6 to 8 places on each side.

Flipping the turkey is much much easier if you have two rib racks that reverse into roasting racks. I use the Charcoal Companion brand. Simply inverting the second rib rack over the turkey, when it is time to flip it, grasping them both where their handles match up, then rotating the two. The turkey will have a lot of juice in the cavity. When you flip it, move the back end of the turkey over your roasting pan. You'll catch all the juice for making gravy.

Running the Smokenator full open (both top and bottom vents) with local lump charcoal, smaller 11 to 12 pound turkeys finish in 3 to 3 1/2 hours, medium turkeys of 15 to 16 pounds go for 4 1/2 to 5 hours. I replenish charcoal ever 45 minutes or so, and top up the water pan.

Below is the turkey, just before flipping:

[meatwad26]

Very nice:) Did you baste it at all during the process. Also is your probe right on the lower great there?