Easy Smoked Turkey Recipes

Steps:

• Rinse the turkey and pat dry with paper towels. Combine savory, sage, salt, and black pepper in a bowl; rub half the herb mix inside the turkey's cavity and inside the neck cavity. Loosen turkey skin over breast and legs; rub remaining half of the herb mixture underneath the loosened skin. Rub olive oil over the entire turkey.
• Light 20 charcoal briquettes and place half of them on each side on the lower grate of a kettle charcoal grill. Place a drip pan or disposable aluminum baking pan in the middle of the lower grate and pour in water. When the coals are gray with ash, place a 2-inch square piece of hickory or other hardwood onto each bank of coals.
• Place turkey on the cooking grate and cover the grill. Monitor the heat with a grill thermometer to maintain temperature between 150 and 250 degrees F (65 to 120 degrees C); add 3 to 5 coals to each side about every 1 1/2 hours. If pieces of hardwood burn away, add more to keep a steady stream of smoke rising from the wood. If open flames erupt when you open the lid, douse them with a drizzle of water or beer.
• Smoke the turkey for 20 minutes per pound, about 4 hours; let the heat increase to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C) during the last hour of smoking. An instant-read meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a thigh, not touching a bone, should reach 165 degrees F (75 degrees C).

Steps:

• Up to two days ahead, mix the paprika, dried herbs and lots of ground pepper with 1 tbsp flaky sea salt. Season the turkey crown with half of the herby salt mixture, then cover. Mix the remaining herby salt mixture with the butter and chill.
• To cook, heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Smear the herby butter all over the crown, working it under the skin. Sit the crown on a rack in a large roasting tin, skin-side up, and roast for 1 hr 30 mins, basting with the buttery juices every 30 mins until the skin is crisp and the turkey is cooked all the way through.
• Remove the turkey from the oven and set aside. Use a small sheet of foil to make an open package of the wood chips. Place the package in a dry frying pan and heat until smoking, then transfer to the roasting tin. Cover everything in a large tent of foil to trap the smoke and leave the turkey to rest for 20 mins before unwrapping and carving. Save the juices from the tin to make a smoky gravy.

Steps:

• 1st Day: Remove turkey from freezer.
• 2nd Day: Clean turkey and soak in marinade.
• 3rd Day: Start baking.
• While turkey is thawing out, prepare marinade. Add salt, tender quick and liquid smoke to a large, clean bucket. (A new mop-bucket or Rubbermaid container works well. DO NOT use metal!) Add water to bucket, and whisk well until granules are dissolved. Keep cool until turkey is ready.
• The turkey must soak in the brine, completely submerged, for 24-36 hours.
• When done marinating, rinse brine completely off under cold water. Dry completely with paper towels.
• Spread skin with salad oil, covering all lightly. (Do not use butter!) Place breast side down in large roasting pan; do not cover.
• Bake at 350 degrees F for one hour, then at 250 degrees F for 12 hours, or one hour per pound for smaller bird.
• When done, cool 3-4 hours before cutting (it will be hard!), to let breast juices rest.

Steps:

• Pat the turkey dry. Put 2 tablespoons salt, 2 teaspoons pepper, the sugar, paprika, rosemary and orange zest in a food processor and pulse until combined. Carefully loosen the skin from the breast and legs with your fingers; rub the salt mixture under the skin, inside the cavity and all over the turkey. Let stand at room temperature while you prepare the grill, 30 to 60 minutes.
• Soak 2 to 3 cups apple, cherry and/or pecan wood chips in water for at least 30 minutes; drain. Heat a grill to 325˚ F to 350˚ F and prepare for indirect cooking: On a charcoal grill, bank the coals to the sides of the grill; on a gas grill, turn off half the burners. Place a large drip pan under the grates on the cooler side of the grill.
• Gently drizzle and pat the vegetable oil all over the turkey. If using a charcoal grill, scatter about half of the wood chips over the coals; for a gas grill, fill a smoker box with the wood chips and use according to the manufacturer's directions. When the wood chips start to smoke, place the turkey, breast-side up, over indirect heat so that the legs are closest to direct heat.
• Cover the grill and smoke the turkey until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 165˚ F, 3 to 4 hours, adding the remaining wood chips to the grill about halfway through; add more charcoal or adjust the vents as needed to maintain the temperature.
• Carefully move the turkey to direct heat and grill, uncovered, until the bottom of the turkey crisps up a bit, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove the turkey to a cutting board and let rest 30 to 45 minutes before carving.

Steps:

• This recipe requires a water-smoker such as the Brinkmann"Smoke'n Pit" or the"Cook'N Ca'jun" (http://thebrinkmanncorp. com).
• If you don't own one, buy one.
• They are great.
• The night before the big meal, wash the thawed turkey thoroughly, inside and out, and pat dry.
• Save the neck and innards for making gravy, if desired.
• Season inside and out with lemon-herb seasoning, granulated garlic, and salt and pepper to taste, and coat with olive oil.
• Do not stuff the turkey.
• If you want stuffing, use your favorite recipe, and cook it in the oven, out of the bird.
• Refrigerate until ready to start smoking.
• Soak 5-6 fairly large chunks of hardwood in water for as long as possible.
• DO NOT USE CHIPS!
• Set your alarm clock for for about 12 hours before dinner.
• Prepare the smoker as follows.
• Place 10 pounds charcoal in the fire-pan.
• Light the charcoal just barely, but make sure it is enough to keep burning.
• (Use an electric starter, or a butane torch, or place charcoal under your oven broiler just until lit. DO NOT use liquid charcoal lighter unless you want kerosene flavored turkey!) Place 2-3 chunks of wet hardwood on top of the charcoal, place water-pan above fire-pan, and fill with water.
• Place turkey on the rack above water-pan, cover smoker, and go back to bed.
• After about 6 hours, check the smoker.
• Stir up the charcoal and add a little more if necessary.
• Place remaining soaked hardwood chunks on top of charcoal, add more water if necessary, close the smoker, and relax for another 5-6 hours.
• It is almost impossible to overcook the turkey using this method, because it is cooking at a very low temperature.
• It will be juicy and tasty.
• Obviously the smoking should be done outside.
• Smoking indoors can be hazardous to your health.
• If the weather is freezing or below, add about 2-3 hours to the cooking time.
• The turkey is done when the leg can be moved easily.
• Carve immediately before serving.
• Notes: I usually use hickory wood, though pecan or oak are also great.
• You can add aromatic herbs or spices to the water pan if desired, but they will mostly be covered by the smoky taste.
• You can also add beer or wine to the water pan, but again, it is mostly covered by the smoke.