Spatchcock Turkey direct or indirect?

piney

How do you set up egg for Spatchcocked Turkey? I think Mickey suggest direct @400 raised, and some people suggest indirect @350. I did some last year direct and they were great. Just wondering what other people suggest.

jls9595

I tried my first spatchcocked turkey raised direct, 350-400, a couple weeks ago.  I see no need to try anything else, it was great and an 18 pounder finished in under two hours.  It was as tender and juicy as any I have ever had including deep fried, which has been my favorite till now.

minniemoh

@jls9595 What size egg did you use for the 18 lb bird? I have a 16 lb that I will be spatchcocking and I hope it fits on my L.

jls9595

It will fit, I did the 18lber on the large.  I have seen some on here that have spatched a 20lber on a large.  

Mickey

minniemoh said:

@jls9595 What size egg did you use for the 18 lb bird? I have a 16 lb that I will be spatchcocking and I hope it fits on my L.

It will fit just fine

henapple

Mickey said:

minniemoh said:

@jls9595 What size egg did you use for the 18 lb bird? I have a 16 lb that I will be spatchcocking and I hope it fits on my L.

It will fit just fine

On the mini...

Z_Eggineer

So doing direct just saves time right?

Mickey

Z_Eggineer said:

So doing direct just saves time right?

Mine is always direct raised.. Skin side up and never turned. Gets it cooked on both sides at the same time and crisp skin

jaydub58

I'm wondering, does doing the bird direct  produce an overwhelming smoke from the fat dripping on the fire or not?

Thanks

 

iammichael

Would love to see a picture of someones setup for direct raised.

jls9595

I just use three of these small terracotta pots, place on grid which is on the fire ring and another grid on top of the pots.  Raises it about an inch above the felt line. I also have a grill dome extender grid:

NJ_BBQ

I was planning on doing mine indirect with a drip pan to catch the drippings for gravy. Thoughts?

GrannyX4

Makes smoky gravy and it's not my favorite.

Little Steven

NJ_BBQ said:

I was planning on doing mine indirect with a drip pan to catch the drippings for gravy. Thoughts?

Your drippings will scorch without an indirect piece and spacers.

Thatgrimguy

I've heard keeping some liquid in the drip pan helps too.