More Questions..

slantback37

I did the spatchcock chicken, and it turned out okay except for the kind of rubbery skin. I now know about the corn starch trick. Next I want to try the same thing with a turkey. I have a almost 10 Lb turkey thawing out right now. I want to try this on Saturday Morning.
Questions then.
Should I go direct, or indirect??
Now should the breast be 160, and the thigh 180??
I plan on injecting the bird, I have done this many times when ever I deep fry a bird.
What temp should I go for in the dome, and what is the Lb per hour?? Thanks

johnmitchell

Sir didn't we cover this on your "Just 2 questions" thread.. Last I remember you were going to do a pork Butt... Its possible I have that mixed up..

slantback37

I was, but the wife said to get rid of the turkey in the freezer first. So that is why I am here again.

slantback37

Just need to know. Is the temp the same for the turkey as it is for the chicken??, and if indirect. I have 3 pieces of 1/2" steel tubing. What should I put in the drip pan??

xiphoid007

Turkey and chicken are same temp. 

For a bigger birds I still prefer indirect, dome temp at 375.

slantback37

And raise the bird even with the felt??
As for the drip pan. Should I put anything in it??

xiphoid007

Just indirect. Where ever the bird ends up with the platesetter is fine until will sometimes use a foil pan filled with celery, onion, carrots, and some chicken stock for a head start. You can use this to make gravy. Smoked turkey gravy!! Yum!!

Easy with the wood smoke though, poultry over smokes easy. One chunk of wood is enough.

ryantt

you don't need to put anything in the pan.  I'd suggest a  brine for the bird. Then inject and rub it down.  I agree with indirect and temp suggested by @xiphoid007.  Just make sure to post some photos of the cook.  

slantback37

And the skin will be crispy with the corn starch on it??

ryantt

The corn starch will help you out, and so will getting the bird up higher in the dome.   

slantback37

xiphoid007 said:

Just indirect. Where ever the bird ends up with the platesetter is fine until will sometimes use a foil pan filled with celery, onion, carrots, and some chicken stock for a head start. You can use this to make gravy. Smoked turkey gravy!! Yum!!

Easy with the wood smoke though, poultry over smokes easy. One chunk of wood is enough.

I haven't tried any wood yet. When I did my first I put in way to much, and it smelled and tasted real bad. I went and had to order a bag of that Rockwood. It seems like in the BGE ( Royal ) wood there are a lot of big chunks. In the Rockwood it has a bunch of chips.
I needed to know though the temp for the bird. I see 375 in the dome, with 160 in the breast, and 180 in the thigh. Put the legs towards the hinge where more of the heat is. I have the Thermopop, and my 3 1/4" exhaust pipe risers. I also have the rest of the stuff ready to go.
At 375. About how long does it take for a 9.76 Lb turkey??

TexanOfTheNorth

If you're doing it indirect go by whatever cooking time is suggested on the packaging, which will probably be around 3hrs. If indirect, I'd figure up to 1 1/2 hrs. or so.

slantback37

TexanOfTheNorth said:

If you're doing it indirect go by whatever cooking time is suggested on the packaging, which will probably be around 3hrs. If indirect, I'd figure up to 1 1/2 hrs. or so.

Now is that 3 hrs indirect, an 1.5 hrs for direct??

TexanOfTheNorth

Sorry about that. Yes. 1.5 (or so) for direct.

slantback37

Thanks..

Bentgrass

Might be too late but after doing my monster bird last week I would do it breast down the first couple hours.

slantback37

Wouldn't that blacken the skin??

slantback37

Another question.. What do many of you use to start the lump?? I am looking at electric starters. There are a bunch that are straight, and a few bent. Which should I look for??

xiphoid007

I use a looftlighter and love it. There are a myriad of ways to start your charcoal. I suggest trying a search for this topic. There have been several wonderful threads on starters that contain all the info you're looking for.

johnmitchell

Not sure how to answer this...I dress to the left..

stlcharcoal

I use a weed burner which starts if pretty fast........, but I just got a case of BBQ Dragons which should make it even faster.  It's a rechargeable clip on fan.  Going to get one charged up and try it tomorrow.

Shiff

I use 91% alcohol (purchased at Walmart). Poke a small hole in the under-cap seal and squirt it in a few spots in the charcoal and toss in a match.  Lights fairly quickly and cleanly with no need for flame throwers or those smelly sawdust and wax starter cubes.

slantback37

Looking right now at a propane torch. Mainly because I have one in the garage..

RRP

slantback37 said:

Looking right now at a propane torch. Mainly because I have one in the garage..

Propane isn't as hot as MAPP in case your torch head can take both. IOW a MAPP head can use propane or MAPP, but a propane torch can not withstand a MAPP tank.

slantback37

Is that the gas in the Yellow tank??
Do you think it heats hot enough to heat some 1/4" steel red hot?? I need to take a kink out of a 1937 Ford front bumper bracket..