What size turkey on the Joetisserie?

smokeyw

Has anyone done a turkey on their Joetisserie yet? I was wondering what size turkey I could fit in the large egg with the Joetisserie?

SGH

Bump. Hoping someone who has a Joetisserie can help brother smokey out. 

bodski

Haven't done one yet myself, but have been considering it for Thanksgiving. I had the same question and found two references - one did a 12# and another 14#. 

Carolina Q

The KJ website says it'll spin 50 lbs!  http://www.kamadojoe.com/joetisserie/

Never saw a 50 lb bird! I always thought two smaller birds were better than one large on anyway. No matter how you cook 'em.

Hub

Just be very careful that you get it very securely attached to the spit rod.  I love, love, love my Joetisserie, but you have to remember it is a moving part and moves constantly.  On more than one occasion I've stepped away only to return with my food dumped directly on the lump because I didn't secure it properly.  The bigger the turkey, the closer it will be to the fire/coals and the less forgiving it will be.  Just make sure it is very securely attached and you will be fine.  I recommend securing it BEFORE having your third adult beverage.

bigbadben

Carolina Q said:

The KJ website says it'll spin 50 lbs!  http://www.kamadojoe.com/joetisserie/

Never saw a 50 lb bird! I always thought two smaller birds were better than one large on anyway. No matter how you cook 'em.

The motor is rated at 50 lbs for a balanced load. As food cooks and water evaporates, I am sure the loads become unbalanced. 

Would a 20 lbs turkey fit in an lbge? 

SmokeyPitt

bigbadben said:

Carolina Q said:

The KJ website says it'll spin 50 lbs!  http://www.kamadojoe.com/joetisserie/

Never saw a 50 lb bird! I always thought two smaller birds were better than one large on anyway. No matter how you cook 'em.

The motor is rated at 50 lbs for a balanced load. As food cooks and water evaporates, I am sure the loads become unbalanced. 

Would a 20 lbs turkey fit in an lbge? 

A 20 lb bird will fit on the egg...here is the mad max turkey write up showing a 21 lb bird.  Note the setup is a roasting pan sitting on some spacers on the plate setter. 

Canugghead

Not sure if 2nd generation will be better ... I've seen one or two videos of Jotisserie in action, without a counter weight balance, even for a chicken or small roast I saw a jerky motion every time the heavier side rotates 'over the hump'.  It probably doesn't affect the cook but I'm wondering if that means extra stress on the motor?  It'd be interesting to see how it works with a larger turkey load.

I suppose one can install an after market counter weight balance 'inside' the egg since the design wouldn't allow one outside, but that would compromise the space. 

JamesM

I did a 15 lb turkey using my JT. I thought I had it balanced but when it rotated it started to shift. The problem was the bird was to big to be held in place by the tynes on the "leg" end. The next time i will go with a smaller bird. I also think I will cut the back bone to move the tynes inward so they penetrate the legs, the back and the top of the breast. I will also tie the bird more securely and do a better job of balancing.
BTW; the turkey tasted wonderful!

smokeyw

Thanks for the feedback. I am thinking I need a 14-15 lb. bird to feed my crowd. I already thought about securing it well and trying to balance it as best as possible. I don't think weight will be an issue. The motor seems plenty strong for any size bird you can fit in there. I may try a smaller bird before Thanksgiving just to get a feel for it.

Dredger

I haven't done a turkey yet on the Joetisserie, but we stay around the 12 lb. mark for smoking, mostly for better quality of the finished product. Smaller the bird, more moisture and more tender. Pliers are your friend when tightening the set screws on the tines before you put it on the egg. Can't wait to see pics. We have a turkey and a turkey breast in the freezer, but waiting for the heat wave to break before cooking either one. Yesterday, we tied the highest temp record from 1938. Geez, come on fall.

eggnewtoy

I have done a small turkey on the Joe.  Worked well.  Didn't add smoke.  Worked well.  Forgot what temp I cooked at but generally, follow same temp and time as regular cooks.

Slabotnick

@smokeyw I'm doing at 16lber on Thursday!!! I've read that putting a potato in the opening of the turkey helps keep the flopping down. Hopefully it spins well. @Dredger you guys doing a turkey on the Joetisserie this year?

Dredger

Not this Thanksgiving @Slabotnick. I'm having eye surgery this Wednesday to remove a cataract in my right eye. In addition to that, we have a burn ban in our area, so no egging, at least for a few days. Hoping for some rain real soon. We're probably rolling our Thanksgiving get together until the week after at this point.

smokeyw

I have a 17 pound organic free-range turkey to do on my Joetisserie Thanksgiving day. It is a little bigger than I wanted to do but it is what I could find. I have already done a 14 pounder that came out fine so this one should be OK.

Slabotnick

@Dredger hope your surgery goes well. I'll post how our turkey goes. @smokeyw I'm doing a 16lber free range organic turkey. So about the same size. I'm going to brine overnight then inject with butter. Using Dizzy pig Mad Max turkey seasoning. 

Dredger

Thanks @Slabotnick, I think it'll be fine. Can't wait to see how your turkey turns out.

Raymont

I am also hoping to rotisserie. I have a 19lber. I have larger tynes and a counterweight if needed. My plan is to try.. I might even try aluminum wire (thin gauge) to secure bird. If it isn't rotating properly, I'll revert to Mad Max.