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How big a turkey in a Large BGE on a V rack and drip pan?

txav8r
txav8r Posts: 153
I bought a 16.35 pound butterball and it was one of the only smaller birds available at our local store.  Most all were bigger and the vast majority of birds were Honeysuckle brand, which are not advertised as hormone free.  Anyway, as the title implies, I am wanting confirmation that the bird will fit in the egg.  I was hoping my roasting pan would fit but it is way too big and I will probably use the rectangular bge drip pan but not sure it will catch all the drippings.  I may have to go with a foil pan if I can find one that is more appropriate.  Thanks for any direction here.
Just far enough north of DFW to be "rural"...and close enough to be urban, depending on my mood.

Comments

  • Coupla things here. If you use a traditional pan the bird will cook faster. I've done a 24 pound bird in a large. You can use a disposable pan on a large, you just need to ovalise it a bit. Use spacers under the pan. Not so critical with a disposable because they have ridges built in. I have a rectangular pan that just fits and use spacers.

    Steve 

    Caledon, ON

     

  • txav8r
    txav8r Posts: 153
    Wow...24 pounds!  I shoulda bought a bigger bird!  So spacers...what to use for spacers?
    Just far enough north of DFW to be "rural"...and close enough to be urban, depending on my mood.
  • I use copper plumbing tees. Doesn't matter, 3/4" nuts, foil balls, 1/2" steel pipe couplings. The copper tees are more stable.

    Steve 

    Caledon, ON

     

  • txav8r
    txav8r Posts: 153
    I can handle that, thanks!
    Just far enough north of DFW to be "rural"...and close enough to be urban, depending on my mood.
  • Little Steven
    Little Steven Posts: 28,817
    edited November 2013
    One thing to watch, make sure the dome thermo doesn't touch the bird. You might have to pull the clip off and put it on the outside of the dome.

    Steve 

    Caledon, ON

     

  • txav8r
    txav8r Posts: 153
    Yeah, Tom at the CGS has pointed that out too when using the AR.
    Just far enough north of DFW to be "rural"...and close enough to be urban, depending on my mood.
  • txav8r
    txav8r Posts: 153
    I will use my Maverick ET-732 and watch grid and breast temp through the cook, so the dome isn't going to be too important to me except when I am stabilizing the egg.
    Just far enough north of DFW to be "rural"...and close enough to be urban, depending on my mood.
  • One thing to watch, make sure the dome thermo doesn't touch the bird. You might have to pull the clip off and put it on the outside of the dome.
    what happens if the bird touches the dome temp?
  • Jeremiah
    Jeremiah Posts: 6,412
    edited November 2013
    I must have read the mad max recipe 100 times and passed over the part that clearly stated to check your setup!! So last night at 10:00 I decided to check it. Nope, didn't fit. Neither did the disposable trays that were my back up. So off to walmart at 10:30. Has anyone been to walmart that late at night lately?? Holy crap I should have been armed. Armed with a tape measure this time I came home with a smaller pan with rack for a whopping $12. It's 10x 15 and fits fine in the large egg and the 17 lb bird fits well too. Fwiw.
    Slumming it in Aiken, SC. 
  • crunch up those disposable trays enough and I guarantee it will fit. I do it all the time.
    Gittin' there...
  • Jeremiah
    Jeremiah Posts: 6,412

    crunch up those disposable trays enough and I guarantee it will fit. I do it all the time.

    They would but my stupid rack wouldn't fit in them. Oh well.
    Slumming it in Aiken, SC. 
  • Platesetter, legs up> then crunched up pan> then BGE grid resting on PS legs> then rack resting on grid> then turkey on rack.  That won"t work?
    Gittin' there...
  • I got a 22 lb on my large with placesetter, grate, tray, v rack.  Make sure and take the clip off your thermometer and remove the thermometer when closing and opening..... I bent mine this year, even with the clip off. 
    Large BGE from Normal, IL 
  • I just did a 20lb bird on thanksgiving and I know I had room for a little bit more. I used the V-rack and set it right inside the rectangular BGE drip pan and it worked perfect!
    Pure Michigan
    Large BGE, Medium BGE, Mini BGE, Weber Smokey Mountain, Weber Performer.
    If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.