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Thanksgiving smoked turkey

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Biggreennessy
Biggreennessy Posts: 31
in EggHead Forum
I need some expert advice on how to do a  20 lb brined smoked turkey.... 
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  • bgebrent
    bgebrent Posts: 19,636
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    Open ended question, my answer FWIW.  Brine, good plan!  You do the brine and do it on a fresh bird.  Put compound butter of your choice under the skin.  Olive oil and S & P on the skin.  Onion quarters, halved garlic head, orange quartered, fresh thyme in the cavity after liberal S & P.  Indirect at 375 until up to temp.  Let rest 20 minutes before carving.  Hope that helps.  Oh, I cannot claim any expertise!
    Sandy Springs & Dawsonville Ga
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  • Zmokin
    Zmokin Posts: 1,938
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    I'm planning on smoking my first turkey for Thanksgiving this year.
    I prefer not to brine my birds, but I will spatchcock it for sure.
    Large BGE in a Sole' Gourmet Table
    Using the Black Cast Iron grill, Plate Setter,
     and a BBQ Guru temp controller.

    Medium BGE in custom modified off-road nest.
    Black Cast Iron grill, Plate Setter, and a Party-Q temp controller.

    Location: somewhere West of the Mason-Dixon Line
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  • LDR
    LDR Posts: 414
    edited September 2015
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    Use very little smoke.  One chunk or a moderate handful of chips will give plenty of smoke flavor.  Last time, I used a three inch chunk with OO and it was plenty.
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  • blasting
    blasting Posts: 6,262
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    Zmokin said:

    I prefer not to brine my birds, 
    @Zmokin - could i inquire as to why?  Thanks.

    Phoenix 
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  • DMW
    DMW Posts: 13,832
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    This works well, and the gravy is unbelievable.
    http://www.nakedwhiz.com/madmaxturkey.htm 
    They/Them
    Morgantown, PA

    XL BGE - S BGE - KJ Jr - HB Legacy - BS Pizza Oven - 30" Firepit - King Kooker Fryer -  PR72T - WSJ - BS 17" Griddle - XXL BGE  - BS SS36" Griddle - 2 Burner Gasser - Pellet Smoker
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  • YukonRon
    YukonRon Posts: 16,989
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    @DMW thank you for that reference.
    "Knowledge is Good" - Emil Faber

    XL and MM
    Louisville, Kentucky
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  • chrisc133
    chrisc133 Posts: 501
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    I plan on doing just a couple breasts instead of a while turkey. 
    Augusta, GA
    #BGETEAMGREEN member
    MiniMax, Large, XL BGE
    Featured on Man Fire Food Season 7
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  • SGH
    SGH Posts: 28,791
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    chrisc133 said:
    I plan on doing just a couple breasts instead of a while turkey. 
    I do the same thing now. Smoke breasts and deep fry the whole birds.  

    Location- Just "this side" of Biloxi, Ms.

    Status- Standing by.

    The greatest barrier against all wisdom, the stronghold against knowledge itself, is the single thought, in ones mind, that they already have it all figured out. 

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  • Zmokin
    Zmokin Posts: 1,938
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    blasting said:
    Zmokin said:

    I prefer not to brine my birds, 
    @Zmokin - could i inquire as to why?  Thanks.

      I prefer not to add extra sodium if I don't have to.

    Large BGE in a Sole' Gourmet Table
    Using the Black Cast Iron grill, Plate Setter,
     and a BBQ Guru temp controller.

    Medium BGE in custom modified off-road nest.
    Black Cast Iron grill, Plate Setter, and a Party-Q temp controller.

    Location: somewhere West of the Mason-Dixon Line
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  • Cookinbob
    Cookinbob Posts: 1,691
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    I have done my turkey on the Egg for the last two years using the Mad Max recipe as found on  the naked whiz.  http://www.nakedwhiz.com/madmaxturkey.htm

    Great results both times, and in the plans again this year.  You won't go wrong with this one.
    mm2.jpg 312.3K
    mm3.jpg 283.8K
    XLBGE, Small BGE, Homebrew and Guitars
    Rochester, NY
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  • Darby_Crenshaw
    Darby_Crenshaw Posts: 2,657
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    if you dry the skin in the fridge a couple days, you'll get crispy skin.  +1 on the compound butter.

    put it under the skin before you dry it.  and some on top of it after you dry it.
    [social media disclaimer: irony and sarcasm may be used in some or all of user's posts; emoticon usage is intended to indicate moderately jocular social interaction; the comments toward users, their usernames, and the real people (living or dead) that they refer to are not intended to be adversarial in nature; those replying to this user are entering into a tacit agreement that they are real-life or social-media acquaintances and/or have agreed to or tacitly agreed to perpetrate occasional good-natured ribbing between and among themselves and others]

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  • Biggreennessy
    Biggreennessy Posts: 31
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    Its a 23 lb turkey. What temp should I smoke it at and how long will that take on the BGE?
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