Best way to Cook 2 turkeys of different weight at once

johnrezz

Unfortunately I was handed 2 turkeys of different weight to cook..  17lb and 13lb.  I plan to do them both indirect in the XL BGE.  My thought was to just add the smaller bird one hour after the first one starts....   

I was looking at the cheat sheet and said 5hr 40min for 17lb and 4:20 for the 13lb....  almost 6hrs at 350 seems like a really long time.  Does that seem accurate to everyone? 

ColtsFan

Sounds like a good plan to me. 

johnrezz

i really do not understand the cheat sheet timing, if you go by the bird directions it says a 17 lb turkey in the oven takes 3-3.5 hours..  why does BGE say to cook twice as long at the same temp?  any advice would be greatly appreciated...  Timing is the only think that concerns me... so for 17 and 13 how long do you think it will take????

Jeremiah

Yup, I’d give the bigger bird an extra hour, but still there’s too many variables to guarantee both will be done at the same time. Have the oven ready to hold one until the other is ready. Remember, the internal temp is what matters, not the time. 

johnrezz

so if you wanted to serve the birds at 3pm what time would you throw the first one (17lb) in the egg....  Im thinking 11am

SmokeyPitt

I agree the times are a little high.  I would guesstimate based on 15 minutes per lb at 350. So, 4.25 hrs for the 17 lb and 3.25 hours for the 13 lb.  

SGH

johnrezz said:

i really do not understand the cheat sheet timing, if you go by the bird directions it says a 17 lb turkey in the oven takes 3-3.5 hours..  why does BGE say to cook twice as long at the same temp?  any advice would be greatly appreciated...  Timing is the only think that concerns me... so for 17 and 13 how long do you think it will take????

If you are running at a “true” 350 degrees it will take about 12-14 minutes a pound. Give or take a little either way. Keep in mind that is for a whole, completely thawed out turkey, not spatchcocked, leapfrogged, semi frozen or double halves. With that said, that number will start to change if you run below or above 350 degrees.
As far as the charts, most folks are so scared of getting sued that they post times with a grossly huge safety margin built in for liability reasons. Again, if you are running a true 350 degrees it will be within a cats whisker of 12-14 minutes a pound. Good luck my friend and may you find yourself forever in the grace and favor of the Turkey Gods.  

johnrezz

I agree...  there is done and then there is FDA done!!!  lol