New User

Dave

Hey Guys:[p]I am getting a new Large BGE this week. I want to do a Turkey for Easter. I have had several smokers, but this will be new to me & I don't want to mess the Easter Dinner up. Please tell me how much BGE charcoal to use & what temperature is the best to keep it at. Also how long should I expect it to take for a 12 LB Turkey.[p] Thanks Dave

The Naked Whiz

Dave,
For your first turkey, you might want to keep it simple. Do the turkey just like you would do it in an oven. 325 degrees. 12 pounds probably will take 2.5 - 3 hours, as I recall. Fill the firebox above the holes. If you fill it to the top of the firebox, that won't be too much. The goal is to have a 325 degree fire for your whole cook, not have the last glowing ember snuff out at 3 hours. So don't worry about having too much. Again, keep it simple, so don't worry about brining, injecting, rubbing, stuffing. Just have a nice smoked turkey. Don't use too much smoke because poultry can absorb smoke pretty much as well as anything you'll cook. Some folks don't use any smoke at all, relying on the smoke from the charcoal to do the job. Good luck![p]TNW

CR

Dave, I agree with TNW. Use fresh lump to about the top of the firebox. Cook it just like in the oven. Probably best to use a drip pan with some kind of a v-rack to hold the bird. I did one on Thanksgiving at 350°, no additional chunks of wood for smoke as the lump supplies enough, and just like in the oven it takes about 15 minutes per pound to cook. [p]It was fairly easy as well as delicious.[p]

Dave

The Naked Whiz,[p] Thanks for the info. Also should I use the standup turkey holder or the V-Rack? Do you let your turkeys drip onto the charcoal or use a pan under the he standup holder? Sorry so many questions, but like I said earlier, I don't want to destroy Easter Dinner.[p] Thanks Again !!!!
Dave

The Naked Whiz

Dave,
I do mine over a drip pan. I have a plate setter which I use inverted to hold the drip pan, and then put the grid on top of the plate setter. (If you don't know what a plate setter is go to the accessories brochure. link below)[p]TNW
[ul][li]BGE Accessories[/ul]

BlueSmoke

The Naked Whiz,
I use the same setup; only addition is a V rack to hold the bird.[p]Ken

J Appledog

BlueSmoke,
Those $9.99 turkey lifters that you can get at Bed Bath & Beyond are pretty slick, too.... JCA

Dave

J Appledog,
Julie:[p]What do they look like?[p] Dave[p]

J Appledog

Dave, It's an oval-shaped rack with handles that kind of fold over the bird. JCA

Shelby

Dave,
Late to the discussion...I do mine directly on the grill with a drip pan under it as TNW suggests. I don't like the v-rack as the bird then conforms to that shape and it makes it more difficult to slice.
Welcome!