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Turkey newbie - why all the variation in cook times?

Sous Jeff
Sous Jeff Posts: 9
in EggHead Forum
I've been asked to cook a turkey on my XL BGE for Thanksgiving. Someone else has ordered the turkey and it's going to weigh approx. 21-23 lbs. The "Turkey Cheat Sheet" from this egghead forum site doesn't list one that large but doing the math it looks like it should take 7+ hours at 325-350 degrees. So when I go to the "Butterball FAQ" page (as an example), their calculator says it should take 4 to 4-1/2 hours at 325. Why such a huge discrepancy? I would think that 325-350 in an oven should roughly equal 325-350 in the BGE, right? What am I missing? There will be more than 20 people at this gathering and I need to have this thing done somewhat close to a target time. I don't want to be off by 3 or 4 hours either way.
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Comments

  • lousubcap
    lousubcap Posts: 36,782
    Not familiar with the "Turkey Cheat Sheet" but I would go with the standard times as approximated with the Butterball info.  I have found those to be "close enough" but if you want to dial it in much faster-spatchcock the bird and give it around 120 mins at 350-375.  I prefer indirect for that cook.  Many recent threads on the topic.  FWIW-
    BTW-welcome aboard and enjoy the journey.  Have great Thanksgiving!
    Louisville; Rolling smoke in the neighbourhood.  Life is too short for light/lite beer!  Seems I'm livin in a transitional period. CHEETO (aka Agent Orange) makes Nixon look like a saint.  
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  • Sous Jeff
    Sous Jeff Posts: 9
    Thank you. I do need to do a lot of spatchcock research and maybe give that a try. I've heard nothing but good things about that method.
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  • SoCalTim
    SoCalTim Posts: 2,158
    Hi Jeff, I compare the Butterball time to the Federal Gov't numbers on what a person should weigh for their height, and so should you. I actually like your math, to get a general idea on how long the cook should be.
    I've slow smoked and eaten so much pork, I'm legally recognized as being part swine - Chatsworth Ca.
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  • Austin Egghead
    Austin Egghead Posts: 3,966
    When we cooked the first turkey on the large it cooked at about 350 and I cooked and timed it just like it was the oven .  We didn't have a fancy Thermapen  just a cheap store bought thermometer.  The egged turkey turned out to be a winner, and the oven the looser...Turkeys have been egged ever since.

    Good luck and don't over think the cook
    Large, small and mini now Egging in Rowlett Tx
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  • Little Steven
    Little Steven Posts: 28,817
    edited November 2014
    fishlessman did a survey on the Mad Max method and the results were all between 12 and 15 minutes a pound. It seemed that the shallower the pan the less cooking time

    Steve 

    Caledon, ON

     

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  • jcaspary
    jcaspary Posts: 1,479
    I've always gone with the idea of 10-12 minutes per pound that I saw a while back.  That being said, my turkey from last year was done about 30 minutes early.
    XL BGE, LG BGE, and a hunger to grill everything in sight!!!
    Joe- Strongsville, OH
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  • stemc33
    stemc33 Posts: 3,567
    edited November 2014
    Little Steven said:

    fishlessman did a survey on the Mad Max method and the results were all between 12 and 15 minutes a pound. It seemed that the shallower the pan the less cooking time

    The shallower pan makes sense due to increased airflow circulating around the bird. Also, I find that most things I cook actually finish faster on the egg compared to the oven given the same temps. Could be my oven or some other variable, but 7hrs. seems way out of the ballpark.
    Steven
    Mini Max with Woo stone combo, LBGE, iGrill 2, Plate Setter, 
    two cotton pot holders to handle PS
    Banner, Wyoming
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  • XC242
    XC242 Posts: 1,208
    Next time tell whomever is ordering to get 2 twelve pounders instead of one big bird. You would have no problem cooking 2 smaller birds on your XL and they are easier to handle, prepare and cook.
    LBGE (still waitin' for my free T-Shirt), DIgiQ DX2 (In Blue, cause it's the fastest), Heavy Duty Kick Ash Basket, Mc Farland, WI. :glasses:  B)
    If it wasn't for my BGE I'd have no use for my backyard...
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  • Little Steven
    Little Steven Posts: 28,817
    I think the bigger the mass is the lest time per pound. I get 4.8 hours for 24 lbs but I have never had one go that long

    Steve 

    Caledon, ON

     

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  • Sous Jeff
    Sous Jeff Posts: 9
    Thanks to everyone for the links and responses. This has been very helpful.
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