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Spatch turkey vs non

Looks like I may try my first spatch turkey. How does the timing differ from non spatch?

I have done raised direct spatch small chickens. But no indirect big turkeys. 

Assuming, cut the back bone, go indirect with air gapped drip pan and put it on around 315 dome? Not sure on the timing however. 




Comments

  • Spatchcocked birds cook much more quickly and more evenly. 

    I put a thermometer in one of the thighs - looking for around 180. I cook at 325 to get a crispy skin - a  two, two and a half hour cook for a 14 pound bird. 
    Living the good life smoking and joking
  • pasoegg
    pasoegg Posts: 449
    I have had the same result as @smokingpiney.  Gets the job done quickly and don't have the slurs when you sit down to eat cause you drank less than a six pack...

    "it is never too early to drink, but it may be too early to be seen drinking"

    Winston-Salem, NC

  • Carolina Q
    Carolina Q Posts: 14,831
    point the legs toward the hinges, not the handle. It's hotter back there.

    I hate it when I go to the kitchen for food and all I find are ingredients!                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

    Michael 
    Central Connecticut 

  • lousubcap
    lousubcap Posts: 37,810
    My eggseprience is in the ball-park of the above timing-wise.  I place a zip-lic bag of ice cubes on the breasts for around 30 mins before tossing the bird on the BGE (legs to the back as noted by @Carolina Q) to ensure they lag the legs to the finish temp.  
    @paseoegg you can easily pound a six-pack in that window.  =)
    BTW- I use a hatchet to spatch the bird-the rib bones are much bigger than the chix.  (Adult beverage consumption starts after that drill).  I also do that the day before and then air-dry in the fridge over-night to help with crispy skin.  FWIW-
    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.  
  • lousubcap said:
    My eggseprience is in the ball-park of the above timing-wise.  I place a zip-lic bag of ice cubes on the breasts for around 30 mins before tossing the bird on the BGE (legs to the back as noted by @Carolina Q) to ensure they lag the legs to the finish temp.  
    @paseoegg you can easily pound a six-pack in that window.  =)
    BTW- I use a hatchet to spatch the bird-the rib bones are much bigger than the chix.  (Adult beverage consumption starts after that drill).  I also do that the day before and then air-dry in the fridge over-night to help with crispy skin.  FWIW-
    Haha, a hatchet!? I was going to use my kitchen shears. Maybe I’ll have to use something bigger.
  • SmokeyPitt
    SmokeyPitt Posts: 10,490
    pasoegg said:
    I have had the same result as @smokingpiney.  Gets the job done quickly and don't have the slurs when you sit down to eat cause you drank less than a six pack...
    You make a good point. I am cooking a whole bird to increase the cooking/bourbon time. 


    Which came first the chicken or the egg?  I egged the chicken and then I ate his leg. 

  • Photo Egg
    Photo Egg Posts: 12,137
    Sherryjames said: by
    lousubcap said:
    My eggseprience is in the ball-park of the above timing-wise.  I place a zip-lic bag of ice cubes on the breasts for around 30 mins before tossing the bird on the BGE (legs to the back as noted by @Carolina Q) to ensure they lag the legs to the finish temp.  
    @paseoegg you can easily pound a six-pack in that window.  =)
    BTW- I use a hatchet to spatch the bird-the rib bones are much bigger than the chix.  (Adult beverage consumption starts after that drill).  I also do that the day before and then air-dry in the fridge over-night to help with crispy skin.  FWIW-
    Haha, a hatchet!? I was going to use my kitchen shears. Maybe I’ll have to use something bigger.
    A GOOD set of sheers is all you need.
    Thank you,
    Darian

    Galveston Texas
  • lousubcap
    lousubcap Posts: 37,810
    @Sherryjames - I tried with the kitchen shears and then a robust knife-declared victory and used the hatchet.  Have never looked back.  Your instruments may (likely) be sharper and you can apply more muscle but I would have something else ready for the process.  
    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.  
  • Carolina Q
    Carolina Q Posts: 14,831
    Never spatched a turkey, but a quality serrated bread knife sure works well for chickens. 

    I hate it when I go to the kitchen for food and all I find are ingredients!                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

    Michael 
    Central Connecticut 

  • Nothing special about the kitchen shears I use and they work just fine for spatchcock turkey. The only drawback I can think of with spatchcock is related to presentation. It's not an issue for us, but a finished bird does sort of resemble something you might expect to see in the opening scene of a Law and Order SVU episode.
    Stillwater, MN
  • bgebrent
    bgebrent Posts: 19,636
    @nolaegghead is the expert here.  I'm sure he'll chime in.
    Sandy Springs & Dawsonville Ga
  • nolaegghead
    nolaegghead Posts: 42,109
    bgebrent said:
    @nolaegghead is the expert here.  I'm sure he'll chime in.
    Not really Brent, but based on the very limited exposure to the OP in other threads, and cross-referencing that with what I predict he would like, I could take a stab at it.

    Remove all the dark meat, as it's full of bugs, and just cook the white meat, spatched, of course.  I think you will find it supreme.
    ______________________________________________
    I love lamp..
  • bgebrent
    bgebrent Posts: 19,636
    bgebrent said:
    @nolaegghead is the expert here.  I'm sure he'll chime in.
    Not really Brent, but based on the very limited exposure to the OP in other threads, and cross-referencing that with what I predict he would like, I could take a stab at it.

    Remove all the dark meat, as it's full of bugs, and just cook the white meat, spatched, of course.  I think you will find it supreme.
    On que my friend.
    Sandy Springs & Dawsonville Ga
  • Sherryjames
    Sherryjames Posts: 78
    edited November 2017
    bgebrent said:
    @nolaegghead is the expert here.  I'm sure he'll chime in.
    Not really Brent, but based on the very limited exposure to the OP in other threads, and cross-referencing that with what I predict he would like, I could take a stab at it.

    Remove all the dark meat, as it's full of bugs, and just cook the white meat, spatched, of course.  I think you will find it supreme.
    Thanks for the info, friend.  Super helpful.  I will put it to good use.

    Should I use any particular seasoning? @nolaegghead
  • bgebrent
    bgebrent Posts: 19,636
    bgebrent said:
    @nolaegghead is the expert here.  I'm sure he'll chime in.
    Not really Brent, but based on the very limited exposure to the OP in other threads, and cross-referencing that with what I predict he would like, I could take a stab at it.

    Remove all the dark meat, as it's full of bugs, and just cook the white meat, spatched, of course.  I think you will find it supreme.
    Thanks for the info, friend.  Super helpful.  I will put it to good use.

    Should I use any particular seasoning? @nolaegghead
    Pepper, all you need grasshopper 
    Sandy Springs & Dawsonville Ga
  • nolaegghead
    nolaegghead Posts: 42,109
    white pepper and iodized salt
    ______________________________________________
    I love lamp..
  • Okay, thanks.  I'll let you know how it turns out.

  • Just a thought, but you might also consider Mickey's coffee rub.
    Stillwater, MN
  • YukonRon
    YukonRon Posts: 17,446
    I deep fry all my turkeys. I use a paste on the bird of black pepper, cayenne pepper, T Zac and garlic, using Italian Dressing to mix to a coffee ground consistency. Pat it on the surface and cavity, place in a bag, pour in remaining unused dressing, refrigerate over night. Cook 3.5 minutes per pound, at 350F oil temp (peanut).
    When done, it looks black, freaks folks out, because it looks burnt, but it is not. It is all the sugars from the pepper crust on the bird. People pick the skin off and eat it first. It is not spicy.
    Last time I cooked it, I heard it was delicious, as there was nothing left, when I got to the table.
    After finishing the cook in my deepfryer, I took the bird inside, then went back out to shut everything down. By the time I got back to the table, all that was left, was a carcass, hardly any meat.
    I knew I was in trouble when I saw my daughter's dipshid exboyfriend come outside with a glass of white Burgundy and a turkey leg, as I was heading back in to the table.
    I was asked to do 3 of those this year for others, which I will do.
    For us, I am doing a ham. Goes further in our house, and I will get something to eat this year.
    "Knowledge is Good" - Emil Faber

    XL and MM
    Louisville, Kentucky