1st time smoking a Turkey

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darlene and roy

Newbie
Original poster
Aug 13, 2015
4
10
I have a 22 lb turkey to smoke for Thanksgiving. I know nothing about smoking a turkey. I have a Smoke Hollow Pro Series LP Gas Smoker - 44" . Can any one tell me what I need to do from start (preparing) to finish? I have 15 people coming and don't want to mess it up. Lol I have read some of the posts and they all say different things to do and I don't know what to do. PLEASE HELP!! Thank you..
 
Darlene and/or Roy, I see this is your first post.  Be sure to stop in over at Roll Call and say "Hi!" 

Now, take a deep breath and relax.  Smoke cooking a turkey is easy, just intimidating.  It is a big chunk of protein and other people are usually involved so the intimidation factor rises.  My advice to anyone roasting or smoke cooking their first turkey is keep it simple. 

Have you ever roasted a turkey in the oven?  If the answer is yes and you have the ability to get similar temps in your smoker, just follow the processes you used in the oven.  For safety sake please do not listen to the experienced folks who say to low and slow a turkey.  Can it be done?  Yes.  Is it recommended for your first bird in the smoker?  Not in my opinion.  Time pressures mount on low and slow.  Hot n fast, 350-375F, will give you a 22 lb juicy, flavorful bird done in 4-6 hours depending on the temp you use.  

The important point in cooking any poultry is to get it to the proper internal safe temperature: 165F in the breast, 175F in the dark meat.  My daughter can tell you a story of one of her in-laws making 30 people sick from serving an undercooked turkey at Thanksgiving.  We were invited to that party but thankfully couldn't make it!

There are lots of other questions like fresh or frozen?  Are you going to brine or not?  Is the turkey pre-brined or injected or is it 100% all natural?  Once we know what you've got we can give you simple instructions.       
 
Last edited:
Thanks Noboundaries! Answers to your questions:

1.  The turkey is frozen

2.  Don't know if I need to brine?

3.  It is All Natural, Premium Young Butterball Turkey.

Appreciate any simple instructions!!
 
Sorry didn't get back to you sooner.  Been under the weather since last night. 

Okay, since it is a 22 lb frozen turkey it is going to take 4-5 days to thaw in the refrigerator.  Could take up to a day longer depending how cold your refrigerator is.  If you put it in a cooler with ice jugs to thaw in a cool garage, you're solidly in the 4-5 day range.  Just change the ice jugs when they get too melted.  I'm not a fan of thawing a turkey in cold water. 

Brining.  Butterball turkeys, even the all-natural ones, are injected with a self-basting brine and flavorings.  You can brine it if you want, just cut the salt in the brine to 1/2 to 1/3rd of the amount the recipe calls for or the meat will be too salty.  You can keep the sugar the same. A brined turkey is more tolerate of overshooting the temps.  You'll still have a juicy bird.  A simple brine for an 22 lb injected bird is (I already cut the salt below so no need to reduce it):

2 gallons of ice water.

1/2 cup kosher salt

1 cup brown sugar

8 smashed garlic toes

A bunch of fresh thyme, or 4 Tbs dried thyme. 

Brine for 24 hours in a cooler, breast down.  You can add more ice to the brine to keep it cold.  Discard the brine when finished.

Do not stuff the bird. 

On the day you are ready to smoke it, fire up the smoker to 350F-375F.  Use a 50-50 mix of hickory (for flavor) and cherry (for color).  There are a ton of ways you can prep the skin but to keep it simple I pat the skin relatively dry with a paper towel, leaving it just a little moist, then give it a decent coating of a your favorite BBQ rub. 

Throw it in the smoker breast side up and after 3 hours use a meat thermometer to check the temperature of the breast and the thigh to see how it is doing.  Aim for 165F in the breast and 175F in the thigh.  Often the breast can climb to 185F before the thigh gets to 175F.  That's where the brining comes in handy.      

Have fun!  
 
Thank you so much for all your help.  I will let you know how it turns out. Have a nice Thanksgiving.
 
You are now ready to smoke . Noboundries has sent you correctly and you will have a marvelous Bird .

:welcome1: to the Forum and enjoy this Thanksgiving .

Have fun and . . .
 
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