Disney style turkey legs

  • Some of the links on this forum allow SMF, at no cost to you, to earn a small commission when you click through and make a purchase. Let me know if you have any questions about this.
SMF is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

bladebuilder

Meat Mopper
Original poster
Hey all!! Just to get things in perspective, I have searched a bunch here, read dozens of threads. I see some great drums, but not really any recipe. Are you using Pops brine? If yes, great! If not, has anyone nailed it, and outlined the recipe and process? Got a dozen jumbo drums, and want to get them in so I can mayby get 'em cooked Sunday. Thanks in advance!!
 
Here's one I found that is pretty darn close.

SMOKED TURKEY LEGS close to Disney Style

The brine:
2 cups tender quick salt
1 cups brown sugar
2 tbsp. onion powder
2 tbsp. garlic powder
4 bay leaves
2 gallons water
6 turkey legs [totally submerged in brine]*
Sweet paprika

Mix all brine ingredients together in a non reactive container.
Put the turkey legs in the brine and place the container in the
refrigerator. Let stand for at least 48 hours.*

Remove legs from the brine and wash with cold water to remove excess.
Then soak in cold water 1 hour.
Rub the legs with a small amount of sweet paprika. Put legs in
smoker and set temperature for 225 degrees F. Smoke for at least
five hours.Untill Internal temp is 165-170 degrees.

*Large turkey legs will require 3 full days to be fully brined
and flavored. Smoking time at 225 degrees F will be about
6 1/2 hours.

If you do not have tenderquick, you can substitute heaping tablespoons of cure #1 and 1-2 cups of salt depending on how salty you like things. I also increase the brown sugar to 2 cups. for large legs I inject them with the brine mixture.

Barry.
 
So after digging around here and on the web, I went with this for a kick at the cat.

The brine:
1 cups tender quick salt
3/4 cups brown sugar
1 tbsp. onion powder
1 tbsp. garlic powder
3 bay leaves

1/2 TBSP whole peppercorns
1 gallon water

turkey legs injected and submerged in brine. These are over a pound each, a couple are 1 1/2.

I'll pop back Sunday with the Qview!!
 
  • Like
Reactions: mike5051
Looks great! Look for a post by BDSkelly or pm him he's done them if your not happy with how yours turned out. From the looks of them your most likely happy!
 
How did them legs taste?  I've got some in a brine recipe that Shoneyboy shared, it's a modified version of Pops brine.  How long did you brine them, and were they salty?  Mine have been in for 1 day and the recipe calls for three.  I am worried about them being too salty.  Your drums look beautiful!  POINTS!

Mike
 
I smoked disney turkey legs cured with pops brine (low salt version). They were not as great as I expected. Tasted like chemically cooked. Granted, the bar for theme park food is set really low considering the excitement and physical effort you put into a day there. We really like them when we were down in Orlando. Would probably have liked mine too.

I don't think I will make them again.
 
SmokingMeatForums.com is reader supported and as an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases.

Latest posts

Hot Threads

Clicky