Smoked Turkey Recipe

Every time of year merits a generous serving of smoked turkey, and with barbecue season on the way round again, there has never been a better time for you to consolidate and perfect your smoked turkey recipe. 

Christmas and Thanksgiving are also key moments throughout the year when you will want to have the best smoked turkey recipe under your belt to fall back on and that is what this article is all about – providing you with the best smoked turkey recipe for you to wow your guests this holiday season.

This article will go on to explain the steps you should follow to smoke a super duper, extra soft and tender turkey, it will also provide you with a list of the supplies you will need to get started, not to mention the temperature it should all be cooked at so that your turkey is neither too dry or undercooked. 

All of this and more to come in this article!

All The Supplies You Will Need

The best thing for you to do before you start cranking up the grill and throwing your apron on is to check that you have the appropriate supplies to complete this recipe. Take a look below at the handy list of supplies that will explain what you need to have to hand.

• Most importantly, of course, the turkey! Fat trimmed and defrosted is the perfect way to have your bird prepped for smoking.
• A smoker. The smoker is also an essential factor for this recipe. If your smoker is powered by wood pellets or chunks, make sure you have plenty of these to hand. (To spice up your recipe, why not try cooking with maple, apple, or cherry wood chips – they work well to infuse a more intense smoky flavor into your food.)
• You will also need a probe thermometer so that you can check the internal temperature of your turkey and remove it only once it has been cooked thoroughly. 

How To Smoke A Turkey

So we have arrived at the most important and naturally, the most exciting part of this article. Here is where we will include all of the instructions you need to smoke a mean cut of turkey for Christmas, Thanksgiving, or even simply for the family to enjoy this weekend. 

Make sure you follow the steps below carefully to ensure you get the very best results!

Ingredients

• Turkey (defrosted)
• Olive oil (as required)
• Chicken seasoning, salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder and onion powder (enough to cover the bird)
• Water (as required)

Directions

1. Preheat the smoker to 200 to 225 degrees Fahrenheit for indirect smoking. If you are cooking with a propane smoker, turn the burners on low.
2. Remove the defrosted turkey from the fridge and trim away any excess fat from the bird. 
3. Baste the turkey with olive oil, ensuring that the whole bird is covered. 
4. In a small bowl, mix together the dry ingredients and then pat them over the surface of the bird, ensuring that it is well seasoned.
5. Smoke your bird at roughly half an hour per pound (eg a 10 pound turkey will smoke for approx. 5 hours). Ensure that your water bowl is topped up throughout the cooking period.
6. Use a probe thermometer to measure the internal temperature of the turkey and remove it from the heat once it has reached 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
7. Transfer your bird to a serving platter and allow it to rest for up to 20 minutes before serving (this allows time for the juices to return to the surface of the bird).
8. Slice and enjoy!

Smoked Turkey Temperature

It is tricky to put an exact timing on cooking a turkey as how long it will take to cook depends on the following factors:

• The size of the bird (with larger birds taking longer to smoke).
• The quality of your smoker (better quality smokers will require less energy to heat and will remain hotter for longer).
• The internal temperature of the smoker (the higher the temperature the quicker the bird will cook).
• The outside temperature (the cooler the outdoors temperature the harder the smoker has to work to retain its heat therefore cooking slower).

The ideal temperature for cooking a turkey is until it reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Any more than 165 and you will find that your turkey starts to dry out. Make sure your probe is touching just the flesh of the bird rather than the bones when reading your temperatures as the flesh and bones can read slightly different temperatures.

Conclusion

Roasting the perfect cut of turkey is essential for a scrumptious family dinner this weekend, so why leave it to chance? Follow the recipe listed in this article and the tips and tricks that we have mentioned to ensure that you smoke a bird that will make your guests keep coming back for more!