A new smoker

[huntingfool43]

Well the wife and kids decided I needed a new Brinkman Smoker for my birthday. I think there is a turkey still in the freezer, it will have to be the first victem . Anybody have a good recipe for turkey, I thinks it's about 12 lbs.

[Catfishhoge]

Hey Steve,

Happy 50th!

[caznik]

If you want to smoke a whole turkey, ask Steve Arends. Im pretty sure that he told me that he happen to smoke a whole turkey before. I smoke turkey legs so far and they turned out really good.

Caznik

[huntingfool43]

Hey Steve,

Happy 50th!

Thanks Rick, don't feel a day over 49.

Rich

Do you have a charcoal or electric? The book said start with 10 to 15 lbs of coal, thats just seems like a lot to me.

[caznik]

Oh I dont know about that. I have a propane smoker. But I did the turkey legs in around 200degs.

Rich

[Steve Arend]

Hey Steve,

I smoke a whole turkey every year for thanksgiving for the guys here at work. Do you have a charcoal or electric? I have both so I can help you out with either set-up.

[Steve Arend]

The book said start with 10 to 15 lbs of coal, thats just seems like a lot to me.

Use between 20-30 briskets and add as needed to maintain a temp of 200-240 deg. You'll need a meat thermometer to check the inside temp of the turkey. Once you reach an internal temp of 168 deg. cook for about 30-45 minutes longer and then you’re done. A 12-14 lb bird will take about 6-7 hours to cook only add your smoking wood for the last 2 hours or so. Make sure you use only hard woods to smoke with. I make my own blend of smoking wood out of apple/hickory and then soak it over night in apple juice.

[huntingfool43]

Thanks for the help Steve. I thought 10 to 15 lbs to start with was a bit much. Didn't want to cook it, wanted it smoked.

[huntingfool43]

Well I did a whole turkey and it turned out great. Figured out real fast that the temp gauge in the smoker was way off, way to hot. Put an oven thermometer on the self next to the bird and it was reading 350 degrees when the smoker was saying ideal. Used the oven thermometer from then on and it worked great. Cooked it at 225 +- for about 7 and a half hours, internal temp was 185. Good eating for sure and the cold turkey sandwitches are yummy. Tomorrow it's time to try some fish.