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How do you do your turkey?

Sleek-Jet

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On the occasion that we do cook a whole bird I brine it, use whatever recipe you find on the internet (I use one from Food Network from ages ago). But all that salt makes the drippings all but useless for gravy and such, probably not an issue of you are cooking it on the grill though.
 

530RL

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Spatchcock it, inject with chicken stock, season the outside, smoke at 225 until breast is 160.

Easy, moist and fool proof.

I do not peel the skin and put butter under it. I want the skin to stay sealed on the meat to hold the juices in.

IMG_0222.jpeg
 

Mr. C

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We have guests coming and I hate to try something new on them, but I am considering doing a brine soak this year.

Bird always goes on a charcoal Webber.
No matter your cooking method. We always brine ours at least 24-36
I’ve smoked. Bbq Webber Never deep fried.
But a well seasoned brined bird with butter and all that. in the oven has the best consistency of flavor and juices to me. 🤷
 

SoCalDave

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Injection with the wife's home brew then dry rub for an 18lb bird. From there it goes into the deep fryer with peanut oil for about 60 minutes. One and done for the win. I'll never cook another bird in the oven as it frees up time for the wife's homemade baked beans and candy yams.
Can't wait!
 

TimeBandit

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In the Ugly Drum Smoker over Cowboy charcoal.

I'll do it spatchcock because a 20 pound bird barely fits.

It's just a big chicken, don't overthink it!
 

DarkHorseRacing

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My father is so traditionalist it drives me nuts. He won't do anything but in the oven, stuffed with stuffing. I won't eat that stuffing, I need mine baked like a casserole.

I can't wait to try a spatchcocked bird. There is an awesome Meat Church video on spatchcocking and smoking a turkey I gotta try it some day.

Also I noticed Kinders has a stuffing now I want to try but ill do a batch myself first before I switch it up on the family. I don't need shit from them on how something isn't good because I changed it.
 

lbhsbz

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Spatchcock it, inject with chicken stock, season the outside, smoke at 225 until breast is 160.

Easy, moist and fool proof.

I do not peel the skin and put butter under it. I want the skin to stay sealed on the meat to hold the juices in.

View attachment 1453248
where does the stuffing go?
 

Javajoe

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Bird Baptism Brine, Spatchcock’d, Holy Voodoo seasoning, smoked and basted w/ rosemary butter, then rest it for over an hour, then carve the whole breasts out whole and slice cross grain. Amazing every year
 

aka619er

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I hate to say it, but I haven't had a good bird in the oven in years. Smoked or fried are the only way to go. Every year is the same bs with the family in the oven though. Wow this bird is so juicy. Please pass the salt, gravy, cranberry, whatever the heck we have to add flavor to this boring turkey.
 

Done-it-again

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My father is so traditionalist it drives me nuts. He won't do anything but in the oven, stuffed with stuffing. I won't eat that stuffing, I need mine baked like a casserole.

I can't wait to try a spatchcocked bird. There is an awesome Meat Church video on spatchcocking and smoking a turkey I gotta try it some day.

Also I noticed Kinders has a stuffing now I want to try but I’ll do a batch myself first before I switch it up on the family. I don't need shit from them on how something isn't good because I changed it.
Dressing from the bird is the best.
 

Cray Paper

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Brined and smoked for the win if you have the time. Done it a couple of times for Thanksgiving, lots of stress but so worth it!
 

Cray Paper

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Spatchcock it, inject with chicken stock, season the outside, smoke at 225 until breast is 160.

Easy, moist and fool proof.

I do not peel the skin and put butter under it. I want the skin to stay sealed on the meat to hold the juices in.

View attachment 1453248
Looks like you have prime rib on the smoker too?
 

jet496

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We keep it simple and cook it in an oven bag and we also get a Honey Baked Ham. Easy peasy and all tastes great.
 

Smupser

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For years I deep fried, but you definitely get less yield on the meat vs. any other way.

now oven baked in a bag does the trick
 

DarkHorseRacing

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If you do the turkey in a bag, where does all the juices go? Stays in the bag and effectively steams the turkey?

My father always brings the turkey but he's always bringing mutant 32+ pound birds. I'd need to use a leaf bag at that point.
 

wallnutz

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Going to try an oilless fryer this year, but also smoking one too just in case.
 

Smupser

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If you do the turkey in a bag, where does all the juices go? Stays in the bag and effectively steams the turkey?

My father always brings the turkey but he's always bringing mutant 32+ pound birds. I'd need to use a leaf bag at that point.
Yes, it keeps all the moisture in.


mutant birds 😂😂😂
 

kevin1988

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Rotisserie on a weber kettle. Did it last year for the first time. Gonna be hard to use another method.
 

cofooter

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Spot on. I usually alternate years with a ham on the smoker or a prime rib.

IMO, nobody "likes" turkey for Thanksgiving, they just act like they do to keep away the hurt feelings. 🙃
Exactly, best part of having a turkey is making some pot pies to freeze with the leftovers for later in the winter...........
 

Sleek-Jet

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If you do the turkey in a bag, where does all the juices go? Stays in the bag and effectively steams the turkey?

My father always brings the turkey but he's always bringing mutant 32+ pound birds. I'd need to use a leaf bag at that point.

Buy 2 smaller birds, plus then you get twice the dark meat (which is the only part of the bird that tastes good on a plate and not in a sandwich). Not really a big deal to cook a second bird. I would roast one and smoke/grill the second if cooking two.
 

TX Laramie

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I cook the bird like something out of Willy Wonka.
I carve off the dark meat thighs and sear the skin in a Dutch oven and then load up veggies and stock for braising. Dark meat turkey just shreads away beautifully and now you have giant pot of gravy stock!

For the white meat, spatchcock the breast and roast that meat in a hot oven until 159*. Most juicy turkey ever. MOIST if you know what I mean.

Far from a Normal Rockwell presentation, but truly easy and tasty. You can cook the dark meat on Wednesday and have one less thing to clean up the next day!
 
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Cole Trickle

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Brine for 24 hours and then let it air dry in the fridge for 24 hours. Inject/rub it down with your favorite seasoning and smoke at 225

Depending on timeline I will sometimes smoke it regular and other times spatchcock.

Doing 2 birds this year so probably spatchcock.
 

boatnam2

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We jump in the car and head to the 555, let them do the work. I always use the BBq to cook mine.
 

Activated

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I do a peanut oil deep fried turkey and prime rib. I inject the turkey with turkey broth and follow the Lawry’s method for the prime rib. Tons of leftovers and prime rib sliders for the Michigan-Ohio State game on Saturday. That’s been going on for more than a decade. Go Blue!
 
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mash on it

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I brine it with onions and garlic.
Spray with olive oil.
Salt and pepper.
Smoker at 300-325°
Avocado wood.
3-4 hours.
I also smoke (bake) the homemade cornbread on the bbq, to make sausage stuffing, which also gets smoked.

Dan'l
 

DrunkenSailor

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Save the neck for me clark.

Last year I did a beer can turkey on the grill and one in the oven. I know the beer can doesn't really do anything butt it worked good as a stand. I used a chili lime seasoning. It came out really good but everyone complained it didn't taste like thanksgiving.
 

Javajoe

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If you do the turkey in a bag, where does all the juices go? Stays in the bag and effectively steams the turkey?

My father always brings the turkey but he's always bringing mutant 32+ pound birds. I'd need to use a leaf bag at that point.
They say stay under 16 lbs for a more flavorful Turkey.
 

Javajoe

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Don’t forget to make your Brine today so you can get it cold for the bird tomorrow night or Tuesday morning. Spatchcocking and smoking 2 15-16lb birds this time.
 

2Driver

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Never brined but I think I’m going to try it. Found this


IMG_3394.png
 

DarkHorseRacing

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Never brined but I think I’m going to try it. Found this


View attachment 1453432
Kinder also has a turkey brine and season kit in box. Don't have to use the seasoning but the brine has all you need in one bag.
 

Loony Toon

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I buy the pre cooked Turkey from Popeyes. Defrost for 3 days and then on Turkey Day, unwrap and in a pan on the smoker for 2.5 hours to warm up.

Absolutely delicious.
We tried Popeyes Cajun Turkey a couple of years ago, very good, used to always brine and smoke.
My give a shit for Thanksgiving ended last year when my main reason for being thankful was taken after 33 of the best years of my adult life!!!
 
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