BRADLEY SMOKER | "Taste the Great Outdoors"

Recipe Discussions => Poultry => Topic started by: irish_smoker on November 20, 2012, 09:54:07 PM

Title: Turkey Position?? -- now with pics
Post by: irish_smoker on November 20, 2012, 09:54:07 PM
Any thoughts on whether it is better to do a turkey in the Bradley standing upright (like beer-can chicken) or laying on it's belly?

I did a couple turkey breasts last week and had great results with them just resting normally on the belly side, but thought I'd ask opinions when doing the whole bird.

Thanks.
Title: Re: Turkey Position??
Post by: viper125 on November 20, 2012, 10:12:54 PM
I mostly try to hang neck up. This way the extra grease runs out into a pan below it. If not it will lay in a pool inside which i dont like.

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Title: Re: Turkey Position??
Post by: Habanero Smoker on November 21, 2012, 03:21:08 AM
I like to lay the turkey flat, because I like to rotate the rack around half way through the cooking time. I feel that cooking vertically, the turkey cooks faster. Maybe it is because the heat has direct flow into the cavity. When the turkey is vertical it is harder for me to rotate it. If you do it vertically double up the racks.
Title: Re: Turkey Position??
Post by: viper125 on November 21, 2012, 06:35:37 AM
I usually hang mine vertical from string Habs. Lay a stick across the vent and tie to it. I put it so the butt touches a rack enough it dont rotate. then if I turn it it stays there.
Title: Re: Turkey Position??
Post by: irish_smoker on November 21, 2012, 09:52:00 AM
Thanks guys, I will probably just lay her on the belly and then put a tray of bacon above after the smoke is done.

I've got 3 pastrami's finishing up this afternoon for a paintball outing on Friday....putting the Bradley through a workout.

Thanks for the advice.
Title: Re: Turkey Position??
Post by: irish_smoker on November 27, 2012, 10:32:23 AM
Here are a couple pics I took during the process.  The first one is after about 6 hours in the smoker, I added a tray of bacon above the bird to drip down and keep it moist.  And the other pic is of the finished product just before I started slicing.

(http://i747.photobucket.com/albums/xx120/drunk_irishman3/2012-11-22_09-45-10_687.jpg)

(http://i747.photobucket.com/albums/xx120/drunk_irishman3/2012-11-22_13-51-16_159.jpg)
Title: Re: Turkey Position?? -- now with pics
Post by: NePaSmoKer on November 27, 2012, 11:02:09 AM
But in the other post you have your turkey on the rack  ???
Title: Re: Turkey Position?? -- now with pics
Post by: irish_smoker on November 27, 2012, 11:28:51 AM
Quote from: NePaSmoKer on November 27, 2012, 11:02:09 AM
But in the other post you have your turkey on the rack  ???

??? Not sure I understand what you're asking.  It was on the rack in the smoker (as you can see in the first pic with the bacon above) and then I moved it to a cutting board for dismembering (the red thing it's on in the 2nd pic)
Title: Re: Turkey Position?? -- now with pics
Post by: NePaSmoKer on November 27, 2012, 12:04:57 PM
Sorry
Meant for vipers reply


Title: Re: Turkey Position?? -- now with pics
Post by: viper125 on November 27, 2012, 02:15:03 PM
Well after reading I decided to try that way. I have done it both ways. But since I was removing it with just a couple hours of smoke. Figured It wouldn't cause a problem. And it worked fine. But I like to hang when smoking and finishing as it seems the turkey is cooked more even and no greasy deposits. I try not to get stuck in one position. Least till I try some thing my self.
Your Turkey looks Delicious. Will try the Bacon idea in the summer. But wife likes more conventional for Thanksgiving!
Title: Re: Turkey Position?? -- now with pics
Post by: irish_smoker on November 28, 2012, 08:31:03 AM
I know what you mean about the greasy deposits now....I tipped her over when I added the bacon tray to drain some out, but it sure does pool up in there.  Gonna try hanging it next time....
Title: Re: Turkey Position?? -- now with pics
Post by: viper125 on November 28, 2012, 09:07:19 AM
Yes it does. But figured it wouldn't just smoking.  I just smoked mine basically but didn't want to let it set cold either. Smoking at a hotter temperature caused the meat to start rising,but not hot enough to get any build up of grease. So it was only around 120 when placed in oven. But at 120 it climbed pretty fast in there and so i wasn't worried about the meat being safe. We usually cok a lot longer as we prefer it falling off the bone. But it was close and we ran out of time. But very good. Will definitely do it again.
I love the color of your bird. Mine was about the same. But when I fully do it in the smoker I will still hang to avoid all the extra grease. Bet that bacon tasted great on that turkey!
Title: Re: Turkey Position?? -- now with pics
Post by: Smoker John on November 29, 2012, 11:50:13 AM
Great looking bird