I'm Stressed Out About Easter Turkey

[SmokingCanuck]

OK folks, long time lurker, but I need to ask a question of the more knowing. I'm fairly new to my Bradley DS but have been enjoying it a great deal with good success thus far with whatever I've done.

Every Easter we go camping with a group of friends. Traditionally I've deep fried the bird. This year I was thinking of smoking but now I'm having second thoughts. I have a 19 lb. frozen bird (now thawing) and I'm worried about a successful outcome. I was planning to brine but can I smoke a 19 lb. bird??? Some suggest too big. It physically fits in the Bradley FWIW. Also.....the RV's stove is not large enough to finish the bird if needed so it has to be ALL in the smoker. How long can I expect. Has anyone smoked this large?

If it was just for me and the family I'd be less worried if I messed it up, but serving a group, I want to make sure I nail this. Feedback/experiences all welcome at this point.  :-\

[mikecorn.1]

Just a suggestion. You could always cut that bad boy in half and smoke it up in two racks.  More surface area for more smoke flavor. :)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Quarlow]

I did a 19 lb'r once. I smoked it for 3 hours then finished it in the Big Easy. They are only supposed to hold 16 lb'rs but I managed it. It was the best turkey I ever had except no stuffing (waaaa). For camping I would not be without a big easy. I take it you are running a genset to power your Bradley?

[seemore]

size can not help on that .but I have smoked a bird then deep fried it you will love it
seemore

[squirtthecat]

Spatchcock it...  (cut in half)   There are some videos out there on how to split a turkey like that.

[Smokin Soon]

I'm with Squirt on this one. Spatch that bad boy! It will give you a much more uniform cook and better smoke penetration.

[SmokingCanuck]

Thanks to all so far.

@Quarlow, we'll be on an electric site for Easter so power for the BDS is not an issue  ;). I don't have the Big Easy and hoping to minimize the number of appliances I need to complete this operation.

I will look up splitting/cutting it in half, thanks for the tip.

My big concern is cook times. Surfing around I'm finding anywhere from 4 hours to 10-12 hours  :o. I know wind can have an impact. Temps this weekend in these parts re aiming for 13 C or mid-50s F.

[TedEbear]

One thing about cooking the turkey entirely in the Bradley.  The skin will probably be a bit rubbery and not as crisp as what you are used to in the deep fryer.  Many people smoke their turkey in the Bradley until an internal temp of 140*F and then move it to the oven to finish cooking and make the skin crisp.  If you're camping I guess that's not an option.

[La Quinta]

Maybe smoke it to an IT then crisp the skin over a makeshift rotisserie? If camping...I assume you have a fire of sorts? Just thinking out loud...

[Habanero Smoker]

It seems in the past you were able to bring your deep fryer with you. If you can bring that along, you can do a combination of smoking and frying. There are many members who have applied 2 - 4 hours of smoke to their turkey in the Bradley, then immediately deep fried it. Do a quick search, and you should be able to find several examples.

[SmokingCanuck]

Hello

Oven not an option as the RV ovens are just too small for a bird of this size

Yes we have a campfire pit, had not thought of that as an option to crisper skin

Yes I could bring the fryer, I guess I was just trying to minimize the PITA factor with 2 appliances, but still may consider.

Thanks again  :)

[db14]

I did a 16 pounder for Christmas entirely in the Bradley and it took somewhere around 16-18 hours if I remember right.  It came out beautifully.

If you are really worried about the time, I would suggest smoking for a few hours and then dropping in the fryer if possible.

[Quarlow]

Whatever you end up doing, you know it will be good after smoking it. Good luck.