Smoked Turkey and experimental brine

Hopefull Romantic · October 10, 2009, 05:44:24 AM

Rich that turkey looks scrumptious. Beautiful color enjoy.

HR

squirtthecat · October 10, 2009, 06:13:41 AM

Bravo, Rich!

pensrock · October 10, 2009, 07:34:36 AM

Looks amazing, nice and moist. mmmmm :)

squirtthecat · October 10, 2009, 07:53:51 AM

What were your final smoking/cooking times?

Quarlow · October 10, 2009, 08:17:01 AM

OMG that looks awesome, darn you Smokeville know I'm drooling on myself.

ArnieM · October 10, 2009, 08:46:36 AM

That looks really good Smokeville. What did the turkey weigh before brining? I'm trying to figure out how large a turkey I can fit in the OBS.

I brined my turkey breast (about 9 pounds) last weekend with a mix similar to yours but with powdered/ground spices and no maple syrup. It came out really well.

Tenpoint5 · October 10, 2009, 10:19:02 AM

Well Done Smokeville Well Done!!

Smokeville · October 10, 2009, 10:23:53 AM

Quote from: squirtthecat on October 10, 2009, 07:53:51 AM

What were your final smoking/cooking times?

Almost exactly 4 hours with apple/maple smoke the whole time.... without the giblets and wing it weighed about 9lbs before brine. I used an instant read thermometer as my remote one died 20 minutes into the smoke. It read 165F on the thigh and 150F on the breast.

Then I let it rest while covered in foil for a few hours before carving. The breast was perfectly done and there was no "red" around the bones of the thigh.

Juice everywhere!

Smokeville · October 10, 2009, 10:27:35 AM

Quote from: ArnieM on October 10, 2009, 08:46:36 AM
That looks really good Smokeville. What did the turkey weigh before brining? I'm trying to figure out how large a turkey I can fit in the OBS.

I brined my turkey breast (about 9 pounds) last weekend with a mix similar to yours but with powdered/ground spices and no maple syrup. It came out really well.

I've read that it's best to smoke turkeys under 10lb. Previously I did two of them at the same time. I think you could fit a 12-14lb bird on a rack, maybe?

I really liked the overdose of fresh herbs. The 4 bunches cost about $5 in total which is 1/2 the cost of the turkey ($9.29!). And the cup of maple syrup isn't cheap either...

ArnieM · October 10, 2009, 01:40:10 PM

Quote from: Smokeville on October 10, 2009, 10:27:35 AM
I really liked the overdose of fresh herbs. The 4 bunches cost about $5 in total which is 1/2 the cost of the turkey ($9.29!). And the cup of maple syrup isn't cheap either...

So, between the herbs, salt and brown sugar, maple syrup and 12 bisquettes, you had a pretty expensive turkey ;) But, it looked like it turned out really nice. You just can't go out and buy one like that. ;D

MAK DADDY · October 10, 2009, 08:56:16 PM

Great job!! I have yet to cook a whole turkey, hope it turns out that good. Thanksgiving is coming, but the wife and are skipping to Mexico this year :)

squirtthecat · October 11, 2009, 05:04:33 AM

Our cafeteria lady has access to food service/restaurant products, so I scored a couple cases of these guys:

http://www.perduefoodservice.com/Products/product_details.asp?productId=35002

I can make a TON of turkey sammy's from a 10 pound hunk o' turkey!

I thought about trying your brine on one, but they are already pumped with salt/sugar/stuff..

Mak Daddy - whereabouts in Mexico are you going? We were down in Mazatlan last Easter.

Tenpoint5 · October 11, 2009, 08:11:30 AM

Quote from: squirtthecat on October 11, 2009, 05:04:33 AM

Our cafeteria lady has access to food service/restaurant products, so I scored a couple cases of these guys:

http://www.perduefoodservice.com/Products/product_details.asp?productId=35002

I can make a TON of turkey sammy's from a 10 pound hunk o' turkey!

I thought about trying your brine on one, but they are already pumped with salt/sugar/stuff..

Mak Daddy - whereabouts in Mexico are you going? We were down in Mazatlan last Easter.

Squirt that 10lb turkey breast is actually only a 7lb breast injected with 32% water/broth salt and sugar. I see a lot of shrinkage when you take that out of the bag and smoke it. If you got a good deal on it who cares. If you would weigh it before and after the smoke just for 0z and giggles.

Quarlow · October 11, 2009, 08:23:10 AM

MMM I haven't seen one of those since I was a teenager. My dad got a good deal on some and we were snackin' large while they lasted. They don't seem to have those up here or I am looking in the wrong places.

g · October 11, 2009, 09:06:38 AM

I substitute low salt vegetable broth for the water & don't use maple syrup (kids don't like it). I quite often roast after brining & the gravy has exceptional flavor.