how do you smoke a 15 pound turkey

How long to cook a 12 pound unstuffed Turkey?

Turn the oven down to 325ºF and let it bake for about 3 hours.

• To make sure it’s fully cooked the thermometer should register 170ºF and remove it from the oven.
• Put the turkey onto a serving platter and cover it loosely with foil. Letting it rest for at least 1 hour. ...
• You can use the drippings in the roasting pan for gravy.
• Decorate around the turkey at your liking. We used kale, apple, oranges and lemons.

How do you cook an already smoked turkey?

To reheat your smoked turkey, same as reheating other foods you need to prepare below tools:

• A good pan to bake your smoked turkey. ...
• Cooking spray to moisturize the smoked turkey
• A probe thermometer to check the inside temperature of the smoked turkey
• Aluminum foil to tent the smoked turkey and keep it moist
• Chicken broth to maintain the turkey tenderness
• An oven

How large should Turkey be to feed 12 people?

What turkey size will I need?

• Turkey size for 3-4 people: A 1.5-1.75kg / 3-4lb bird
• Turkey size for 5-6 people: A 2-3kg / 5-6lb bird
• Turkey size for 7-9 people: A 3-3.5kg / 7-8lb bird
• Turkey size for 10-12 people: A 4-4.5kg / 9-10lb bird
• Turkey size for 13-15 people: A 4.5-5kg / 10-11lb bird
• Turkey size for 16-18 people: A 5.5-6.5kg / 12-14lb bird

More items...

How big of a turkey can I smoke?

Whole turkeys that weigh 12 POUNDS OR LESS are the recommended size for safe smoking. A larger turkey remains in the "Danger Zone" - between 40°F and 140°F - too long.

How long does it take to smoke a 15 pound turkey?

about 7 1/2 hoursA 15-lb turkey will take about 7 1/2 hours of smoking time. When I calculate my smoking time, I estimate about 30 minutes per pound. What is the temperature of turkey when it's done? Safe internal temperature of turkey is 165°.

How long does it take to smoke a 15 pound turkey at 275 degrees?

Smoke the turkey at 275 degrees, 15 minutes for each pound. We had a 15 lb Turkey, so we smoked it at 275 degrees for just under 4 hours.

How long does it take to smoke a 15 lb turkey at 250 degrees?

Smoking a turkey can be a long process, so be sure to start early in the day so that the turkey will be done by dinner time. Typically, it takes at least 6 hours to smoke an average sized turkey at 250 degrees F. Plan on having your turkey cook for about 30 minutes per pound.

How do you smoke a turkey and keep it moist?

My solution is to smoke the turkey directly on the grill grates, with a roasting pan filled with 1″ water underneath the grates, about 3-4 inches from the meat. This will keep the cooking environment moist but let the turkey get evenly crisp on the outside.

Do you wrap a turkey when smoking?

About 3 hours into the smoke, check the turkey and if the wings or other extremities are getting too brown you can wrap them with small pieces of foil to stop the browning process. I prefer a nice dark mahogany look so I occasionally wrap the wings at about 4-1/2 to 5 hours into the smoke but usually not before that.

What is the best temperature to smoke a turkey at?

Turkey can be smoked at a smoker temperature as low as 225 degrees, but it's much quicker if smoked at 275-300 degrees, or even higher. When smoking at a lower temperature you're looking at more time in the smoker, but that means the turkey could potentially have a richer smoke flavor.

What is a good wood for smoking turkey?

Hickory is a classic hard wood choice for smoking turkey for several reasons. It has a distinct flavor that is robust and very forward and is familiar to those who enjoy smoky flavors. Maple wood gives off a sweeter smoke and can add a lovely golden hue to anything you smoke with it.

What do you put in a turkey cavity when smoking?

Fill the turkey cavity with butter, cola, apple, onion, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Cover turkey loosely with foil. Add wood chips to the smoker according to the manufacturer's directions. Place the roasting pan in the preheated smoker.

How long do I smoke a turkey at 225?

Low & Slow Smoked Turkey - Smoke your turkey at the low temperature of 225 degrees F for approximately 6-8 hours for a 22 pound turkey. Remove turkey from the brine and pat dry with paper towels (this is an important step, don't skip it).

Will turkey dry out in smoker?

Turkey is a delicate meat that doesn't have a lot of connective tissue or fat. It will dry out and darken quickly, as well as absorb the flavors of smoke more than other meat does.

Do you use a water pan when smoking a turkey?

Tips For Using a Water Pan When Smoking a Turkey In cold weather, a water pan filled with boiling hot water can help maintain the smoker temperature, plus it gets the temperature up quickly for a fast start. This is especially helpful if your smoker can't quite do the job when it's cold outside.

Why is my smoked turkey tough?

This process requires water which means that if your turkey skin dries out too fast, it will never crisp up. The high-convection environment of a smoker is enough to draw out the moisture faster than the skin can crisp. The result is tough, leathery skin.

How long do you smoke a 14 pound turkey at 250 degrees?

It's good to plan 30 minutes per pound when you smoke a turkey between 225-250 degrees Fahrenheit. This turkey was 13 pounds and took about 7-8 hours to get to temperature. Remove the turkey from the smoker and allow it to sit, still covered with foil, for 10 minutes before slicing.

Should I use a water pan when smoking a turkey?

Tips For Using a Water Pan When Smoking a Turkey In cold weather, a water pan filled with boiling hot water can help maintain the smoker temperature, plus it gets the temperature up quickly for a fast start. This is especially helpful if your smoker can't quite do the job when it's cold outside.

How long does it take to smoke a turkey breast at 275?

approximately 1-2 hoursSmoke the turkey at 275 degrees, basting periodically with melted butter. This cook will take approximately 1-2 hours depending on the size of the breast.

Can you smoke a turkey at 300 degrees?

The rule of thumb is to smoke the turkey at 300 degrees, 15 minutes for each pound. This is the FASTER method for smoking a whole turkey. We used a 17 pound turkey for this recipe, and smoked it at 275-300 degrees for just under 4 hours. The turkey is safe to take off the smoker when it's reached 165 degrees.

Community Q&A

Can I smoke the turkey for about 2 hours, and then put it in the oven to finish cooking?

Warnings

Except when it’s brined, you should never rinse a raw turkey. Rinsing isn’t an effective way to get rid of bacteria, and it may actually splash harmful germs around your kitchen work area and increase you risk of getting sick. The best way to get rid of bacteria is to cook the turkey thoroughly. [10]

About This Article

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What Size Turkey Should You Get for Smoking?

If you're smoking a whole turkey, we recommended that you choose one weighing no more than about 15 pounds — large turkeys take too long to heat all the way through. If you choose a frozen turkey, it should be thoroughly thawed before you begin.

How Long to Smoke a Turkey

Smoking a turkey is a long but rewarding process. At 240 degrees F, the turkey will need to cook for about 30 minutes per pound.

How to Smoke a Turkey

Besides a smoker, there are a few other things you'll need to smoke your turkey.

Our Test Kitchen's step-by-step guide for how to smoke a turkey will help you cook a juicy, flavorful bird for Thanksgiving dinner

Oven-roasted turkey is a Thanksgiving classic, but learning how to smoke a turkey is a great way to mix up your holiday cooking repertoire.

taste of home

Here’s a little secret: You don’t actually need a smoker in order to make smoked turkey. You can convert your grill into a smoker, which is the method our Test Kitchen swears by. They used a Weber Original Kettle Charcoal Grill for this recipe, but you can use any charcoal or gas grill.

How to Smoke a Turkey (Recipe)

This smoked turkey recipe comes straight from our Test Kitchen. It makes 12 servings, but you can scale it up or down depending on the size of your bird.

How Long to Smoke a Turkey

Smoking is all about “low and slow”—cooking your bird at a relatively low temperature for a long period of time. Our Test Kitchen recommends smoking your turkey for 15 to 20 minutes per pound at 275°F to 300°F (when testing this recipe, we used an 11-pound turkey and smoked it at 290°F for 3 hours, or 18 minutes per pound).

Tips for Smoking a Turkey

As a rule of thumb, plan for 1-1/4 pounds of turkey per person—this should give you plenty of food for Thanksgiving dinner with enough extra meat to make plenty of leftover turkey recipes. For example, a 10-pound turkey will feed eight people.

Molded Cranberry-Orange Salad

When I take this dish to potlucks during the holidays, people always ooh and aah. Feel free to top with whipped cream for added appeal. —Carol Mead, Los Alamos, New Mexico

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Teddy is an associate digital editor at Taste of Home specializing in SEO strategy. As a home cook herself, she loves finding inspiration at the farmer's market. She also enjoys doing any sport that involves water and taking long walks with her black lab mix, Berkeley.

Choosing Your Turkey

Before we get into how long to smoke a turkey or the type of brine you’ll want to use, we have to start with how to choose the right turkey for your big day.

Defrosting Frozen Turkey

Fresh turkey not an option? It’s not a crime to buy frozen. You’re just going to need to commit more time to the cause. It normally takes 24 hours to thaw for every 5 pounds of turkey, so if you have a 16-pound turkey, we could be talking about three days of thaw time.

Smoked Turkey Brine

After choosing the right turkey, you need to get your brine ready. Brine is the foundation of every legendary turkey. It’s what preps your meat to be smoked, and locks all of those zesty, earthy flavors into your turkey meat.

How to Smoke a Turkey on a Pellet Grill

Now that we’ve walked you through turkey selection and brining, it’s time to get smoking. Ideally, you’re going to want to smoke your turkey on a wood pellet grill. That’s because a pellet grill offers both fool-proof temperature control and also infuses your meats with those mouth-watering hardwood flavors that people are going to drool over.

Turkey Times and Temperatures

The biggest mistake people make when smoking a turkey? Our experts say it’s not planning enough time to cook. You should plan for an hour a pound but always gauge doneness by internal temperature. For poultry, 165 degrees Fahrenheit is recommended. Internal temp is how you’ll ultimately be able to be sure your turkey is smoking evenly.

How to Reheat a Smoked Turkey

It doesn’t matter how much you gorge yourself or how many people you have over for Thanksgiving. It seems like there are always leftovers. Fortunately, our smoked turkey is amazing to eat cold right out of the fridge.

Should You Smoke Turkey?

Before jumping in the smoking times and temperatures, first let's explain why smoking a turkey is just as easy as cooking any other poultry or red meat.

How Long Does it Take to Smoke a Turkey?

We've all heard the old saying...slow and low. The rule of thumb for smoking most meats is about 1-1.5 hours per pound at a consistent temperature of 225°F. This holds true for turkey too.

Smoked Turkey Cooking Times When Using a Smoker

For smoking a full turkey, set the smoker at 240°F. It is recommended to cook it for 30-40 Minutes per pound. A 8 pound turkey will take in average 4 hours while a larger, 12 pound turkey will take about 6 hours.

Smoked Turkey Cooking Times When Using a Grill

For grilling the complete turkey, preheat the grill to medium-high heat (or about 325°F) and set up to cook with indirect heat. It is recommended to cook for about 15 minutes per pound, or 3 hours for the average turkey.

How to Speed Up the Cooking Time?

If you are in a hurry and don't have all day to dedicate to cooking the turkey, then there is one cooking method which will make it to cook faster.

How Much Smoked Turkey per Person?

As a general rule, I plan 1 1/2 pounds of turkey per person. I am taking in consideration that your turkey will weight less than 15 pounds, so it will easily feed around 10-12 people.

What Equipment and Wood Type to Use?

Before determining what wood type to use when making this smoked turkey recipe, first you have to decide what type of smoker you are going to use.