Thawing a turkey in a cooler might seem like an odd notion, but it’s one that’s worth exploring. The question is, does this method go against the rules of food safety? If not, what are the best ways to go about it? Thawing a Turkey in a Cooler If you want to thaw turkey in …
It takes a while to smoke a turkey properly, but that’s true of most large cuts of meat. The question is, what’s the best temp to smoke turkey, and how long can you expect it to take? Best Temp To Smoke Turkey When smoking turkey, 275 degrees is our preferred temperature. This gives the smoker …
Who can resist the allure of smoked turkey legs? They have fantastic eye appeal, they taste and smell amazing, and they’re very forgiving in terms of internal temperature. What’s the ideal turkey leg internal temp when smoking or grilling? Let’s find out. Turkey Leg Internal Temp Turkey legs are considered dark meat, so they can …
No matter what cut of meat you’re smoking, there will be differing opinions on how to position it on the cooking grate. Whole turkeys are no exception. In this guide, we’ll explore the debate behind smoked turkey breast side up or down to help you decide. Smoked Turkey Breast Side Up or Down When you …
Since whole turkeys are so large, it can be difficult to predict how long they might take to thaw. Even when you do your best, there might still be patches of ice throughout—or worse, portions of the bird that are still frozen solid. Assuming your bird didn’t have time to fully defrost, can you cook …
Have you ever experimented with injecting your meat before smoking? If not, it might be worth a try, especially with lean cuts. Whole turkeys, for example, are prime candidates for injection. Here’s our ultimate guide on when to inject turkey—along with a few recipes to help you get started. When To Inject Turkey The best …
It’s a lot simpler to smoke a turkey breast than a whole turkey. They’re smaller and easier to handle, for one thing, and their lighter weight means they’ll take less time to cook. What is the average turkey breast weight, and how long can you expect the meat to take on the smoker? Our ultimate …
Have you heard of the danger zone as it relates to meat products? It affects all types of meat, and turkey is no exception. In this piece, we’ll focus on the turkey danger zone so you’ll know what’s considered a safe temp to smoke turkey. Turkey Danger Zone The danger zone for turkey and other …
It can be more challenging to smoke a whole turkey than it is to smoke other large cuts. That’s mainly because poultry is leaner than smoker staples like brisket and pork butt, which makes it prone to overcooking. If you decide to go for it, what’s the protocol for smoking turkey at 350 degrees? And …
When cooking large cuts of meat like whole turkeys, the total cooking time is directly related to the temperature of the oven—or smoker, in this case. Here’s our ultimate guide on how long to cook a turkey at 325 degrees Fahrenheit. How Long To Cook a Turkey at 325 Degrees At 325 degrees, turkey should …
When you’re planning a large gathering, one of your first steps is to find out how much food you’ll need to provide. Bone-in whole poultry can be especially tricky. In addition to the natural shrinkage that will occur, a lot of the carcass will be inedible. How many people does a 20-pound turkey feed on …