Smoked turkey question

[JHannah92]

Think I'm gonna smoke a bird for the first time this year on the akorn. Those of you who've done it, do you prefer to brine the bird or inject it? Or both? If you inject what do you like to use? I've smoked a bunch of chickens but never a big turkey. Last thing I wanna do is dry it out.

 

[NCHillbilly]

I never brine them, I inject them with a mixture of melted butter and Creole seasoning, and they always turn out dripping juicy. Most turkeys you buy in the store are pre-brined already unless you get some kind of fancy organic one.

 

[blood on the ground]

I've done it both ways and really couldn't tell a difference. Injecting butter is your friend. The one time I added some soy sauce to my brine it did add to the color. It had a much darker skin.

 

[Buck70]

Cajun butter injector

 

[glynr329]

Cajun butter injector

 

[pop pop jones]

If you look at the bird in the wrapping, you'll probably see water added.

 

[CroMagnum]

I've done it both ways. Smoked some turkey drumsticks yesterday just to try the dry brine process for the first time. Gotta say my wife and I really think this way was way more juicy but ymmv. LEt it sit in that salty mixture of seasonings for about 24 hours depending on the size of your bird, rinse off the brine, then season as usual before placing in the smoker. Easy, peasy

 

[AceOfTheBase]

Like CroMagnum said, just did these on a pellet grill, turned out moist & tasty.

 

[CroMagnum]

Like CroMagnum said, just did these on a pellet grill, turned out moist & tasty.
View attachment 1051387

Those look just like the ones I did yesterday. did you take those off my smoker when I wasn't looking?

 

[JHannah92]

Thanks y'all.