Tender and Juicy Brined and Smoked Turkey

Tender Turkey Brined and Smoked

It's easy to make a tender and juicy brined and smoked turkey. It all begins with a brine that really helps the turkey stay moist. Add a little pecan smoke and watch the temperature closely and you will be rewarded with a wonderful roasted turkey that everyone will love.

This recipe is all about how to brine a turkey and how to smoke a turkey. It incorporates two special techniques for making a very tender and juicy smoked turkey that is full of flavor. The first technique is brining. Why is brining important? Because it creates a very juicy turkey. I always brine my turkeys even when cooking in a conventional oven. It's not hard and it makes a huge difference. No special tools are required. All you need is a big clean bucket and a lot of ice.

The second technique is cooking the turkey in a smoker. In this case, it was a Kamado Joe setup for indirect heat over lump charcoal. I used a little bit of pecan wood for color. More on that later.

What is Brine?

Brine is a solution of water, salt, sugar and spices. The brine tenderizes the meat and changes the meat at a cellular level, allowing the cells to retain moisture. The result is a turkey that is moist and not dried out.

How to Brine a Turkey

If the turkey is frozen, place it in the refrigerator three days prior to cooking to allow it to thaw. You cannot brine a frozen turkey. Mix all of brine ingredients, except for the ice water, in a large pot and bring it to a boil. Cook for two minutes then remove it from the heat and allow it to cool. When cool, transfer the solution to a large stock pot or brand new and clean five gallon bucket. Add the ice water and stir.

Remove the turkey from its packaging and pat it dry. Also remove the neck, gizzard and whatever else they stuff in that little bag. We won't be using any of that for this turkey. Place the turkey in the stock pot with the brine, neck down. Make sure that the brine covers the turkey. Add more water if needed.

Cover the turkey with additional ice and store it in a cool place for 6 - 8 hours, preferably the refrigerator if you have room.

Choosing the Smoke

For this smoked turkey, I choose to use my Kamado Joe rather than my offset smoker. Why? Well the offset smoker burns kiln dried post oak and produces a lot of smoke. That is ok for a brisket or pork shoulder, but not a turkey. It's too much smoke. Instead, I cooked this turkey on a Kamado Joe setup for indirect heat. I used lump charcoal with about a cup of pecan chips that I soaked for 20 minutes. The chips were spread evenly of the coals, even the parts that were not hot, to maximize the smoke. Pecan is great for turkeys, chicken, game hens and even duck. It provides a rich bronze color that is much more pronounced that any other wood. It is also a mild smoke so it does not overpower the turkey.

Setup the smoker for 325 degrees F, indirect heat. Remove the turkey from the brine, rinse it off and pat it dry. Discard the brine. Place the turkey in a roasting pan. Rub oil over the skin and place the onion, apple and spices in the cavity and around the turkey. Add water to the pan.

Insert a temperature probe (for the Fireboard or other device) into the thickest part of the breast. Cook for 12 minutes per pound until the turkey reaches 160°F. Loosely tent with foil if the turkey browns too quickly.

Resting the Bird

The final step is to rest the turkey after removing it from the smoker for 15 minutes. If the turkey has not rested, the first cut will release all of the juice and you will be left with a beautiful but dry turkey. Let is sit for 15 minutes and all of those juices will be reabsorbed. Then each slice will be nice and juicy.

Side Dishes That Go Great with Turkey

• Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Guanciale
• Grilled Sweet Potatoes
• Creamed Corn without Cream
• Sage Sausage Apple Stuffing

Watch How to Brine a Smoke a Turkey on YouTube