Does anyone know the best way to smoke a turkey and wht kind of wood chips to use?

Question

I am preparing top use a smoker to smoke a turkey and wonder what chips and how long to cook per pound!

Answer 1

ecipes
Smoked turkey doesn't need a recipe as seasonings, ingredients and spices are not necessary. You can add a little salt, pepper or poultry seasoning, but the smoke provides the principle flavor. Don't be afraid, however, to get creative with that smoke by experimenting with different types of wood -- hickory or mesquite being the most popular. Any chunks or chips of water-soaked hardwood or fruitwood will work, but do not use softwoods like pine, fir, cedar or spruce as they will give the food a turpentine flavor and coat it with an ugly and inedible black pitch.

Also, instead of smoking with water, try wine or juices. For the turkey in the photo above, we used Hickory Chips that had been soaked in a mixture of red wine and apple juice. This same liquid was then poured in the water pan and used for the smoking process.


Helpful Hints
Smoking time depends on the size of the turkey, the distance from the heat, temperature of the coals, as well as the outside air temperature. You can roughly estimate about 20 to 30 minutes per pound of turkey, but it's important to use a meat thermometer to be sure your turkey is thoroughly cooked. The turkey is done when the food thermometer, placed in the inner thigh, reaches 180° F (be sure the thermometer is not touching th bone).

Answer 2

Use Cherry-mesquite wood chips...smoke for about 6 hours for a normal sized turkey (16 pounds)

Answer 3

I use a mixture of mesquite and pine wood chips. I do not know if this is a common method smoking a turkey or if it suits the tastes of most people but I enjoy doing it this way.

Answer 4

To put it on the smoker[lol] over a water pan for 7-8 hours and use hickory chips. ITS THE BEST

Answer 5

Applewood or Maple and even Mesquite