In truth, soaking your wood chips and chunks isn't necessary and here's why. Wood chips and chunks that have been soaked have to get rid of any moisture before they can produce smoke. The water on the wood will have to heat to 212°F (the boiling point of water) and will stall there until the water has been evaporated.
What is the Best Wood for Smoking Meat?
- Oak. Oak is the quintessential go-to for smoking meat.
- Hickory. The most versatile choice as it can be used to smoke wood in many ways.
- Maple. One of the most subtle smoking wood, it will impart a more subtle smoke flavor.
- Mesquite. A hardy wood packing intense flavor.
- Pecan.
- Apple.
- Alder.
- Cherry.
Introduce the wood you will be using for smoke once there is adequate heat – remember, the wood is to produce the smoke, not the heat. Two to three chunks should be plenty to start with. If you have added too much wood, the smoke will be thick and white, and will not thin out. This means you are smothering the coals.
Wrapping the meat in foil will limit the amount of smoke on the surface of the meat thus yielding a better color and flavor on the final product. Wrapping should be done about half way through the cooking process or when internal meat temp is 150-160 degrees.
Smoked meat becomes bitter due to the formation of a substance called creosote; a thick, oily coat created when smoke sits on meat for too long. Not only does creosote make smoked meat bitter, but it can leave an unpleasant aftertaste and cause a tingling sensation in the mouth.
Do wood chips go bad or expire? The short answer is yes. Wood chips can go bad if they are not properly taken care of and stored correctly. Since wood chips are stored in bags, make sure the bags have holes in them to create airflow and never allow any moisture in the bag.
The optimal conditions for smoke flavor are low, smoldering temperatures between 300 and 400 °C (570 and 750 °F). This is the temperature of the burning wood itself, not of the smoking environment, which uses much lower temperatures.
Before you even think about putting meat into the smoker, allow the fire to move through its initial stages. The first bit of smoke coming out of the exhaust will be dark gray, then it'll become white as the fire progresses, and eventually it will move to the desired blue-smoke stage.
The turkey should cook for about 45 to 60 minutes before you check it. He wraps the turkey in heavy duty aluminum foil and finishes the cooking in the smoker until the turkey's internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. Once the turkey is cooked through, allow it to rest for five to 10 minutes before carving.
If using a smoker, prepare it for cooking at 225° to 240°F and have enough smoking wood ready to last 3 to 4 hours or so. Place the turkey, breast side down, directly on the smoker grate. Smoke for 1 hour, maintaining the proper temperature in the smoker.
Don't let the flavor fall flat by skipping on a vital step of preparing your turkey: brining. Use a brine before smoking to help keep meat moist while cooking and to add flavor. Brines can be simple with salt and water, or you kick things up a notch with spices, fresh herbs, or powerful aromatics like lemon and garlic.
Smoke at 225 to 250 degrees F (110 to 120 degrees C) for 10 hours, or until internal temperature reaches 180 degrees F (80 degrees C) when measured in the thickest part of the thigh. Baste the bird every 1 to 2 hours with the juices from the bottom of the roasting pan.
Ideal for poultry, pecan has a stronger flavor than most fruitwood, but it is milder than hickory and mesquite. David added a large dry chunk of pecan wood to the coals for a nice rich smoke. The combination of the two worked really well together to enhance the flavor of this smoked turkey breast.
On the mild side are fruit woods, like apple, peach, cherry, and pear, which might impart that sweetness your friends swear by, but are subtle enough to use with lighter foods like poultry or fish, and sometimes pork. They're great with pork, and strong enough to stand up to beef and game meats.
For a faster cooking time, you can smoke at 250 or even 275 degrees, but for a regular-sized turkey, we like 225 for about 30 minutes per pound. In fact, it might be best to avoid smoking big birds (say, 20 pounds), because the increased time required could increase your risk of the bacteria issues we noted above.
Once you have prepped your turkey, you are ready to begin smoking:
- Place turkey in the pan, breast-side up.
- Insert the meat thermometer deep into the thigh, being careful not to touch the bone or joints.
- Run your smoker at 240 degrees F (115 degrees C).
- Allow 30 minutes of cooking time per pound of meat.
Re: Egg on my face for our smoked 2 Turkey dinner party.two turkeys would add considerably more time than the extra 2 hours you alloted. always plan on it taking longer than you planned.
BBQ Smoking Times and Temperatures Chart
| Type of Meat | Smoking Temp* | Time to Complete |
|---|
| Pork Butt (Sliced) | 225 | 1.5 hours/pound |
| Pork Butt (Pulled) | 225 | 1.5 hours/pound |
| Whole Chicken | 250 | 4 hours** |
| Chicken Thighs | 250 | 1.5 hours |
Key Temperatures for Smoked TurkeyBring the temperature of your smoker or BBQ between 325° and 350° F Fahrenheit for optimal cooking that doesn't take all day.
The turkey needs to rest before carving.About 45 minutes or so gives it time to reabsorb the juices; otherwise they'll dribble out when you slice, and the meat will be dry. Don't tent the turkey with foil to keep it warm while it's resting; it's unnecessary and will make the skin soggy.
It's good to plan 30 minutes per pound when you smoke a turkey between 225-250 degrees Fahrenheit. Our turkey was 13 pounds and took about 7 hours in the smoker to reach 180 degrees Fahrenheit.
Turkeys should not be roasted or smoked directly in a roasting pan (or even on a rack in the roasting pan), and especially not be roasted while resting in liquid. This will result in a soggy chicken. This will keep the cooking environment moist but let the turkey get evenly crisp on the outside.
A turkey is safe for two days when thawed, so you can (and maybe should, to be sure) refrigerate the bird four to five days before cook day. But don't thaw the turkey in room temperatures or outside.
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.
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.
Keep your smoker between 275 – 350°F, but if it dips higher or lower its not a huge deal. Just make sure it doesn't stay that way for too long. At this temperature the turkey may take as long as 45 minutes to and hour per pound. Plus about 45 minutes in the oven to crisp up the skin.
It depends on the size of the bird, the consistency of temperature in your smoker, and what temperature you roast at. Plan for 11-13 minutes a pound for a 325 degree F smoke temp. The best way to get a great bird is to cook to 165 degrees, and to let the bird rest after cooking before cutting.
Place the seasoned turkey on the middle rack of the smoker, close the door, and set a timer for approximately 6.5 hours. The turkey should smoke for 30 to 40 minutes per pound, until the inside temperature reaches 165˚F.
How long and and what temperature do I cook my turkey? A: A small bird (8 to 12 pounds) requires 2-1/2 to 3 hours at 325 degrees F; a medium (12 – 18 pounds) will need 3-1/2 to 4-1/2 hours; and a large bird (over 18 pounds) could take up to 6 hours.
