How To Smoke Turkey In Bradley Smoker
Although it is nowhere near the holidays, no one said that you cannot have a full turkey meal.
So here is a guide on how to smoke a turkey in Bradley smoker to cook a nice meal.
If you want the turkey to be as tender and juicy as possible, the best way to cook it is by smoking.
This is a great cooking method that is very easy to do but it takes a lot of time.
It can also be tedious for first-timers but once you learn how to properly smoke a turkey, all the next ones will be easy.
That is why we have an easy-to-follow guide here for you.
Bradley smokers are great for smoking anything.
You can control it and maintain the low temperature so that the turkey slowly cooks and softens.
There are many ways that you can do and other appliances that you can use but there are not a lot of those that can do better than the Bradley smoker.
That is why it is one of the best choices.
So with this guide, you will be able to make the best turkey with that aromatic flavor.
There are a few things that you need which we will also discuss here later so keep on reading.
What You Will Need
There are many ways and shops where you can choose the best turkeys to buy.
If you have a butcher shop near you, that would be better to be sure that they serve it fresh.
You should, however, know how to select the best turkey to get the best out of the meat that you want.
There are some clear signs on the turkey that you can look for when choosing.
For example, there should be enough fats in between the crevices of the bird.
The part under the wings and between the body and the legs should have an underlying yellow color.
The skin should be pale white with some pink on it that comes from the meat inside.
You should avoid a turkey with some blood clots on it as it is a sign of bad butchering.
Ensure that the legs, the neck, and the wing parts do not have blood clots on the edges.
That way, you will know that the bird is cleaned and butchered properly before dressing it.
Choosing freshly-butchered turkeys will also mean that there are some that you need to clean up yourself.
This is easy as you only need to remove the cavity inside along with the organs.
For the other ingredients, I recommend getting your favorite spices and brine.
That way, you will be more familiar with how much you should put on each turkey so you can control the flavor.
You can also go for the easier option which is to select rubs and ready-made brines to save time.
However, I do not recommend those as it is best to make them fresh.
Smoked Turkey With Bradley Smoker
Step 1: Prepare And Brine
The day before your scheduled cooking, prepare the brine and the turkey.
If you have bought a frozen one, make sure to defrost it properly by leaving it in the fridge for at least overnight.
Mix the wet ingredients in a pot over medium heat until it starts to combine the color.
Add the spices and other dry ingredients and then leave it to cook until the sugar and salt melt in it.
Let it simmer and then remove it from the heat once you see an even consistency.
Rinse the turkey under cold water both inside and out to make sure it does not have any blood in it.
Let the brine cool down completely before placing it in a large zip-lock bag or a large bowl.
Make sure that wherever you put it, the turkey is submerged completely in the brine.
After that, place the brining turkey in the refrigerator and leave it overnight.
This will help the turkey get the juices it needs for the long cooking process ahead, so do not forget this.
Step 2: Prepare The Turkey
After leaving the turkey in the refrigerator overnight, remove it from the refrigerator and discard the brine.
Rinse it with cold water and pat it dry with paper towels then place it on a pan.
Put it back in the refrigerator for at least two hours and then prepare the other tools and ingredients that you need.
Leaving the turkey in the fridge for another two hours will dry it.
Step 3: Preheat The Bradley Smoker
At least 15 minutes before the turkey is ready, load up the smoker with wood bisquettes of your choice.
Bradley smoker also sells its bisquettes and they put off a nice beefy flavor.
These are essentially wood pellets but are clumped up more loosely and are quite larger than pellets.
From there, turn the heat up and preheat the smoker at 225 degrees Fahrenheit.
Leave the smoker’s lid closed for at least 15 minutes to balance and distribute the heat evenly.
Allow the smoker to preheat properly and do not disturb it by opening the lid.
Step 4: Season Turkey
Rub the insides of the turkey with 2 tablespoons of melted butter and then add your stuffing.
You can chop up some apples to add some sweetness and combine it with some vegetables.
You can also add spices along with the apples instead of vegetables.
Get another 2 tablespoons of butter and rub the outside of the turkey before sprinkling or rubbing your favorite seasoning.
Place the turkey on an aluminum roasting pan and then place it in the smoker.
You can also let the turkey rest for another 10 minutes so it somehow absorbs the seasoning before smoking.
Step 5: Get It Smoking
Place the turkey in the smoker and then close the lid. Leave it to smoke and do not disturb the heat inside by opening the lid frequently to check the color of the turkey’s skin.
Let the turkey smoke for up to 8 hours or until it has reached the internal temperature you need. At the 2-hour mark, insert a meat probe into the thickest part of the turkey’s legs.
Insert another meat probe if you have an extra one on the breast of the turkey. Once the turkey legs reach 175 degrees Fahrenheit and the breasts 165 degrees, remove the turkey from the smoker.
Step 6: Let It Rest
Place the turkey on a cutting board and let it rest for at least 10 minutes.
This will help the turkey continue cooking and will reach temperatures of around 180 degrees Fahrenheit.
That is a safe internal temperature to ensure that the turkey does not have any live bacteria inside it.
This will also help bring back the juices into the relaxing muscles and keep them tender.
Taste the turkey with the remaining melted butter and then serve it with gravy on the side.
You can also serve it with other side dishes, that will depend on the one you like most.
Leftover Turkey
If you have cooked a large bird and you did not feed many people, you are most likely going to be left with some leftover turkey.
So you need to know how to properly store them.
First, place the leftover turkey in a zip-lock bag once it has cooled down, however, do not leave the turkey out at room temperature for more than two hours as it might get contaminated.
Place the leftover turkey in a zip-lock bag and palace it in the fridge.
This will allow you to preserve the freshness of the smoked turkey for up to four days.
You can also wrap the turkey in aluminum foil before putting it in the zip-lock bag and placing it in the freezer. Freezing the turkey will make it last longer, even for months.
Conclusion
As you can see, smoking turkey is not that hard, but it does take a lot of time.
So I recommend doing this during weekends or your day-offs so that you can observe the process yourself.
By cooking the turkey with this method, you can be sure that the turkey will stay tender and juicy even after hours of cooking.
Smoking will also add a unique flavor to the turkey.
There are also many ways to cook a turkey, but smoking will give you a smoky flavor that you cannot get from other appliances. So make sure to follow the guide and get cooking!
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