Can you smoke a 20-pound Turkey?
Poultry is easy to contaminate, and therefore it may be dangerous to attempt to smoke a 20-pound turkey. This is because the bird is so large that it won’t cook quickly enough and eliminate bacteria. Instead, you should cook it at a higher temperature and then add a smoky flavor to it at the end of the cooking process.
What happens if you smoke a Turkey too long?
If you smoke your turkey too long it will dry out and lose all that great juiciness that makes it so delicious. Depending on the size of your bird, 2-3 hours at 225 degrees Fahrenheit should be enough time to infuse with smoky goodness.
What is the best temperature to smoke a Turkey?
It is best to cook poultry at lower temperatures like 225 degrees Fahrenheit for a longer period of time. This ensures the meat stays moist and tender without burning or drying it out too much. Prep your smoker before cooking your turkey . Make sure the inside is clean and that there are no creosote or debris left from a previous cooking session.
How long to smoke a turkey without an oven?
It should take you about 4 hours to properly smoke your turkey under these conditions. It’s best not to use an oven for smoking meat and instead use a specific meat smoker to do the job right.
How long should I smoke a 20 lb turkey?
10-12 hoursIt depends on the size of your turkey and the smoker you're using. Generally, though, you should allow for about 30-40 minutes of smoking per pound. So, if you have a 20-pound turkey, it'll probably take 10-12 hours to completely smoke it.
Can a turkey be too big to smoke?
After it is thawed, the bird will keep several days in the refrigerator before spoiling. Whole turkeys that weigh 12 POUNDS OR LESS are the recommended size for safe smoking. A larger turkey remains in the "Danger Zone" - between 40°F and 140°F - too long.
What is the danger zone when smoking a turkey?
Turkey breasts, drumsticks, wings, and whole turkeys are all suited for smoking, although for safety's sake, stick with whole turkeys that weigh 12 pounds or less. Turkey is in the “Danger Zone,” where bacteria grows the fastest, between 40°F and 140°F.
Can you smoke a 21 lb turkey?
The turkey should smoke for 30 to 40 minutes per pound, until the inside temperature reaches 165˚F. 6. Check every hour for smoke.
Can I smoke an 18 pound turkey?
Follow the manufacturer's directions for preparing the smoker. Prepare an 8 to 18 lb. thawed or fresh turkey by removing the giblets and neck draining the juices, and drying with paper towels. The turkey should be completely thawed for even, safe cooking.
Can you smoke a 25 pound turkey?
However, you can smoke your turkey at 250 F/120 C to reduce the cooking time a little. Plan on 25 minutes per pound at this temperature. This is a better strategy for larger turkeys since it reduces the amount of time that bacteria can potentially grow.
Can you get food poisoning from smoked turkey?
Turkey and its juice can be contaminated with germs that can make you and your family sick. For example, turkey can contain Salmonella, Clostridium perfringens, Campylobacter, and other germs. Whether you're cooking a whole bird or a part of it, such as the breast, you should take special care.
What temp kills salmonella in turkey?
165°FThe USDA reports that heating poultry to at least 165°F destroys Salmonella, Campylobacter bacteria, and avian influenza viruses. That's because, above a certain temperature, the bacteria's cell will collapse and die.
What is the 40 to 140 rule?
The 40 140 rule is an easy to remember rule for food safety temperatures. 40°F is the internal meat temperature when the cooking begins. This is the point where food is removed from the refrigerator at a safe temperature that it was stored at. 140°F is the internal temperature that meat must meet within 4 hours.
How do you smoke a 20lb turkey?
At 225 degrees, a 20-pound turkey should cook at a rate of 30 to 40 minutes per pound. If you increase the temperature to 250, it will take 25 to 30 minutes per pound. It's best to keep the smoker temperature above 225 when smoking a bird this large.
How long does it take to smoke a 20 pound turkey in a Traeger?
Let the turkey smoke at 225°F until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. This will take approximately 30 minutes per pound.
How long does it take to smoke a 20 pound turkey at 300 degrees?
The rule of thumb is to smoke the turkey at 300 degrees, 15 minutes for each pound. This is the FASTER method for smoking a whole turkey.
How Long To Smoke a 20 Pound Turkey
At 225 degrees, a 20-pound turkey should cook at a rate of 30 to 40 minutes per pound. If you increase the temperature to 250, it will take 25 to 30 minutes per pound. It’s best to keep the smoker temperature above 225 when smoking a bird this large. Otherwise, it could stay for too long in the “danger zone” between 40 and 140 degrees.
How Big is The Average Turkey?
The answer to this one has changed a great deal over the years. Nearly 100 years ago, the average turkey weighed in at just over 13 pounds. As of 2014, that number had more than doubled, climbing to a jaw-dropping 29.8 pounds.
How Long To Smoke a 20 Pound Turkey: The Breakdown
If you set the smoker to 225 degrees, the turkey should cook for 30 to 40 minutes per pound. That means the process will take at least 10 hours, so it’s important to plan ahead.
A Word Of Caution
Is it safe to smoke a turkey that weighs 20 pounds? As long as you set the smoker temperature high enough, it can be done.
Can You Smoke a Turkey Overnight?
Setting the temperature to 225 or 250 degrees ensures that you’ll have plenty of time before the turkey is ready to be taken off the heat. Since opening the smoker will cause the temperature to drop, it’s a good idea to let it do its work undisturbed. Smoking the turkey overnight is an excellent way to do this.
Should You Wrap The Turkey Before Smoking?
We don’t recommend taking this step, as it will prevent that savory smoke flavor from permeating the meat. That said, if you find that the wings are turning darker than you’d like and the meat still hasn’t reached a safe temperature, it’s permissible to wrap them in foil for the remainder of the smoke.
How Much Turkey To Serve Per Person
When it comes to bone-in meat like whole turkey, the basic rule of thumb is 1-1/4 pounds per person. In this case, we like to aim a bit higher than that, for a few reasons.
How Long To Smoke a 20 Pound Turkey
Smoking a turkey takes about 4 hours, but if you smoke it longer than that, you risk drying it out. It’s important to remember that smoking a turkey doesn’t mean it’s done; it simply means it’s been smoked long enough to give off the desired flavor.
How Big is The Average Turkey?
A typical Thanksgiving turkey weighs around 15 pounds, though you can get smaller birds as well. A 12 pound bird is usually the smallest option available, but you can also choose from 14, 16, 18, and 20 pound turkeys.
How Long To Smoke a 20 Pound Turkey: The Breakdown
Smoking a 20 pound turkey takes about 8 hours. This includes smoking the bird, brining it, and resting it after smoking. It’s important to remember that the longer you smoke a turkey, the better it tastes. So if you’re planning on having a big family meal, you’ll want to make sure you’ve got plenty of time to spare.
A Word Of Caution
If you’re not familiar with how to properly smoke a turkey, you could end up with a dry, tough bird. While it’s true that smoking a turkey is easy, it’s also very dangerous. Make sure you follow these tips from the USDA to ensure you get the best results possible. 1.
Can You Smoke a Turkey Overnight?
Yes! You can smoke a whole turkey overnight if you wish. This method works well because it allows the turkey to absorb smoke flavor while resting. To make sure that the turkey doesn’t dry out during the night, place it in a covered roasting pan and fill the bottom of the pan with about 1 inch of water.
Should You Wrap The Turkey Before Smoking?
No, wrapping the turkey does not help the smoking process. Wrapping the turkey will only trap moisture in the meat and prevent the skin from drying out. It’s better to remove any plastic wrap before placing the bird into the smoker. How Long Should I Smoke A Whole Turkey?
How Much Turkey To Serve Per Person
A whole turkey can feed about 10 people. For smaller families, half a turkey can serve 4 people.
Is it safe to smoke a 20-pound turkey?
Poultry is easy to contaminate, and therefore it may be dangerous to attempt to smoke a 20-pound turkey. This is because the bird is so large that it won’t cook quickly enough and eliminate bacteria. Instead, you should cook it at a higher temperature and then add a smoky flavor to it at the end of the cooking process.
How long does it take to smoke a 20 lbs. turkey at 300 degrees?
When smoking your 20-pound turkey at 300 degrees, you’ll need to allocate 15-20 minutes per pound. It should take you about 4 hours to properly smoke your turkey under these conditions.
What temperature should you smoke it at?
Meats smoked at higher temperatures will take less time than at lower temperatures. You should allocate 35 minutes/pound at 235 degrees, 30 minutes/pound at 250 degrees, and 25 minutes at 275 degrees.
Do you need to wrap it?
Just like cooking a Thanksgiving turkey, you should wrap your turkey in foil if you notice parts of it getting too dark during the cooking process.
Final thoughts
Smoking meats is a delicious way to prepare them that adds a lot of flavors. If you’re looking for a new way to prepare your Thanksgiving dinner this year, or maybe you just want to try a new recipe, you should absolutely look into smoking your turkey.