Smoked turkey is an excellent choice for a flavorful meal, especially during holidays. Smoking turkey in an electric smoker is the most convenient way to achieve that smoky flavour without having to worry about dirtying up your kitchen or dealing with a large outdoor grill.
It’s also great for larger gatherings when you need to cook a lot of food at once with minimal hassle. This guide will walk you through smoking a turkey in an electric smoker.
Are you ready to create a flavorful and juicy turkey? Here’s an easy-to-follow guide with eight steps to show you how to smoke a turkey on an electric smoker to get the best results.
Step 1: Preparation
Before cooking your turkey, you should take care of some basic preparations first. First, ensure your electric smoker is clean and ready to use. If it has been in storage, inspect it for any dirt or debris that may have collected over time.
Gather all the necessary ingredients and materials.
Additionally, you’ll need to gather all the necessary ingredients and materials for smoking your turkey. This includes:
- Turkey
- Seasoning (e.g., sea salt, pepper, garlic powder)
- Wood chips or pellets
- Aluminium foil
- Thermometer
Step 2: Preparing The Turkey
Once your electric smoker is clean and ready to go, you have all the necessary items. It’s time to prepare the turkey for cooking. Start by cleaning the turkey well and removing any excess fat or skin. Next, season the bird inside and out with your preferred seasonings. Then, wrap the entire turkey in aluminium foil before placing it in the smoker.
Aluminium foil
The aluminium foil helps to create a barrier between the turkey and the smoker, which helps keep it moist. It also prevents any of the seasonings from burning off during cooking. Once you wrap the turkey in aluminium foil, make sure to insert a thermometer into its thickest part. So you can watch the temperature as it cooks.
Step 3: Preheat The Smoker
Once you have prepped the easy-smoked whole turkey for cooking, it’s time for you to fire up the electric smoker. Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions when preheating your smoker. As each model may have different requirements. A general rule to follow how to smoke a turkey in an electric smoker is to preheat an electric smoker at least twenty minutes before cooking.
Step 4: Adding The Wood Chips
Now that you have preheated the smoker, it’s time for you to add the wood chips or pellets. You can find wood chips and pellets in a variety of flavours at most grocery stores or online. Choose your favourite flavour and spread an even layer of chips or pellets across the bottom of the smoker. You should also sprinkle some on top of the turkey before closing the lid.
Wood Chips And Pellets
The wood chips or pellets will give your turkey a smoky flavour and will help to ensure that it cooks. It’s best to choose a milder flavoured wood, such as fruitwood or hickory. So the smoke flavour doesn’t overpower the taste of the meat. Additionally, you can add some other herbs and spices to the wood chips for
Step 5: Cook The Turkey
Once the wood chips are in place, it’s time to start cooking your turkey! Close the smoker and set the temperature according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Generally speaking, electric smokers should be set between 230-275 degrees Fahrenheit for smoking turkeys. You’ll need to cook your turkey until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Which may take anywhere from 2-6 hours, depending on the size of the bird.
Step 6: Check The Temperature
Throughout this entire process, it’s important to keep an eye on the smoker’s temperature. To do this, you’ll need to use a digital thermometer. That can measure both the smoker’s internal temperature as well as the turkey’s internal temperature. This step will help you ensure that you cook your turkey to perfection.
Step 7: Resting Turkey
Once your smoked turkey has reached 165 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s time to remove it from the smoker and let it rest. Place the turkey on a cutting board or platter and cover it with aluminium foil. Allow the turkey to rest for at least 30 minutes before carving. As this allows the juice to redistribute throughout the meat.
Step 8: Carving And Serving
Finally, after your turkey has rested, it’s time to carve and serve! Carve your smoked turkey into individual portions using a sharp knife or electric carving knife. Serve your smoked turkey with your favourite sides and enjoy the deliciousness.
Tips for carving
When carving your turkey, there are a few tips to remember.
- First, make sure that all the tools you’re using are sharp and clean. This will help ensure that each slice is neat and even.
- Additionally, you need to pay attention to the location of the joints and bones. As this will make carving easier.
- When serving your smoked turkey, include plenty of gravy or other sauces to enhance the flavour.
FAQs
An electric smoker is a cooking device designed to smoke food, such as meats, using electricity as its power source.
Absolutely! An electric smoker is well-suited for smoking a whole turkey. It provides a controlled temperature and even cooking environment, resulting in deliciously smoked turkey.
Popular wood choices for smoking turkey include hickory, apple, cherry, and pecan. These woods impart a mild to medium smoky flavour that compliments poultry well.
As a general guideline, you can estimate about 30-40 minutes per pound of turkey at around 225°F (107°C). A 12-pound turkey would take approximately 6-8 hours.
Conclusion
Smoking a turkey in an electric smoker is a great way to achieve that smoky flavour. You can learn how to smoke turkey on an electric smoker with the proper preparation and equipment. That is sure to impress your guests. Smoking a turkey in an electric smoker is convenient and easy. It’s important to remember to season the bird, preheat the smoker, add wood chips or pellets for flavour, watch the temperature and allow the turkey to rest before carving and serving. With the proper techniques, you can make a delicious smoked turkey.