Thanksgiving TR: My Big Green Egg Turkey

**smmokan** · 11-23-2012, 08:09 PM

This was the first year I smoked a turkey for Thanksgiving... and it won't be the last. I had a lot of time to kill hanging out at home yesterday (and waiting the three hours for the thing to cook), so I decided to document the process. Here we go:

Smoked Turkey from the Big Green Egg Cookbook; a reliable place to begin, I think:

The BGE electric starter is a must have. Eight minutes in the coals and you're on your way:

Let's get this party started... 99 degrees and rising quickly:

The view from above- the embers are starting to glow a nice orange-ish red:

This is what I'm talkin' about:

275*, on the way to my target temp of 325*:

The star of the show. A 12-lb turkey brined for eight hours, stuffed with lemon, onions, garlic, sage, thyme, and topped with olive oil, salt and pepper:

With the BGE, it's "set it and forget it".

Based on the amazing smell and a slight breeze, I'm betting I had some very jealous neighbors:

Yoshi helped me all afternoon... and was compensated nicely:

Checking in on the turkey about 2/3 of the way through. Sure is purdy:

Almost there:

And... done. Probably the best tasting turkey I've ever had (and I'm not just saying that because I cooked it), and definitely the best-looking.

**BmillsSkier** · 11-23-2012, 08:41 PM

Nice TR!

**huckbucket** · 11-23-2012, 09:43 PM

Originally Posted by smmokan

[/url]

I call photoshop!!

(damn, that looks good)

**Cruiser** · 11-23-2012, 09:47 PM

Damn! That what I'm talking about! I meant to document my first turkey on the egg too, but then I started drinking egg nog at like 11:30 and it all sort of went down hill from there.

I know you're up towards the north side of town, but if you happen to be passing through Littleton any time soon PM me for some beautiful freshly cut apple wood chunks. I have more than I'm gonna use in the immediate future.

**TNKen** · 11-23-2012, 10:37 PM

Did the same drill with one. Mine was a bigger bird.

If you want the coals to heat up a lot quicker, get them started, take off the top, then use a leaf blower to assist. I had mine up to about 500 degrees in less than 5 minutes.

**~mikey b** · 11-23-2012, 10:37 PM

what size is that egg and how much did the turkey weigh? trying to get an idea of what size I want

**PowderJ** · 11-23-2012, 11:12 PM

Between yesterday and a practice bird two weekends ago I've got two turkey's under my belt on the egg. Both times I've done it with a ceramic turkey stand which basically acts as a "beer can stand". No doubt the egg produces the best turkey I've ever had. The one downside about the stand technique is that you can't cook that big of a turkey as even a 13 pounder touches the top (I've got a large BGE).

Sweet pics and tr smmokan!

**smmokan** · 11-23-2012, 11:14 PM

Originally Posted by telemike

what size is that egg and how much did the turkey weigh? trying to get an idea of what size I want

I have a large BGE and the turkey was 12 pounds. For additional reference, I've cooked seven racks of ribs at once on the Egg also.

Cruiser- I may have to take you up on your offer... depending on where in Littleton you are, maybe I'll have a friend pick it up from you.

**warthog** · 11-23-2012, 11:39 PM

Did mine on the $399 Char Grill "acorn" from Lowes. Similar results for $500 less.

Nice tr. I meant to do the same. Maybe next time.

**~mikey b** · 11-23-2012, 11:42 PM

I'm looking at something in between - my buddy owns an Ace Hardware, so I can get a pro deal

**smmokan** · 11-23-2012, 11:45 PM

Originally Posted by warthog

Did mine on the $399 Char Grill "acorn" from Lowes. Similar results for $500 less.

Nice tr. I meant to do the same. Maybe next time.

Heh, I got mine WAY cheaper than that. A couple years ago I was looking on CL for an Egg, and I got lucky- a recent divorcee was selling all her ex-husband's shit and she had this listed for $300, including $200+ worth of accessories, wood chips, and cookbooks. I replied within 10 minutes and was there that night picking it up... she said by the time I got there, she had over 20 people try to offer her more money for it. I also built the table myself instead of plopping down $400-500 for the "branded" one that's built like shit.

**Danno** · 11-23-2012, 11:47 PM

damn, dude, that's a righteous looking bird. nicely done.

**warthog** · 11-24-2012, 12:34 AM

Originally Posted by smmokan

Heh, I got mine WAY cheaper than that. A couple years ago I was looking on CL for an Egg, and I got lucky- a recent divorcee was selling all her ex-husband's shit and she had this listed for $300, including $200+ worth of accessories, wood chips, and cookbooks. I replied within 10 minutes and was there that night picking it up... she said by the time I got there, she had over 20 people try to offer her more money for it. I also built the table myself instead of plopping down $400-500 for the "branded" one that's built like shit.

Yeah, just fuckin with ya. The egg will last forever. The Char Grill came with a stand, and has a cool center pop out so you can add coals without removing any food. Not something you will ever need to do, but it makes lighting it a cinch. All the bolts will need to be upgraded to stainless soon, and the cheap painted wood handle is going to be replaced soon. It works great, but some parts are cheap.

My next one will be the Primo XL. It is an oval sideways egg shape, and it can be divided for smoking. At $900 for a cosmetic b grade, it is pretty damn expensive though.

**Cruiser** · 11-24-2012, 09:16 AM

Originally Posted by telemike

what size is that egg and how much did the turkey weigh? trying to get an idea of what size I want

I have a large also and my bird was a little more than 16#. It fit with plenty of room to spare. Could have gotten a 20#er on there but we didn't have enough guests signed up to justify it. That said, an XL egg would be mighty nice. I was eyeing one at the Ace the other day and that thing is huDge!

@smmokan I'm a block off of Ridge Road ~1 mile south of Littleton Blvd. Can leave a couple of nice hunks out front for your buddy to grab at his convenience if you think you'll use them sometime soon.

**systemoverblow'd** · 11-24-2012, 09:50 AM

I'm salivating. Thing looks oh so tasty. Solid work.

**smmokan** · 11-24-2012, 12:14 PM

Originally Posted by Cruiser

That said, an XL egg would be mighty nice. I was eyeing one at the Ace the other day and that thing is huDge!

I checked out an XL the other day too- the only problem I see is that it isn't much taller than a Large. It's kind of strange looking since the dome is flatter than what I'm used to seeing.

That being said, I've cooked enough food for 15 people on my Large BGE without a problem. I don't see the need for the 200lb monster XL.

**CDubz** · 11-24-2012, 10:27 PM

Started smoking the turkey 5 years ago, been the only way we have ate them since. Nice thermometer by the way, I use the same one. Turkey looked awesome, nice work.

Sent from my HTC One X using TGR Forums