Smoker

[GRIMJIM]

I got a smoker from a client at work.

I would like to smoke a turkey for christmas but I have never used one.

Can someone suggest what types of wood to use and walk me through the process?

[john keyes]

what kind of smoker....what is the configuration

ie do you have a firebox on one end and then a horizontal section and then a vertical section with shelves (like mine?)



don't forget to take the neck and giblets out first, but it won't really hurt anything

you are gonna have some awesome sandwiches

[GRIMJIM]

It's a brinkmann electronic smoker. Similar to this one:

[Graybeard]

I use a Brinkman Gourmet which is similar to that but charcoal not electric heated. With charcoal no wood is needed but a water pan is. I'm not sure if yours has a water pan or not but if so use it and fill it with water. I've decided adding anything else to the water which I used to do really doesn't affect the end product so stopped it and just use water.

Any sort of hard wood tree that either bears nuts or fruit is fine to use to cook or smoke meat. My favorites are hickory, oak or pecan among the nut woods and apple or pear from the fruit woods. I don't know what exactly you'd classify mesquite but it does add a unique and nice flavor as well.

Ya shouldn't need or want a lot of wood. Just where it goes and how ya do it with the electrics I dunno.

[Swampman]

I have a Little Chief electric smoker and I prefer hickory chips.  I like my electric a lot better than the 2 charcoal versions I had before.

http://images.brinkmann.net/Docs/Pdf/810-7080-K.pdf

[scootrd]

Now here's a Smoker Grill

[pozoutdoors]

I've always liked hickory. But, this weekend I am going to try some apple. I have to try some mullberry one of these days, cause it smells good in my wood stove!!!! Make sure your water pan is full. It will keep your meat from being too dry!!! Best wishs and Merry Christmas!!!!

[GRIMJIM]

How long do you think for a turkey? And how about filling the water pan with beer? I've cooked meat in beer and it gives it a good flavor.

[hillbill]

if yu drink the beer yu will be less picky about how the meat turns out!jus kidding!

[john keyes]

you're gonna go low and slow, as you should

put a couple onions or potatoes in there while you're at it

really hard to tell how long it will take, just fire it up and keep an eye on it

I like to be at or above 200F for something to be happening

I don't think it will be an overnighter by any stretch, I know those brinkman's can really bring the heat sometimes

have the turkey fully thawed

you're mouth is gonna be watering whenever you check it, when you take the lid off to look and all that smoke and condensation hits you

have fun

[john keyes]

I just came across a couple of trees put down in my neighborhood and scarfed up on some premo oak and pecan