Jump to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.

Surly Horns

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.

Featured Replies

So i've been spatchcocking for the last 5 years or so. But I'm wondering what the negatives would be to butchering the whole bird and cooking the breasts separate from the thighs/legs/wings, and I can't really think of any. Breast meat is done at 160, but I prefer my dark meat to be cooked to around 180. Any reasons I should NOT do this?

  • Replies 815
  • Views 65.8k
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Most Popular Posts

  • Jerry Callo
    Jerry Callo

    Smoking the one 21 pounder today for the family.    Assisted with smoking 150 turkeys yesterday for the community.

  • I smoked a 12 lb and my dad roasted a 22 lb. His might be the prettiest turkey I’ve ever seen, but my smoked turkey seemed to get the most compliments. I think that may have more to do with the folks

  • PittsburghTiger
    PittsburghTiger

    I just took this off the smoker. It’s a backup turkey for the dinner tomorrow at a friend’s place up on the Allegheny. It looks good and smells better.

Posted Images

3 minutes ago, irishtexan said:

So i've been spatchcocking for the last 5 years or so. But I'm wondering what the negatives would be to butchering the whole bird and cooking the breasts separate from the thighs/legs/wings, and I can't really think of any. Breast meat is done at 160, but I prefer my dark meat to be cooked to around 180. Any reasons I should NOT do this?

It's even better than spatchcocking for temp control, and the only reason not to do it is for presentation, which goes out the window with spatchcocking anyway.

I can say the "two lemons under the skin" method needs testing before being served to the In-Laws.

CyKsI85CoA0yQSYg8_Mixe7qgonKgFwo1YAluVw5

 

3 hours ago, BabaYaga said:

I can say the "two lemons under the skin" method needs testing before being served to the In-Laws.

CyKsI85CoA0yQSYg8_Mixe7qgonKgFwo1YAluVw5

 

It's going to take everything I have not to do that to one of my turkeys this year.

5 hours ago, BabaYaga said:

I can say the "two lemons under the skin" method needs testing before being served to the In-Laws.

CyKsI85CoA0yQSYg8_Mixe7qgonKgFwo1YAluVw5

 

FitLump turkey.

Mrs. Brat fixin’ to pour the raw vegan dressing  from her grandpa’s 110 year old crockery bowl into the baking pan

 

74CBF3AE-B678-4D62-936E-C8BB581CF79E.jpeg

Well, I was getting ready to prepare the brine for the turkey and realized I don't have enough room in the fridge to hold both the brine and the turkey. So, how do I do this without the turkey temperature getting too warm and potentially having safety issues?

3 minutes ago, Dbeasy said:

Well, I was getting ready to prepare the brine for the turkey and realized I don't have enough room in the fridge to hold both the brine and the turkey. So, how do I do this without the turkey temperature getting too warm and potentially having safety issues?

Add ice.  Then, add more ice.  Eventually, that becomes problematic though from a desired salinity level.

Maybe put the bucket in a larger vessel or cooler and pack ice around it.  Repeat adding ice as necessary.  Not ideal, but . . .

Edited by dcbc

1 hour ago, Dbeasy said:

Well, I was getting ready to prepare the brine for the turkey and realized I don't have enough room in the fridge to hold both the brine and the turkey. So, how do I do this without the turkey temperature getting too warm and potentially having safety issues?

I'm not sure what blogs you're reading but the turkey goes INTO the brine so there is no need to make room for both separately. 

On 11/23/2020 at 12:04 PM, irishtexan said:

So i've been spatchcocking for the last 5 years or so. But I'm wondering what the negatives would be to butchering the whole bird and cooking the breasts separate from the thighs/legs/wings, and I can't really think of any. Breast meat is done at 160, but I prefer my dark meat to be cooked to around 180. Any reasons I should NOT do this?

I take the breasts off at 160, and leave the thigh/drumstick on for another 30-50 minutes.. Its all presentation, and comes apart easier when cooked..

 

I cannot figure out Dbeasy's issue here. I'm vexed.

I'm brining mine in a Ziplock BigBag, and putting it in a cooler full of ice. 

I have a small second fridge with minimal room. I thought about ice chest, and dumping ice on it to keep cold. Any concerns about rising temps for that on a 24 hour soak?

I'm planning on making turkey gumbo with the leftovers, and using the carcass to make my stock.  Never done that.  Any tips?

Edited by South Austin
I'm a god. Not the God.

52 minutes ago, South Austin said:

I'm planning on making turkey gumbo with the leftovers, and using the carcass to make my stock.  Never done that.  Any tips?

First, make a roux. 

For the stock or the gumbo?  I'm doing gumbo on Friday.  Using the dark meat to sub for chicken in a recipe I've used before. 

As far as stock, if I go homemade, and it's already roasted or smoked, I'll just chop up the carcass and other bones to fit the pot, add 6 quarts of water, an onion (cut in half), some carrots, bouquet garni or equivalent dry herbs.  Scrape off the smudge that rises to the surface, boil for an hour, then pour through a sieve.  Salt and pepper to taste.  

Like this.

 

Edited by dcbc

With any leftover turkey I recommend making tamales as well. My grandma would make them with smoked turkey instead of pork this time of year and they went so hard. 

1 hour ago, Dbeasy said:

I have a small second fridge with minimal room. I thought about ice chest, and dumping ice on it to keep cold. Any concerns about rising temps for that on a 24 hour soak?

I have the er, 'advantage' of living in a colder climate but I've done that before in the garage and never had a problem. I've used a cooler lined with a garbage bag. 

41 minutes ago, dcbc said:

First, make a roux. 

For the stock or the gumbo?  I'm doing gumbo on Friday.  Using the dark meat to sub for chicken in a recipe I've used before. 

As far as stock, if I go homemade, and it's already roasted or smoked, I'll just chop up the carcass and other bones to fit the pot, add 6 quarts of water, an onion (cut in half), some carrots, bouquet garni or equivalent dry herbs.  Scrape off the smudge that rises to the surface, boil for an hour, then pour through a sieve.  Salt and pepper to taste.  

I've made chicken stock, but recall someone saying that turkey stock can render more fat than chicken so you need to be more vigilant about skimming the fat. 

I've also never put cooked chicken in my gumbo.  It usually starts raw or at the most browned, and then put in with the stock after the roux and trinity are done, so the chicken cooks with it all for a few hours.  Not sure if you need to hold off on adding the cooked turkey until after the stock cooks down so the meat doesn't string apart.

@Brisketexan, care to weigh in on turkey gumbo?

Edited by South Austin
calling the expert

17 minutes ago, South Austin said:

I've made chicken stock, but recall someone saying that turkey stock can render more fat than chicken so you need to be more vigilant about skimming the fat. 

I've also never put cooked chicken in my gumbo.  It usually starts raw or at the most browned, and then put in with the stock after the roux and trinity are done, so the chicken cooks with it all for a few hours.  Not sure if you need to hold off on adding the cooked turkey until after the stock cooks down so the meat doesn't string apart.

@Brisketexan, care to weigh in on turkey gumbo?

The meat will string apart if you add cooked meat and cook it too long.  For my smoked chicken gumbo, I usually 1) smoke the chicken, 2) let it cool and pick the meat off, putting the meat in the fridge, 3) use the bones, skin, etc. to make smoked chicken stock (refrigerate, scrape the fat and solid grit off the top).  Then when making the gumbo, I add the stock as a big part of my liquid, and add the cooked chicken near the end -- just simmer with it in there a bit.

I LOVE turkey gumbo (turkey stock is so damned good).  And I'd do the same.  Add the stock, then add the leftover cooked turkey near the end.  I've made it before.  Damn it's good.

7 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

The meat will string apart if you add cooked meat and cook it too long.  For my smoked chicken gumbo, I usually 1) smoke the chicken, 2) let it cool and pick the meat off, putting the meat in the fridge, 3) use the bones, skin, etc. to make smoked chicken stock (refrigerate, scrape the fat and solid grit off the top).  Then when making the gumbo, I add the stock as a big part of my liquid, and add the cooked chicken near the end -- just simmer with it in there a bit.

I LOVE turkey gumbo (turkey stock is so damned good).  And I'd do the same.  Add the stock, then add the leftover cooked turkey near the end.  I've made it before.  Damn it's good.

spacer.png

Turkey pot pie is also very good with the leftovers.

4 hours ago, South Austin said:

I've made chicken stock, but recall someone saying that turkey stock can render more fat than chicken so you need to be more vigilant about skimming the fat. 

I've also never put cooked chicken in my gumbo.  It usually starts raw or at the most browned, and then put in with the stock after the roux and trinity are done, so the chicken cooks with it all for a few hours.  Not sure if you need to hold off on adding the cooked turkey until after the stock cooks down so the meat doesn't string apart.

@Brisketexan, care to weigh in on turkey gumbo?

Yes, I'd wait.  I throw sausage and shrimp in as well (kind of like combo fried rice of gumbo) and wait until there's about 15 minutes left in the simmer. 

/edit.  Just saw @Brisketexan's post.  What he said. 

Edited by dcbc

8 hours ago, Dbeasy said:

I have a small second fridge with minimal room. I thought about ice chest, and dumping ice on it to keep cold. Any concerns about rising temps for that on a 24 hour soak?

No issue, I brine a pile of turkeys outdoors in a cooler every year. Just keep plenty of ice in it and keep it out of the sun.

Late freebie turkeys thawing on the left, overnight brining on the right:

1712013388_briningonright.thumb.JPG.09ceabb16559e2bbc06a512ac4eb836e.JPG

Coolers full of brining:

1987328500_coolersbrining.thumb.jpg.999bf55a9688c96adee9baeaf82d4047.jpg

Brining mine in a Turkey fryer pot in the fridge.  Just removed a shelf to make room. 

Brining mine in a Turkey fryer pot in the fridge.  Just removed a shelf to make room. 
You need to live somewhere colder. I've got my Capon thawing in a water bucket in the garage. It's currently 8 degrees outside, so no worries about bacteria.

My dad always made turkey enchiladas with the leftovers.  Great stuff.  I've done it once but I'm usually too tired the day after to do any real cooking.  It's usually sandwiches for me.

Keeping things nice and simple this year.

Brined, dried, and smoked.

d8fe13b67f3cce1ffe94275754dfe5ef.jpg

This old girl went on the smoke at 8:45. 7bdcecd966705284a77e116e0c4477ae.jpg

Put in a dry brine 16 pound turkey at 5:30 at 250 in the electric smoker and the temp probe in the breast already shows 150 degrees. Will it really cook that fast? Everything I read said 30 minutes per pound. Or will it stall now, like a brisket?

Got a couple of turkey breasts on the smoker. Will be frying up a turkey later.47add1209c97f82d2c8c3d8844b92af4.jpg6caa3ab6f0cbebf292a69f797e65cedf.jpg

873ff8ba54fd5a3d02f859863a4ea455.jpg
Just pulled this one off the smoker, pulled it’s twin a couple hours ago, bird #1 is in the fryer with its sisters all lined up

Crushed it. Brined overnight and then hit it with salt pepper garlic. 2 hrs on light pecan smoke and basted with butter a few times. Pulled it off at 150° and rested it for 25 mins, carved off the breasts and sliced medallions. Fantastic. 

D708E04F-AFF5-4376-AEE4-25BA2AA485B9.jpeg

  • Author

Brined turkeys cook fast on a smoker.  My bird was 14.5 lbs and it took just under 3.5 hours at 300 degrees.

873ff8ba54fd5a3d02f859863a4ea455.jpg
Just pulled this one off the smoker, pulled it’s twin a couple hours ago, bird #1 is in the fryer with its sisters all lined up

Good looking bird.
3 hours ago, Buzzrock said:

Crushed it. Brined overnight and then hit it with salt pepper garlic. 2 hrs on light pecan smoke and basted with butter a few times. Pulled it off at 150° and rested it for 25 mins, carved off the breasts and sliced medallions. Fantastic. 

D708E04F-AFF5-4376-AEE4-25BA2AA485B9.jpeg

That color looks perfect. Mine turned out too light. 

  • Author

On the lonestar? They burn so clean that it takes a lot longer to get good color compared to other pits.  I put my turkey in the pan when the breast hit 145 and it had a good dark color.

Edited by kevwun

12 minutes ago, kevwun said:

On the lonestar? They burn so clean that it takes a lot longer to get good color compared to other pits.  I put my turkey in the pan when the breast hit 145 and it had a good dark color.

I roasted mine.  Didn't get the crispy brown color I was looking for, but meat turned out great. 

Anyways, on to the stock for T+1 gumbo.  And the bourbon. 

6-FEBF9-CC-16-CE-49-C5-B8-E7-833-C096-FB

Best bird yet. Pulled with the breast at 165. Skin in top split, which was a new one for me. But no matter. This is just before I buttered it and put it in a foiled pan for the last hour or so. b541ebe767ab9cfed1db5b2c1cfea600.jpg

I wouldn't suggest Goode Co smoked turkey to my Aggy neighbor. 

I ordered it sliced which they interpreted as boneless. The white meat was OK, but dry. The dark meat just had this gamey funk that wouldn't expect from turkey.  Almost inedible without dressing and cranberry sauce. 

I'm over turkey until next year.  Beef tenderloin, maybe ham for Christmas. I'll probably switch it up with a fried turk -duck-en from Ragin' Cajun for Thanksgiving 2021. 

  • Author

Goode Co BBQ is fucking awful.  The seafood place isn't bad, but I would never willing try their BBQ again.

1 minute ago, kevwun said:

Goode Co BBQ is fucking awful.  The seafood place isn't bad, but I would never willing try their BBQ again.

The Taqueria is pretty good, but I agree in general with your thesis. 

I thought they could handle smoking a turkey. They can't. 

 Add a couple of cans of chicken broth and some water, throw in a couple of bay leaves and a leftover turkey neck, add kosher salt and ground pepper.  Bring to a boil and then simmer.

 

thumbnail_IMG_1121.jpg

Edited by NeverMarryAStripper

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

Configure browser push notifications

Chrome (Android)
  1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
  2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
  3. Adjust your preference.
Chrome (Desktop)
  1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  2. Select Site settings.
  3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.