As with any smoked meat (up to and including meatloaf), its important to know which woods to use to smoke turkey — and which ones you need to avoid. The common thread here is mellow vs. strong flavors. Woods that are great for turkey tend to be on the lighter side, while the ones that dont work are heavier and tend to erase the birds natural flavor.
Turkey gets a bad rap from a culinary perspective. Sure, we eat it on Thanksgiving, but a lot of people complain about it — its dry, its too hard to work with, it makes you sleepy, etc. But while its certainly a trickier cook than something like chicken, turkey can be incredibly rewarding. You just have to take your time with it — and one of the best ways you can do that is to smoke it. That slow cook preserves the birds juiciness while imbuing it with a great pop of smoke flavor.
Smoking a turkey can seem like an intimidating task, but with the right wood choice, you’re guaranteed moist, flavorsome and tender meat The key is choosing a wood that complements the delicate flavor of turkey without overpowering it But with so many options, how do you know which wood to use?
In this comprehensive guide we’ll walk through the pros and cons of the most popular smoking woods for turkey. We’ve done the research so you can wow your guests this holiday season with wood smoked turkey perfection.
The Importance of Choosing the Right Smoking Wood
Turkey has a mild, delicate flavor that can easily be overwhelmed by harsh smoke Choosing the wrong wood can impart bitter, acrid flavors, leaving you with an unpalatable bird.
Fruit and nut woods like cherry, pecan and almond are good matches for turkey. Their sweeter, mellower smoke lightly seasons without overpowering. Woods like hickory and mesquite are bold and intense. They can render turkey bitter if used alone.
The key is balance. By thoughtfully blending woods, you can achievecomplex, layered flavors. You’ll get the best results by mixing lighter and heavier woods.
The Top 5 Best Woods for Smoking Turkey
1. Cherry
Cherry wood is one of the most popular choices for smoking turkey. It imparts a subtle sweetness along with a rich mahogany color.
Cherry’s delicate fruit-wood smoke brings out the natural flavor of the turkey rather than masking it. It’s an ideal pick for beginners because it’s nearly impossible to mess up.
Some pitmasters add a touch of hickory to cherry smoke to inject a robust, bacon-like flavor. But use a light hand, as too much hickory can make turkey taste acrid.
2. Apple
Like cherry, apple wood lends a fruity sweetness. But it’s more subtle, producing a lighter, more delicate smoke.
Apple wood brings a lovely golden color to turkey skin. It works well as a standalone smoke or blended with bolder woods like hickory, oak and pecan.
Because apple’s flavor is so delicate, you’ll need to smoke the bird longer to impart flavor. Spritz the turkey with apple juice during smoking to prevent it from drying out.
3. Pecan
Pecan wood generates a more robust smoke with nutty, buttery flavors. Native to the South, pecan is a popular choice for holiday turkeys.
Compared to fruit woods, pecan has a deeper, richer profile that can stand on its own. We recommend trying pecan solo your first time to appreciate its complex flavors.
Later on, small amounts of hickory or mesquite can be added to boost the smokiness. But use a light hand, as pecan can easily be overpowered.
4. Alder
Popular in the Pacific Northwest, alder has an earthy, woodsy flavor. It’s lighter than hickory, oak and mesquite but more robust than fruit woods.
Alder smoke accentuates the natural flavor of turkey without imparting any distinct flavor of its own. You can also mix it with stronger woods to “soften” their intensity.
5. Maple
Maple smoke lends a touch of sweetness along with spicy, earthy notes. It’s another excellent choice for showcasing the flavor of the turkey rather than overpowering it.
Maple pairs particularly well with poultry rubs containing lots of herbs and spices. The sweet smoke highlights and rounds out those seasonings beautifully.
Best Wood Combinations for Smoking Turkey
Here are some of our favorite wood pairings for incredible turkey:
- Cherry + Hickory: Hickory strengthens cherry’s sweetness with bold bacon flavors
- Apple + Maple: Apple’s delicacy balances maple’s earthy spice
- Pecan + Mesquite: Mesquite’s intensity boosts pecan’s nutty richness
- Alder + Apple: Aldersmoothes out apple’s fruity flavors
- Cherry + Oak: Oak provides depth to cherry’s mild sweetness
Experiment with mixing woods in different ratios to find your perfect flavor balance. Simple combinations like 2:1 or 3:1 ratios of lighter to heavier woods work well.
Woods to Avoid for Smoking Turkey
Some woods are just too overpowering for delicate poultry:
Hickory – This bold, smoky wood makes turkey bitter if used alone. Use sparingly along with fruit woods.
Mesquite – The intense smoke renders an acrid, sooty flavor. Avoid for smoking turkey.
Oak – While oak works for red meats, it can make turkey taste astringent. Use minimally with lighter woods.
Other Tips for Perfectly Smoked Turkey
- Brine your turkey to ensure moist, seasoned meat. A salt, brown sugar and herb brine is perfect.
- Rub the turkey with olive oil before applying your favorite spice rub. This helps the rub adhere.
- Use a digital thermometer to ensure the turkey reaches 165°F, but doesn’t overcook.
- For crispy skin, finish the turkey in a hot oven for the last 30-60 minutes after smoking.
With the right wood choice and a bit of technique, you’ll have guests raving about your smoked turkey this holiday season. Experiment with different woods in small batches to discover your perfect flavor profile.
The right kinds of wood have mellower, lighter flavors
The key here is mildness. You want woods that impart delicate flavors that let the turkey itself shine. Happily, youve got several options here. Cherry wood imparts a slightly sweet flavor that meshes well with turkey (similar to how cranberry sauce makes a great side at Thanksgiving). Pecan does the same thing, except it also has a nutty quality to it.
Maple has similar sweetness, but its also milder than the other two, making it a great option if youre not a fan of pecan or cherry. Apple wood can work well, too. But in this case, you have to be careful. Apple is so mild that it takes longer to impart its flavors, and turkey is especially susceptible to drying out.
There are a few woods you want to avoid at all costs when it comes to smoking turkey, though. Hickory and mesquite are great smoking woods for beef, but the flavors they impart are so heavy that they tend to overwhelm turkey. Oak is also a problem, but its lighter than the other two, so theres a caveat here in that you can use it in a blend with something like cherry.
Best Wood To Smoke Turkey On Amazon Reviews 2024 | Best Budget Wood To Smoke Turkey (Buying Guide)
FAQ
What wood is best for smoking a turkey?
Is hickory or mesquite better for turkey?
What are the best flavored wood pellets for smoking a turkey?
What wood is best for smoking poultry?