What’s not to love about smoked turkey? You get tasty and tender meat, and the smoky flavor is just irresistible. Even better, smoked turkey is healthier and has less calories than most other smoked meats, meaning you can indulge without feeling guilty.
Is good smoked turkey hard to find in your area? If so, you should consider making your own smoked turkey. It’s not as hard as you might think, and to prove it, we are about to show you how to smoke a turkey on a grill or smoker at home.
You’ve spent hours tenderly smoking the perfect turkey infusing it with rich, smoky flavor. Now it’s time to serve up this masterpiece but don’t be too quick to carve. Allowing your smoked turkey ample resting time is crucial for optimized texture, taste and carving ease. But exactly how long should you let that bird rest after smoking?
While recommendations vary, the ideal rest time ranges from 30 minutes up to one hour depending on turkey size. This rest period gives the juices time to redistribute evenly for a moist well-seasoned interior. Understanding why resting matters and how long to allow will ensure smoking success.
Why Smoked Turkey Needs Resting Time
Resting gives turkey time to complete the cooking process, during which the meat continues heating even after removal from the smoker. Internal temperatures can rise around 10 degrees during resting.
More importantly, resting allows juices and moisture driven outward during smoking to redistribute back into the meat. Rather than losing these flavorful juices onto your cutting board, resting allows them to be reabsorbed for amazing taste and tenderness.
This moisture retention also prevents the meat from drying out. And with connective tissues relaxing during rest time, you’ll find easier, cleaner carving as well Simply put, a rested turkey makes for better eating and presentation.
Determining the Ideal Resting Time
Recommended resting times typically range from 30 minutes to one hour. The most important factor is the size of your turkey.
For small turkeys (under 12 pounds): 30 minutes
For medium turkeys (12-16 pounds): 45 minutes
For large turkeys (over 16 pounds): 60 minutes
While you can rest for less time, err on the side of extra rest for the juiciest outcome. And if you’ll be transporting the turkey after smoking, maximize this window to 2 hours – the extended rest will keep it piping hot for serving.
Resting Tips for Best Results
Follow these tips to optimize your turkey’s rest time:
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Rest breast-side down on a wooden or aluminum pan to redistribute juices into the breast meat. The darker leg and thigh meat retains more moisture during smoking.
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Tent loosely with foil to retain heat, but avoid tight wrapping that will ruin the crispy skin.
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Let it rest on the countertop or other location away from drafts that will drop the temperature.
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For longer rests or transport, place turkey in an insulated bag or cooler to retain temperature.
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Check for doneness before resting – turkey should reach 165°F internally when first removed from the smoker.
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Carve and serve immediately after the designated rest time for ideal texture and flavor.
Why Some Avoid Long Resting Times
While most experts recommend 30-60 minutes of rest time, some encourage shorter durations of 10-15 minutes. Why the difference?
Those in favor of quick rests are prioritizing crispy skin over optimal moisture retention. Letting turkey sit too long in moist steam will ruin that coveted crisped exterior.
So if presentation and skin texture trumps juiciness, err on the shorter side. But for the best overall flavor and texture, stick to longer resting windows as the juices will still reabsorb slightly even if the skin softens.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I rest turkey for too long?
Yes, resting longer than 2 hours is not recommended as the turkey will cool down too far and moisture loss can resume. Stick to the 30 minutes up to 2 hour window for best results.
Should I rest turkey before or after carving?
Always rest the whole intact turkey before carving. This allows even redistribution of juices back into the meat. Carve just before serving.
Can I leave turkey wrapped in foil while resting?
You can lightly tent with foil to retain some heat, but do not wrap fully or the trapped moisture will ruin the crispy turkey skin during prolonged resting periods.
Can I rest turkey at room temperature or should it go in the fridge?
Rest on the counter or another room temperature area. Refrigerating before the juices set will cause undesirable moisture loss.
How long does uncooked turkey last in the fridge?
Raw turkey maintains quality 3-4 days past the sell-by date if continually refrigerated at 40°F or below. Cook within this window for best flavor and texture.
Resting Maximizes Smoked Turkey Success
After spending hours perfectly smoking a turkey to smoky, moist perfection, be sure to maximize your efforts by allowing ample resting time. Follow the size-based time guidelines, tent loosely in foil if needed, and carve just before serving. A well-rested bird will deliver you the tender, juicy joy smoked turkey is meant to provide.
Preparing Turkey for the Smoker
Before putting your turkey in a smoker, you need to prep it. If you have a frozen whole turkey, your first step should be thawing your turkey. Otherwise, you may experience a longer cooking time and an uneven cook. You can thaw your frozen turkey by placing it in a 40°F fridge for 24 to 36 hours.
After thawing your turkey, take the giblets and neck out and dry or wet brine the whole turkey overnight. If you have a fresh turkey, you can skip the thawing process move right to brining it. Brining will enhance the turkey’s flavor and ensure that the meat stays moist throughout the smoking process. Learn more about how to brine a turkey here.
You cannot smoke a turkey without these items:
- Smoker or Grill: If you do not have a smoker, you can use a grill to smoke your turkey. However, if you want your turkey to have that distinct smoky flavor, you should only use a wood smoker or charcoal grill.
- Shady Brook Farms Turkey: You can buy and smoke a fresh or frozen whole turkey. If a whole turkey is too big for you, buy a bone-in turkey breast.
- Seasonings: You can buy a dry rub or make your own by mixing kosher salt, pepper, onion powder, and any other spices you like.
- Large Roasting Pan with Cooking Grate: The grate will hold the turkey, and the pan will catch the drippings during the roasting process.
- Wireless Thermometer: Your wireless thermometer will let you know when your turkey reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. A wireless thermometer is better because you don’t have to keep opening the smoker to check the turkey’s doneness. Frequently opening the smoker or grill can cause lost heat and increase your cooking time.
What’s So Good about Smoked Turkey?
Our fresh whole turkey is rich in protein, vitamin A, iron, and calcium. Even better, turkey meat is lean, making it a healthier choice for individuals trying to lose weight.
Smoking your turkey will lend it an enticing smoky flavor and further reduce its fat content, making it leaner and tastier. Also, smoking with pecan, maple, hickory, or cherry wood can elevate the flavor of your smoked turkey.