How Long to Smoke a Turkey in a Pit Barrel Cooker

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Thanksgiving is upon us and as tradition would have it, smoked turkey is the standard fare. In this recipe/instructional I not only want to show you a better way to brine the holiday bird but well be using a Pit Barrel Cooker. Dont worry, I”ll also demonstrate the proper way to do it in a traditional smoker as well.

I highly recommend a fresh, minimally processed turkey if you can find one. I found mine at my local Sprouts but Whole Foods and other similar stores also carry them. Call the meat department of these stores before you go to ensure you are not making a wasted trip.

You an also opt for a frozen turkey at your local grocery store and that will be fine as well.

I paid $1.29/lb for mine and this price goes up if you go for organic or anything that sounds more healthy.

I am cooking this one in the Pit Barrel Cooker which cooks a little hotter than an average smoker so the size is not nearly as important but if you are cooking at 225-240 °F, then I recommend going for a 12-14 lb bird.

One 12 lb bird will feed about 6 with a few leftovers so if you need more than that, just cook multiple birds of that size rather than opting for a larger one.

If you purchase a frozen turkey, allow about 1 day of thawing in the fridge for every 5 lbs.

You can thaw a turkey in the kitchen sink using cold water if you get in a bind and need the turkey thawed faster. Place the turkey in the sink and run it full of cold water. Drain and refill with cold water every 30 minutes until the turkey is completely thawed. I dont like this method particularly but it does work in a pinch.

If the outside is thawed but the cavity is still frozen, you can run cold water directly down into the cavity to speed this up and this will also help in the removal of necks and giblet bags.

Dry brining works just as well as wet brining in my opinion and can be less messy if you are short on space and/or do not have a suitable container or space to wet brine a large bird.

This is simply a method by which you sprinkle kosher salt all over the outside of the turkey then place it in the fridge overnight.

The salt draws moisture from the meat, up through the skin where the water and salt mix together to create a slurry. This salty mixture then reabsorbs through the skin and down into the meat. If you are interested in the process you can look up “denaturing” but that is what happens when you brine a piece of meat such as a turkey via the dry or wet method.

Most recommend a half teaspoon of kosher salt per pound which amounts to 6 teaspoons equivalent to 2 tablespoons of kosher salt on my 12 pound turkey.

I go more by looks than measuring in my own cooking. I just try to get good coverage on the entire surface area.

Truth be told, youd have a hard time over doing it. I usually do it until it looks right then add a little more for good measure and its NEVER overly salty using this method.

When you add the salt, you will immediately see the water start coming to the surface and melting the salt. That is some crazy science but it works!

Dry brine the turkey for at least 4 hours in the fridge but 8-10 hours or overnight is fine and theres really no need to rinse when youre finished.

This could also be called the messy method because it is very messy, takes up a lot of space in the fridge and you have to find a container big enough to hold a turkey and enough water to cover it. Ive done it for years but trust me when I say that dry brining is a much better option. Im always trying to find ways to improve and in my opinion, dry brining is a much improved way to brine the holiday turkey over wet brining.

Add 2 gallons of water and 2 cups of kosher salt to the brine container then stir until the salt is dissolved into the water. Youll know when this happens because the water will get clear again.

Place the turkey in the brine container and place it in the fridge so it will stay at or below 40 °F during this process.

What if you cant fit it in the fridge? Then youll need to use an insulated ice chest or something similar. Ice can be used to keep it cold but that will dilute the water. Place the ice in zip loc bags to keep the water cold and prevent diluting the brine.

I do not recommend longer than 12 hours with this this salt/water ratio since brining changes the texture of the meat over time.

Once the brining process is finished, you are ready to season the soon-to-be smoked turkey with a good dry rub. Rinsing after brining is not necessary but does not harm if you prefer to do it.

You can never go wrong with my original rub and it is my recommended dry rub/seasoning for the holiday turkey. I and hundreds if not thousands of others use it every year with rave reviews and you just cant argue with success.

Whats really cool is that you can not only purchase the formula to make the dry rub yourself, but you can also purchase the original rub in a bottle, ready to use if you want to make it easy on yourself.

In order to help the rub to stick to the turkey (I hate losing that stuff), you can use mustard or mayonnaise rubbed all over the turkey. Dont worry because it wont taste like mustard or mayonnaise once its cooked.

I took it a step further and mixed the rub into some mayonnaise before applying it to the turkey and it worked like a charm!

Mix together thoroughly in a bowl and its ready to use. Go ahead and take a small bite and youll see that its extremely flavorful but not very salty– just what the doctor ordered for this dry brined turkey.

Make sure the turkey is really dry using a paper towel. Then rub the mayo/rub mixture all over the turkey making sure to get a good layer on the breast, wings, legs and even the back.

If you want to truss the turkey, tuck the wings under, etc, then now is the time to do that. There is a traditional method for trussing a turkey but you can also do something as basic as just tying the legs together with some cooking twine so that it comes out a little prettier.

I opted to just let it cook all sprawled out so I could get plenty of heat and smoke to every square inch of surface area.

Pit Barrel Cooker sent me a cooker a while back and suggested that I use it for my holiday smoked turkey. Sounded like a great idea to me since I usually cook them at 225-240°F and it takes around 6-7 hours to finish. They said it would only take about 4 hours or so in the Pit Barrel due to the fact that it cooks a little hotter than traditional smokers and the turkey hangs from rebar instead of sitting on the grate.

Fill the charcoal pan level with charcoal briquettes. I usually prefer lump but I decided to go with their suggestion first and then go from there.

Place the charcoal pan down into the barrel and place 3-4 fist sized wood chunks on top of the charcoal.

Once the charcoal chimney is ready, pour the lit charcoal over the top of the unlit charcoal in the pan.

I am at low altitude so the little adjustment vent in the lower back is at its standard setting. If you are at higher altitudes, youll want to set it according to the settings prescribed in the PBC manual.

Set it up for cooking at about 240°F using indirect heat and if the smoker uses a water pan, fill it up with hot water.

I used PBCs special turkey hanger but you can also use the included hooks if you like. Heck, it also comes with a grate so if you are apprehensive about the whole hanging process, you can also just sit the turkey on the grate.

Remove one of the rods (rebar) from the barrel and lower the turkey into the barrel setting one side of the hanging handle on the rod then insert the other rod into place to finish hanging the turkey.

The hanging handle should rest across both rods suspending the turkey right in the center of the barrel. If you are doing (2) smoked turkeys, then just place them so that both turkeys have a little space between them so the heat can do its thing.

Smoked turkeys are NOT cooked to a certain time but rather to a certain temperature so make sure you use a precision thermometer that can stay in the meat while it cooks. I have several thermometers that I use but for something like this, I recommend the Signals by ThermoWorks or the Meater thermometer which has absolutely no wires and reads ambient temperature and meat temperature via a single probe.

I used the Meater for this cook and it was nice not having to mess with wires or multiple probes to measure the temperature of the meat as well as the temperature of the pit.

Place the probe so that the tip is in the thickest part of the breast or thigh.

Regardless of what thermometer you have and/or use, make sure it is accurate and then use it. Your familys safety is too important for trying to guess the temperature of poultry (or any meat for that matter).

The Pit Barrel Cooker company recommends opening the lid about ¼ inch about 30 minutes before the turkey is finished cooking. This ramps up the heat creating some crispiness on the skin.

In traditional smokers, the skin usually has a really good bite-through naturally due to the long 6 to 7 hour cook in the smoker.

When the smoked turkey is finished cooking, bring the turkey into the house and let it rest under loose foil for about 15-20 minutes before carving. This is important to allow the juices to redistribute throughout the meat.

With the smoked turkey sitting breast side up, remove the legs, thighs, and wings then cut close to the bone down the center of the breast bone to remove the breast meat in one large piece from each side. With the breast removed, it can be sliced into pieces about ¼ to ½ inch thick.

I like to separate the dark and white meat so people can just grab what they want.

Smoking a turkey in a pit barrel cooker is a fantastic way to prepare a moist, flavorful bird for your holiday feast But knowing how long to smoke your turkey is key to perfect results In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about smoking times for turkeys in a pit barrel cooker.

What is a Pit Barrel Cooker?

A pit barrel cooker is a versatile, vertical smoker that uses charcoal as its heat source. It consists of a metal drum that has been customized for smoking with intake vents at the bottom and an exhaust vent at the top.

Food hangs vertically in the center of the drum suspended by hooks or rods. This allows smoke and heat to completely surround the food for even cooking. Pit barrel cookers reach temperatures between 250-350°F, higher than traditional smokers which are usually around 225-275°F.

Benefits of Smoking Turkey in a Pit Barrel Cooker

There are several advantages to using a pit barrel cooker for your holiday turkey:

Moist and juicy meat – The circulating smoke and heat ensures the turkey stays tender and does not dry out.
Incredible flavor – Hardwood smoke infuses the turkey with delicious wood-fired taste.
Faster cooking times – The higher heat of a pit barrel cooker reduces cooking time significantly compared to traditional smoking.
Crispy skin – The high heat and vertical hanging creates crisp, perfect turkey skin.
Hands-off cooking – Once loaded, a pit barrel smoker does not require constant monitoring like oven roasting.

How Long Does it Take to Smoke a Turkey?

Smoking times for turkeys can vary quite a bit depending on a few factors:

Size of the Turkey

10-15 lbs – Takes approximately 3.5-4.5 hours
16-20 lbs – Takes approximately 4.5-6 hours
20-24 lbs – Takes approximately 6-7 hours

In general, smaller turkeys around 10-15 lbs are ideal for pit barrel cookers. Going above 20 lbs is not recommended as it becomes difficult to cook the breast and thighs evenly.

Brining

Soaking the turkey in a saltwater brine before smoking will increase the time required. Brined birds often take 30-60 minutes longer to fully cook.

Cooker Temperature

If smoking at a lower temperature like 225-250°F in a traditional smoker, expect cooking times to increase by 1-2 hours. The increased heat of a pit barrel cooker accelerates the process.

Stuffing the Turkey

A stuffed turkey will need extra time to ensure the center of the stuffing reaches a safe temperature. Add 30-60 minutes if smoking a stuffed bird.

Step-by-Step Guide to Smoking a Turkey in a Pit Barrel Cooker

Follow these steps for perfect pit barrel smoked turkey every time:

1. Thaw

Completely thaw turkey if frozen. Allow 1 day thawing in the refrigerator per 5 lbs of turkey.

2. Dry Brine

Salt the turkey all over and let rest uncovered in the fridge 8-24 hours. This seasons and boosts moisture.

3. Prepare and Season

Remove neck and giblets from cavity. Coat the outside with oil or butter and season liberally with rub.

4. Load the Smoker

With a hot fire going, hang the turkey vertically in the center of the pit barrel cooker.

5. Smoke

Keep the smoker temp between 250-325°F. Smoke for estimated time based on weight. Use a meat thermometer to monitor doneness.

6. Rest and Carve

When the breast reaches 165°F, remove turkey and let rest 15-30 minutes before slicing.

Tips for the Best Pit Barrel Smoked Turkey

Dry brining is highly recommended to make the meat extra juicy.
Injecting the turkey with broth adds moisture and flavor.
Hang the turkey low in the cooker, away from direct heat if it starts to darken too quickly.
Resist opening the cooker often to prevent heat and smoke loss.
Use a thermometer for accuracy – doneness is based on temp, not time.
Let turkey rest before carving so juices redistribute.

Common Pit Barrel Turkey Smoking Problems and Solutions

Problem: Turkey skin is not getting crispy.

Solution: Raise the heat to 300°F+ at the end to crisp the skin. Also try dry brining to dry out the skin.

Problem: Turkey is drying out and meat is tough.

Solution: Make sure you are not overcooking. Cook to 165°F in the breast only. Also brine your bird.

Problem: Turkey takes much longer than expected.

Solution: Check your pit temperature – it may be lower than you think. Or the turkey was not fully thawed to begin with.

Problem: Breast is dried out but thighs are undercooked.

Solution: Pull breast at 160°F and return thighs to the cooker up to 165-175°F. Tent foil over breast to rest.

Mastering the Perfect Pit Barrel Smoked Turkey

With the right technique, smoking a turkey in a pit barrel cooker results in the best possible bird – tender, juicy meat with a smoky flavor that can’t be beat. Use these tips and smoking time guidelines to nail the perfect pit barrel smoked turkey every holiday season. You’ll never have dry turkey again!