Should You Spray Your Turkey While Smoking It?

Smoking a turkey is a fantastic way to infuse delicious smoky flavor into the bird. The smoking process can take several hours, though, which can lead to the turkey’s skin drying out. This has many backyard barbecue pitmasters wondering: should I spray my turkey while it smokes? There are good reasons both for and against spraying down your turkey.

Why Spraying Your Smoking Turkey Helps

There are a few benefits to hitting your turkey with a spray as it smokes

• Keeps skin moist – Repeated light spritzes help maintain moisture on the skin’s surface preventing it from drying into a tough, leathery texture.

• Aids smoke absorption – The moisture enhances the ability of the turkey meat to absorb smoky flavors.

• Promotes browning – Light sprays of oil help the skin achieve a rich golden-brown color during smoking,

• Adds flavor – Infused spray oils or apple cider spritzes can impart flavor right into the turkey.

Spraying every 30-60 minutes provides just enough moisture to preserve the skin without making it soggy.

Potential Drawbacks of Spraying

However, some pitmasters caution against spraying smoked turkey too much:

• Skin damage – Excessive moisture could cause the skin to split, especially if spritzed too early.

• Temperature dips – Repeatedly opening the smoker lets heat escape, which can extend cook times.

• Difficult application – Turkeys have an irregular shape that makes complete coverage challenging.

• Uneven absorption – Spray mainly impacts the surface rather than penetrating deeply into thick areas.

• Flavor dilution – Watery spritzes can wash off seasoning rubs and glazes.

There are ways to mitigate these risks, but over-spraying does pose some potential downsides.

Tips for Effective Turkey Spraying

If you do choose to spray your smoked turkey, follow these tips:

• Wait until after the first hour before the first spritz so the skin fully dries and sets.

• Use a high smoke setting initially for maximum flavor absorption.

• Spray just often enough to moisten the skin, about every 45-60 minutes.

• Focus sprays on the breast and other lean areas prone to drying out.

• Use a 9×9 inch disposable foil pan to baste drippings over the turkey.

• Opt for infused olive oils or butter to add flavor with each spray.

• Be quick when opening the smoker to minimize heat and smoke loss.

Should You Inject Your Turkey Too?

Injecting smoked turkeys with a marinade solution is another option. Benefits of injecting include:

• Deep penetration of moisture into the meat.

• Infusion of robust flavor directly into the turkey.

• Saline solution helps retain juiciness.

• Can still spray externally for skin benefits.

• More thorough coverage than spraying alone.

Be careful not to over-inject, or the turkey may become soggy. Injecting just 1-2 cups of liquid total is plenty for a 15 lb turkey.

Moisture-Boosting Alternatives to Spraying

What if you’d rather not deal with repeatedly opening the smoker to spray? Consider these no-spray options:

• Brining – Soaking the turkey in a saltwater brine imparts moisture and seasons the meat.

• Dry brining – Rubbing the turkey with salt and letting sit absorbs juices via osmosis.

• Basting – Spoon pan drippings over the turkey instead of spraying.

• Mopping – Use a sauce mop to brush on glazes for added moisture and flavor.

• Self-basting – Stuff herbs under the skin so natural juices bathe the turkey from inside.

• Cook to safe temp – Pulling it off at 160°F leaves it juicy versus overcooking to 165°F.

With the right technique, you can achieve incredibly juicy smoked turkey without spritzing at all.

Ideal Smoked Turkey Spray Options

If spraying your turkey as it smokes fits your process, here are some excellent spray options:

• Apple juice or cider – Provides sweetness and fruity flavor.

• Chicken or turkey broth – Savory and moisturizing.

• Melted butter – Adds richness and promotes browning.

• Olive or vegetable oil – Light coating aids heat conduction.

• Wine, juice, or soda – Impart flavor; citrus adds brightness.

• Infused oil – Garlic, rosemary, lemon, etc. provide herbaceous notes.

Keep the spray light to moisten, not soak. Opt for natural rather than heavy, sugary sprays.

When to Avoid Spraying Your Smoked Turkey

Certain situations call for skipping the spritzing entirely:

• If brining or injecting the turkey already.

• Smoker difficulty maintaining temperature.

• Cold or windy weather exacerbates heat loss.

• Turkey skin is already basted in oil or melted butter.

• Using a strong glaze that spraying would wash off.

• Smoker has very limited clearance around turkey.

• Bird is tightly wrapped in foil with moisture inside.

Assess your specific smoker setup and turkey prep to decide if spraying makes sense or risks doing more harm than good.

While spraying offers some benefits, excellent smoked turkey can definitely be achieved without. Focus on proper brining, seasoning, temperature control and resting.

If you do opt to spritz, stick to a light touch. Patience lets smoke work its magic without moisture overkill. We all strive for the picture-perfect golden bird, but keeping it too wet creates other issues.

Trust in your smoker skills and the flavor-building smoke to permeate the turkey, with or without sprays. Rest assured your tasty smoked turkey will wow your family, with skin crisp enough to crackle and meat so succulent it falls right off the bone.