what to baste smoked turkey with

Mouthwatering Baste Ideas for Smoked Turkey Perfection

Basting is a crucial technique for keeping your smoked turkey juicy and adding incredible flavors. But with so many baste options how do you choose? From herb-infused butters to bold barbecue sauces the possibilities are endless. In this article, we’ll explore 10 mouthwatering baste ideas to take your smoked turkey to the next level.

Brown Sugar Bourbon Baste

For a sweet and boozy baste, whisk together brown sugar, bourbon, butter, and spices. The brown sugar caramelizes on the skin for crispiness while the bourbon adds tangy depth. Balance it out with warm flavors like cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. The butter binds it all while basting. Brush liberally over turkey during last 30 minutes before the perfect lacquered finish.

Apple Cider Vinegar Mop

Skip bottled sauce and make a homemade mop from apple cider vinegar, broth, Worcestershire sauce, and spices. Apple cider vinegar provides bright acidity to cut through rich smoke. Broth adds meaty savoriness. Worcestershire brings umami funk. Chili powder, paprika, garlic and onion powders infuse everything with spice and aroma. Best for basting turkey repeatedly to let flavors build.

Herb-Infused Butter

For an easy baste, blend fresh herbs into melted butter. Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme are ideal for their woodsy notes. Melt the butter, add chopped herbs, then steep off heat before straining out solids. Rosemary and sage really shine. Resist over-steeping or bitterness results. The clarified infused butter beautifully bastes while providing moisture.

Orange Apricot Glaze

Whip up a fruit-based glaze by simmering orange juice, apricot jam, spices, and zest. Tangy-sweet orange and apricot blend gorgeously with warming cinnamon and ginger. Reduce to a syrupy glaze consistency. As you baste during smoking, the glaze lacquers the skin for candy-like crispness and intense citrus-fruit flavor.

Pineapple Bourbon Baste

Caramelized pineapple makes an exceptional baste mixed with bourbon, butter and spices. Saute pineapple chunks with brown sugar to intensify flavor. Then puree with the rest and you have sweet tangy goodness! Basting adds tons of moisture while the bourbon brings vanilla and charred oak nuances. Finish with cracked black pepper for an amazing crust.

Peach Barbecue Mop

What’s more summery than peaches and barbecue? Puree peaches in a saucepan with barbecue sauce, broth and spices to create a sweet and sticky mop. The natural peach sugars will caramelize on the skin. Garlic and onion add savory balance. Reserve some whole peach chunks to toss in for texture. Baste repeatedly to let the flavors meld beautifully.

Maple Dijon Glaze

Mustard and maple make an amazing glaze combo. Simmer maple syrup with Dijon, fresh thyme, garlic and pepper flakes to incorporate into a glistening coating. The mustard brings the perfect salty tang and bite. Sweet maple tempers it for excellent balance. As you baste, the glaze continually adds incredible flavor dimension.

Bacon-Onion Gravy

For an ultra savory baste, make a bacon-onion gravy. Fry bacon and caramelized onions, then whisk in broth, flour and seasonings. Simmer into a silky gravy. Basting adds intense smoky, salty, umami flavors and keeps the turkey incredibly juicy. Drizzle more gravy over the sliced turkey for a perfect finish.

Coffee BBQ Mop

Wake up your taste buds with a coffee infused barbecue mop. Brew strong coffee then mix with your favorite barbecue sauce. Tomato-based sauces work best to balance the bitter notes. Chili powder, garlic, Worcestershire and molasses customize the flavor. Repeated basting lets the coffee undertones permeate the turkey skin beautifully.

Sriracha Brown Sugar Glaze

Give your turkey an addictive sweet heat with a sriracha and brown sugar glaze. Simmer brown sugar, sriracha, soy sauce, ginger and garlic into a thick shiny syrup. Balance the heat with honey and lime. The sugars will caramelize the skin while sriracha provides steady slow burn flavor. Just beware, this baste is seriously addictive!

Now you have a delicious arsenal of baste recipes to make your smoked turkey incredible. Basting provides constant moisture so the meat stays ridiculously succulent. And you can continually layer flavors to achieve maximum depth and complexity.

Always apply baste generously using a clean grill brush, focusing on the skin. Resist basting too early before the skin properly sets. Baste every 30-60 minutes once the skin has firmed after the first hour, rotating as needed. Pay special attention to the breast and thighs.

If using sugar-based glazes, wait until the last 30 minutes to avoid burning. Mops and butter bastes can be used repeatedly from the start. Maintain a consistent temperature in the smoker around 250-275 F.

Monitor internal doneness in the breast and thigh areas using a good digital thermometer. Target around 170 F in breast, 180 F in thighs to ensure the turkey is fully cooked but still juicy.

Let the turkey rest at least 15-30 minutes before carving to allow juices to redistribute. Then slice and serve your masterpiece! With the right baste, you’ll have everyone begging for your smoked turkey secrets. Enjoy!