Smoking a turkey is a fun and exciting process. However, you haven’t smoked turkey until you’ve smoked a spatchcocked turkey. The turkey will cook faster, and the bird will be extremely delicious.
The secret to making the perfect spatchcock turkey is getting the temperature and time right. For example, smoking a turkey at 300°F takes 2-3 hours.
If you smoke the turkey too long, you will dry it out. In contrast, the bird will be raw if you don’t smoke it long enough.
Raw turkey is the worst. You or anyone who eats the turkey may get food poisoning.
Contents
- Should I Spatchcock My Turkey in Advance?
- Tips For Smoking A Spatchcock Chicken
- How Do You Keep a Spatchcock Turkey Moist While Smoking It?
- How Long to Smoke a Spatchcock Turkey at 300
- How Long Do You Smoke Spatchcock Turkey at 325
- How Long Does It Take to Smoke Spatchcock Turkey at 350
- Does Spatchcock Turkey Taste Better?
- Final Thoughts
Should I Spatchcock My Turkey in Advance?
Yes, you can spatchcock your turkey in advance. It will save time as it is one less thing you have to do.
To split the turkey, place the turkey on a cutting board. Cut the turkey down the length of the spine on one side using a sharp knife or kitchen shears.
Use firm pressure as you cut the spine. The bones will make cracking sounds, but this is nothing to fear.
Once the spine is cut on one side, repeat on the other side to remove it. Turn the bird over and press down on the breast until you hear popping sounds to flatten it.
Place the spatchcocked turkey onto a baking sheet. You can rub the turkey with a small amount of salt. The salt and the cold air will pull moisture out of the skin resulting in crispy skin. Place the spatchcocked turkey into the fridge and leave it there until you are ready to cook it the next day.
Tips For Smoking A Spatchcock Chicken
One of the biggest tips I can offer is maintaining a stable temperature. The temperature is critical whether you are smoking chicken wings, brisket, or turkey.
If there are drastic drops in the temperature could cause the turkey to cook unevenly. Some parts of your turkey may be cooked, while others may still be raw.
Any drastic peaks in temperature may cause the turkey to overcook. Overcooked turkey is dry and tough. For this reason, you must maintain stable temperatures when smoking spatchcock turkey.
There are many different types of smokers. For example, propane smokers allow you to smoke food using a propane gas tank.
Charcoal smokers run using charcoal, and electric smokers use electricity for cooking food. Pellet grills use pellets as food and allow you to grill or smoke foods.
Use whichever smoker you have or you feel comfortable using. Any smoker can be used to make spatchcock turkey as long as the bird fits in the unit.
How Do You Keep a Spatchcock Turkey Moist While Smoking It?
Some people recommend soaking the turkey for 2-3 hours and then covering it with foil. However, the foil will ruin the turkey’s crisp skin and make it soggy.
Placing a foil pan with an inch of water beneath the cooking grates is a better technique. The pan of water keeps the turkey moist while allowing the skin to crisp up.
Make sure you position the foil pan about 3-4 inches from the turkey. If you place it too close to the turkey, it will steam, making the skin soggy.
How Long to Smoke a Spatchcock Turkey at 300
Generally, it takes about 2 1/2-3 hours to smoke a spatchcocked turkey at 300°F. However, depending on the size of the turkey, it may take less or more time.
For example, it takes 2 1/2 hours to smoke a 10-pound spatchcock turkey. It takes 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours to cook a 15-pound spatchcock turkey.
An 18-pound spatchcock turkey takes about 4 1/2 hours. In contrast, a 20-pound turkey takes 5 hours to cook.
Nevertheless, do not worry about the time. Worry about the temperature. You must cook the turkey to 165°F to be safe for consumption.
The bird may reach this temperature in no time. However, it may take a little longer to reach this temperature. This is why you must pay attention to the temperature.
Remember to insert your thermometer into the thickest portion of the breast. Additionally, make sure the probe is not touching the bone. It may give you an inaccurate temperature.
How Long Do You Smoke Spatchcock Turkey at 325
It will take about 2-3 hours to smoke a spatchcocked turkey at 325°F. If you are worried about the high temperature drying out your spatchcock turkey, it will not.
It should remain moist as long as you monitor the bird’s temperature and don’t smoke it too long.
How Long Does It Take to Smoke Spatchcock Turkey at 350
While increasing the smoker’s temperature will help the turkey cook faster, it could also do more harm than good. The higher the smoking temperature, the greater the risk that the turkey will dry out. This is why you must proceed with caution when smoking turkey at 350°F.
Generally, it takes about 1 1/2-2 hours to smoke a spatchcocked turkey. However, check the turkey’s temperature after 1 1/2 hours. This will minimize the chance that the turkey dries out.
about 1.5 hours
Does Spatchcock Turkey Taste Better?
There are many ways to cook turkey, including roasting, air frying, smoking, or cooking it in a slow cooker or instant pot. However, smoked spatchcock turkey is one of the best methods for cooking turkey.
Since the turkey lays flat, a smoky flavor is infused into the bird resulting in juicy moist meat. Additionally, the spatchcock method helps the bird cook more evenly, so the turkey remains tender and moist.
Final Thoughts
Once you try a spatchcocked turkey, you will never go back to roasting it again. You will be pulling out your smoker every year to smoke your spatchcock turkey.
Remember to cook the turkey for about 2 1/2-3 hours at 300°F. If you cook your bird at 325°F or 350°F, remember to monitor its temperature so it doesn’t dry out. Lastly, always keep the temperature stable to end up with the best-smoked spatchcock turkey.
I have been smoking and grilling meat from an early age and enjoy sharing my knowledge and expertise through the hundreds of articles I have written about BBQ. I hope to make everyone’s BBQ journey that little bit easier.