Citrus Smoked Turkey
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Ingredients
- Brine
- 10 c water
- 8 c apple juice
- 1 1/2 c kosher salt
- 1/2 c brown sugar
- 2 tbsp peppercorns
- 2 tbsp mustard seed
- 6 cloves of garlic
- 1 white onion, quartered
- Peel of 1 orange
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 2 sprigs rosemary
- 2 sprigs thyme
- 1 tbsp all spice
- Smoked Turkey
- 14-15 lb. whole turkey, thawed
- 1/4 c BBQ rub
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 oranges, thinly sliced (for citrus bed)
Directions
Brine
Citrus Smoked Turkey starts with an orange peel brine to lock in moisture and flavor. Two days before you are ready to cook we need to brine the turkey. Brining helps by introducing salt into the meat fibers, which helps to retain extra juices. It also adds additional flavors to the meat, giving it an amazing overall complexity! Mix your brine well, use a brine bucket and make sure the bird is fully submerged in the brine.
Prep
The night before you are ready to cook, remove turkey from brine, rinse gently and pat dry with a paper towel. Be sure to sanitize your sink and kitchen counter immediately after rinsing. Place turkey on a wire rack with a pan underneath and leave uncovered in the fridge overnight – this will help us to crisp up the skin as it cooks. Preheat the smoker to 225°F and truss the turkey tightly together. Lightly coat the exterior of the turkey with olive oil and thoroughly coat the whole turkey with rub.
Smoke
Smoke the turkey on a citrus bed until it hits 165°F (about 30 minutes per pound). If you need to help crisping the skin a little more, gently brush on some oil towards the end of the cook and raise the temp to 300°F. Be careful not to burn or darken the skin too much. Remove and allow to rest for 20 minutes.
Recipe Note
This recipe for Citrus Smoked Turkey was created by Jared Pullman, better known by his Instagram handle, @howlowcanyouslow. JP is a BBQ enthusiast and lover of all things wood smoked hailing from New Zealand. Interested in more influencer partner content? Try our Smoked Turkey Breast Pesto Sandwich from @cooking_with_fire___ or our Smoked Pulled Turkey Sandwich from @girlscangrill. BBQ is best when you learn from the pros, and Turkey Smoke wants to put you in the driver’s seat with tips and tricks from the best in the business.
