Cook the turkey to internal temperatures of 175° F to 180° F in the thigh and 170° F in the breast. Your turkey may take up to 12 hours to cook. When done, remove the turkey from the smoker, protecting your hands with washable mitts or towels, and let stand for 15 minutes before carving.
Is turkey done at 165 or 180?
4. Read the thermometer correctly: Hold the thermometer still until the numbers stop. If the temperature is between 160 and 165 degrees F, the turkey is done.
When should I pull a smoked turkey?
No matter what cut or cooking method you choose, you can be sure that your turkey is done once the internal temperature has reached at least 165 °F. Use a digital meat thermometer or the built-in digital probe of your device to be sure your turkey has reached the right temperature.
Can you overcook a smoked turkey?
One of the benefits of smoking a turkey is that it’s almost impossible to overcook anything in a smoker. The temperature remains low and the cooking is slow, resulting in perfectly moist and tender meat with a rich, complex flavor.
What is the danger zone when smoking a turkey?
Food safety is of primary concern when smoking turkey. Turkey breasts, drumsticks, wings, and whole turkeys are all suited for smoking, although for safety’s sake, stick with whole turkeys that weigh 12 pounds or less. Turkey is in the “Danger Zone,” where bacteria grows the fastest, between 40°F and 140°F.
How long should a turkey rest before carving?
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Pull it out as soon as the temperature hits 165, or even a little lower. The amount of resting time depends on the size of the bird, but at least 20 minutes is needed. A large bird can wait up to 40 minutes or longer, depending on the temperature of the room.
At what temp is a turkey fully cooked?
Check these places on your turkey and look for these temperatures: 180°F in thigh. 170°F in breast. 165°F in stuffing.
How long can a turkey rest after smoking?
Roasted turkey should rest for about 45 minutes after cooking. Smaller birds may only need to rest for 30 minutes. The same is true if you’re only cooking parts of the turkey and not the whole bird. Smoked turkey will cool off faster, so it should only rest for 15 to 30 minutes.
Should I flip my turkey when smoking?
It should be placed squarely over your drip pan so as can catch all the drippings (and help keep your smoker clean). If your smoker is an offset model or otherwise puts out more heat on one side than the other, then you will need to rotate the turkey every two hours to make sure the bird cooks evenly.
How do you keep a turkey moist while smoking?
My solution is to smoke the turkey directly on the grill grates, with a roasting pan filled with 1″ water underneath the grates, about 3-4 inches from the meat. This will keep the cooking environment moist but let the turkey get evenly crisp on the outside.
How long do you smoke a turkey at 225?
Set the smoker to 225° F. Place the turkey on a cooking rack and cook for 8 to 12 hours or until the inner thigh temperature reaches 180° F. Check the temperature of your turkey after 3½ hours. Your turkey must pass through a critical range of 40° F to 140° F in 4 hours or less.
Do you use a water pan when smoking a turkey?
Tips For Using a Water Pan When Smoking a Turkey
In cold weather, a water pan filled with boiling hot water can help maintain the smoker temperature, plus it gets the temperature up quickly for a fast start. This is especially helpful if your smoker can’t quite do the job when it’s cold outside.
How do you get crispy skin on smoked turkey?
Crisp-Skinned Variation
For a turkey with crisp skin, smoke it until the internal temperature of the bird reaches 145°F. Transfer the bird to a hot grill preheated to 350° to 375°F and finish it off until the temperature bumps up to 165°F.
What temp kills salmonella in turkey?
165°F
The USDA reports that heating poultry to at least 165°F destroys Salmonella, Campylobacter bacteria, and avian influenza viruses. That’s because, above a certain temperature, the bacteria’s cell will collapse and die.
What is the 40 to 140 rule?
Bacteria grow most rapidly in the range of temperatures between 40 °F and 140 °F, doubling in number in as little as 20 minutes. This range of temperatures is often called the “Danger Zone.” Never leave food out of refrigeration over 2 hours.
What temp does bacteria grow on turkey?
When a turkey stays out at room temperature for more than 2 hours, its temperature becomes unsafe even if the center is still frozen. Germs can grow rapidly in the “danger zone” between 40°F and 140°F.
Can I let my turkey rest for 2 hours?
And don’t forget to leave time for your turkey to rest when it comes out of the oven. Turkeys between 4-6kg should be rested for 1½ hours, and ones from 6-10kg can rest for two hours. Get your turkey out of the fridge 30 minutes before you cook it. You’ll get less shrinkage when it goes into a hot oven.
Is the turkey done when the red thing pops out?
When the metal melts, it releases the red stick (A) and the spring (C) pops up the stick so you know the turkey is done. Turkey is done when it reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit (73 degrees Celsius).
How do you keep a turkey warm and moist after carving it?
Hold the Turkey in the Oven
After your turkey is done resting, cover it with foil and place it back in the oven. To ensure that the turkey stays moist, pour some warm water into a pan and place the pan under the turkey in the oven.
Can you eat turkey at 145 degrees?
The range of doneness for all proteins–from eggs to fish to meat and Thanksgiving turkey–begins at 125 degrees, where rare starts; at 145 degrees the medium range begins, and at 165 degrees well-done starts; 185 degrees is the very top of the range.
Does turkey need to be cooked to 165?
When cooking turkey in any form, it is important to cook it to the proper internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Cooking ground turkey to the proper internal temperature is especially important due to the bacteria that are introduced into the meat mixture.