Turkey

Ingredients

  • Turkey
  • 1 red apple, quartered
  • 1/2 yellow onion, quartered
  • 1 cup water
  • 4 sprigs fresh rosemary
  • 6 leaves fresh sage
  • Canola oil
  • 3 c. apple juice or apple cider
  • 2 gallons cold water
  • 4 tbsp. fresh rosemary leaves
  • 5 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 1/2 c. kosher salt
  • 2 c. brown sugar
  • 3 tbsp. peppercorns
  • 5 whole bay leaves
  • Peel of three large oranges

Brine

  • 3 c. apple juice or apple cider
  • 2 gallons cold water
  • 4 tbsp. fresh rosemary leaves
  • 5 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 1/2 c. kosher salt
  • 2 c. brown sugar
  • 3 tbsp. peppercorns
  • 5 whole bay leaves
  • Peel of three large oranges
  • Boil and allow to cool fully

Aromatics for in-bird

  • Aromatics inside of the bird:
    • 1 red apple, quartered
    • 1/2 yellow onion, quartered
    • 1 cup water
    • 4 sprigs fresh rosemary
    • 6 leaves fresh sage
    • 1 cinnamon stick
    • Combine the apple, onion, water, and cinnamon stick in a microwave-safe dish and microwave on high for 5 minutes. Add the steeped aromatics (not the water) to the turkey’s cavity, along with the rosemary and sage. Tuck the wings underneath the bird and coat the skin lightly with canola oil.

2021?

Brined 1 hr per pound Brine had ice, vinegar and solution bought at bed bath and beyond. Seemed like salt and thyme and peppercorns Washed and dried turkey, left in covered for a few hours BBQ’d in tray with chicken stock and foil stand offs Used onion, garlic, sage, thyme and rosemary in bird and stock Trussed turkey Cooked til 140 with foil tent. 140 was around 90 minutes at medium heat for 11 lb bird. removed tent and cooked til 170

<2022-11-27 Sun>

11.3 pound bird.

Brine

  • Used William and Sonoma brine according to the directions. Need to boil brine in large pot available beca [use you have to add 1 gal of water to it. Used blue roasting dish to support brine bag overnight.

  • Brined from <2022-11-26 Sat 20:30>–<2022-11-27 Sun 08:30> 12 (hrs)

  • Rinsed bird, and then set in water for 15 minutes to remove brine

    1 BRINE: In a large pot, combine the brine blend* with 1 quart (1 l) water and bring to a boil for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, add 1 gallon (4 I) cold water and refrigerate until completely cool. Place the turkey, breast side down, in the brining bag and set in a roasting pan for support. Pour the cooled brine mixture into the bag. Add cold water until the bird is fully submerged and seal the bag tightly.

Bird Prep

  • Used onion, garlic, sage, thyme, apples and rosemary in chicken stock around bird

Truss Turkey

Alton Brown trussing directions

BBQ prep and Tray

  • Used foil offsets

BBQing

  • Grill at medium heat BBQ thermometer showed 500℉ in about 15 minutes. This temperature was too high. Effort should be taken next time to keep the temp between 300-400℉. Try turning off one burner
  • Hit 120℉ in bird after an hour
  • Hit 170℉ after 1:30, uncovered at 160 ℉.
  • Recommend keeping the temp lower, and keeping the chicken stock volume lower so that it’s no boiling the bird
  • Total cook time was about 2:15 but likely went quicker because the early temp was so high.

Carving

Alton Brown carving video

<2023-11-19 Sun>

  • 11.68 lb turkey
  • Made brine
    • 3 c. apple juice or apple cider
    • 2 gallons cold water
    • 4 tbsp. fresh rosemary leaves
    • 5 cloves garlic, minced
    • 1 1/2 c. kosher salt
    • 2 c. brown sugar
    • 3 tbsp. peppercorns
    • 5 whole bay leaves
    • Peel of three large oranges
    • Boil and allow to cool fully
  • Brined overnight <2023-11-18 Sat 19:00>–<2023-11-19 Sun 06:15>
  • Pour out brine, rinse turkey thoroughly, place in largest pot in water for 15 mins. Pour out and remove to tray for resting for a few hours
  • Prepare in-turkey aromatics
  • Add aromatics to inside of the bird, used “Poultry herbs” from whole foods: thyme, marjoram, rosemary
  • Truss Turkey by Alton Brown trussing directions
  • Add bird to roading tray and coat with canola oil
  • Pre-heat oven to 500
  • Add onion, apple, garlic, thyme, and rosemary outside of bird
  • Create foil triangle mold
  • Brown turkey for 30 mins, 15 mins in turn on barbecue to get to 300-400 degrees. Turn on 1,3,5 burners to 3/4.
  • After 30 mins in the oven, remove bird, insert probe thermometer, apply foil triangle and move to BBQ.
  • Add chicken stock to tray and close lid
  • Cook until 162 degrees, remove from heat and allowed to rest in blue baking dish
Figure 1: 2023 Turkey Result

Figure 1: 2023 Turkey Result

<2023-12-25 Mon>

  • 18.1 lb turkey
  • Brined for 17.5 hours overnight 6pm - 11:30AM

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