Best Turkey Yet

Obi-Dan

Former Member

Joined: Feb 2016

Posts: 474

Location: Jersey Village, TX
#1

Best Turkey Yet

November 23, 2017, 10:16 PM

So finally I got around to brining my turkey this year and I am full of regret. Regret I hadn’t been doing this sooner. Usually I inject with creole butter and rub with salt, pepper, and garlic. And it’s always been fine. This year I decided to brine and I followed Malcolm Reed’s Cajun turkey recipe. I still injected with creole butter but I used Tony Chachere for the rub. Then I hung it in the PBC.

It was the best turkey ever. So moist, so flavorful, so tender and juicy. I’ve never made a bad turkey, but now I realize I’d never made a great one until today. Thanks again Amazing Ribs and all the Pit Members for inspiring me to be a better backyard chef and Happy Thanksgiving to everyone here in the pit.
Tags: None

Likes 4
ecowper

Founding Member

Joined: Jul 2014

Posts: 6159

Location: Maple Valley, WA

Grill/Smoke/Roast = SnS Grills Kettle + SnS Deluxe Insert & Drip n' Griddle
Grill/Smoke/Roast = Hasty-Bake Gourmet Dual Finish with HB rotisserie and Grill Grates
Smoke = Weber Smokey Mountain 22.5"
Pizza = Blackstone Propane Pizza Oven (Stacy's, but she let's me use it sometimes)
Indoor Cooking = LG Studio 30" gas range
Camp Cooking = Coleman 2 burner white gas stove

Thermometer = FireBoard FBX2 with 2 ambient and 6 meat probes
Thermapen Mk IV = Light blue
Thermapen Mk IV = Black
PID Controller = Fireboard Drive + Auber 20 CFM Fan (FB gen 1 fan)
PID Controller = Fireboard Drive + Fireboard 20 CFM Fan (FB gen 2 fan)

Knives
Wusthof Classic Ikon set: 9" carving knive, 2X 8" Chef's Knife, 7" Santoku and three utility knives
Kamikoto Kuro set: 7" Santoku, 6.5" Nakiri, 5" Utility
Amazing Ribs Brazilian Steak knife set

Favorite wine = whatever is currently in the wine rack
Favorite beer = Sam Adams Boston Lager or Shiner Bock
Favorite whisky = Lagavulin Distiller's Edition 16 year old single malt

Best Cookbooks - Meathead's "The Science of Great Barbecue and Grilling", Chris Lilly's "Big Bob Gibson's BBQ Book", Aaron Franklin's "Franklin BBQ", Raichlen’s “Brisket Chronicles”

Current MCBS - Momofuku

Current fanboy cookbook - "Chasing Smoke: Cooking Over Fire Around the Levant"

Some Posts in Pitmaster to check out:

Eric's Brisket Method
Eric's Method for Drunken Texas Beans
Stacy's Bouef Bourguignon
Eric's Smoked Texas Chili
Rancho Gordo Beans and Bean Club
Troutman's Ribs - Step By Step Primer
Grilled Pork Chops: Harissa Marinade
Light My (Hasty Bake) Fire

Eric
#2

November 23, 2017, 10:49 PM

That looks amazing Obi-Dan
Comment
Huskee

Administrator

Joined: May 2014

Posts: 21020

Location: Clare, Michigan area

Follow me on Instagram, huskeesbarbecue

Smokers / Grills
Yoder loaded Wichita offset smoker

PBC

Grilla Silverbac pellet grill

Slow 'N Sear Deluxe Kamado (SnSK)

Slow 'N Sear Master Kettle (cart-mounted)

Slow 'N Sear Travel Kettle

Masterbuilt Gravity 560

Weber 22" Original Kettle Premium (copper)

Weber 26" Original Kettle Premium (light blue)

Weber Jumbo Joe Gold (18.5")

Weber Smokey Joe Silver (14.5")

Traeger Flatrock Griddle

Thermometers
SnS 500 4-probe wireless

(3) Maverick XR-50 4-probe Wireless Thermometers

A few straggler Maverick ET-732s

Maverick ET-735 Bluetooth (in box)

Smoke X4 by ThermoWorks

Thermapen MkII, orange & purple

ThermoPop, yellow, plus a few more in a drawer for gifts

ThermoWorks ChefAlarm (wife's)

Morpilot 6-probe wireless

ThermoWorks Infrared IRK2

ThermoWorks fridge & freezer therms as well

Accessories
Instant Pot 6qt

Anova Bluetooth SV

Kitchen Aide mixer & meat grinder attachment

Kindling Cracker King (XL)

a couple BBQ Dragons

Weber full & half chimneys, Char-Broil Half Time chimney

Weber grill topper

Slow 'N Sear Original, XL, and SnS Charcoal Basket (for Jumbo Joe)

Drip 'N Griddle Pans, 22' Easy Spin Grate, and Elevated Cooking grate, by SnSGrills

Pittsburgh Digital Moisture Meter

Beverages
Favorite summer beers: Leinenkugels Summer & Grapefruit Shandy, Hamm's, Michelob Ultra Pure Gold & Lime

Fav other beers: Zombie Dust (an IPA by 3 Floyd's Brewing), Austin Bros IPA, DAB, Sam Adams regular, Third Shift amber or Coors Batch 19, Stella Artois

Fav cheap beers: Pabst, High Life, Hamm's & Stroh's

Most favorite beer: The one in your fridge

Wine: Red - big, bold, tannic & peppery- Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauv, Sangiovese, Syrah, etc

Whiskey: Buffalo Trace, E.H. Taylor, Blanton's, Old Forester 1870, Elijah Craig Toasted. Neat please.

Scotch: Current favorite- The Arran (anything by them), Glenmorangie 12yr Lasanta, sherry cask finished. The Balvenie Double Wood, also like Oban 18yr, and The Glenlivet Nadurra (Oloroso sherry cask finished) among others. Neat please.

About me
Real name: Aaron
Location: Farwell, Michigan - near Clare (dead center of lower peninsula).

Occupation:
Healthcare- Licensed & Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) at MyMichigan Health, a University of Michigan Health System.
#3

November 23, 2017, 10:54 PM

Nice work! Jerod will be happy to hear that too, I know he's a huge fan of Tony Chachere on poultry.
Comment
stickbit

Club Member

Joined: Jun 2017

Posts: 43
#4

November 24, 2017, 12:19 AM

Awesome!! I watched Reeds Cajun turkey video a week ago and was drooling. Great to hear it’s that good!
Comment
Jerod Broussard

Moderator

Joined: Jun 2014

Posts: 14121

Location: East Texas

"Spray cheese, from the famous family of aerosol cheeses."
#5

November 24, 2017, 12:46 AM

Tony Chachere's I find only works well on poultry, hamburgers, pork chops, tuna fish, popcorn, pickles, taco soup, chili, deviled eggs, cucumbers, Slim Jim beef jerky, Ramen noodles....not really a big fan, just 6'0" 145 pounds.
Likes 3
Comment
Huskee

Administrator

Joined: May 2014

Posts: 21020

Location: Clare, Michigan area

Follow me on Instagram, huskeesbarbecue

Smokers / Grills
Yoder loaded Wichita offset smoker

PBC

Grilla Silverbac pellet grill

Slow 'N Sear Deluxe Kamado (SnSK)

Slow 'N Sear Master Kettle (cart-mounted)

Slow 'N Sear Travel Kettle

Masterbuilt Gravity 560

Weber 22" Original Kettle Premium (copper)

Weber 26" Original Kettle Premium (light blue)

Weber Jumbo Joe Gold (18.5")

Weber Smokey Joe Silver (14.5")

Traeger Flatrock Griddle

Thermometers
SnS 500 4-probe wireless

(3) Maverick XR-50 4-probe Wireless Thermometers

A few straggler Maverick ET-732s

Maverick ET-735 Bluetooth (in box)

Smoke X4 by ThermoWorks

Thermapen MkII, orange & purple

ThermoPop, yellow, plus a few more in a drawer for gifts

ThermoWorks ChefAlarm (wife's)

Morpilot 6-probe wireless

ThermoWorks Infrared IRK2

ThermoWorks fridge & freezer therms as well

Accessories
Instant Pot 6qt

Anova Bluetooth SV

Kitchen Aide mixer & meat grinder attachment

Kindling Cracker King (XL)

a couple BBQ Dragons

Weber full & half chimneys, Char-Broil Half Time chimney

Weber grill topper

Slow 'N Sear Original, XL, and SnS Charcoal Basket (for Jumbo Joe)

Drip 'N Griddle Pans, 22' Easy Spin Grate, and Elevated Cooking grate, by SnSGrills

Pittsburgh Digital Moisture Meter

Beverages
Favorite summer beers: Leinenkugels Summer & Grapefruit Shandy, Hamm's, Michelob Ultra Pure Gold & Lime

Fav other beers: Zombie Dust (an IPA by 3 Floyd's Brewing), Austin Bros IPA, DAB, Sam Adams regular, Third Shift amber or Coors Batch 19, Stella Artois

Fav cheap beers: Pabst, High Life, Hamm's & Stroh's

Most favorite beer: The one in your fridge

Wine: Red - big, bold, tannic & peppery- Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauv, Sangiovese, Syrah, etc

Whiskey: Buffalo Trace, E.H. Taylor, Blanton's, Old Forester 1870, Elijah Craig Toasted. Neat please.

Scotch: Current favorite- The Arran (anything by them), Glenmorangie 12yr Lasanta, sherry cask finished. The Balvenie Double Wood, also like Oban 18yr, and The Glenlivet Nadurra (Oloroso sherry cask finished) among others. Neat please.

About me
Real name: Aaron
Location: Farwell, Michigan - near Clare (dead center of lower peninsula).

Occupation:
Healthcare- Licensed & Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) at MyMichigan Health, a University of Michigan Health System.
#6

November 24, 2017, 12:54 AM

Originally posted by Jerod Broussard View Post

Tony Chachere's I find only works well on poultry, hamburgers, pork chops, tuna fish, popcorn, pickles, taco soup, chili, deviled eggs, cucumbers, Slim Jim beef jerky, Ramen noodles....not really a big fan, just 6'0" 145 pounds.

Read: No good on raisin bran.
Comment
1 comment

#6.1

Jerod Broussard commented

November 24, 2017, 01:04 AM

Editing a comment

no cereal, got some on some homemade tamales....gooooood
Jerod Broussard

Moderator

Joined: Jun 2014

Posts: 14121

Location: East Texas

"Spray cheese, from the famous family of aerosol cheeses."
#7

November 24, 2017, 01:57 AM

Zooming in on those pics, tis mack daddy, tis mack daddy!!
Comment
hoovarmin

Founding Member

Joined: Jul 2014

Posts: 3967

Location: Neptune Beach, FL

Kamado Joe Big Joe III
Pit Barrel Cooker
Camp Chef Flat Top 900
Weber Performer 22
PowerFlamer Propane 160
Meater +
Thermoworks Smoke
Thermoworks Thermapen
Temp Spike
#8

November 24, 2017, 08:14 AM

Congratulations! I'm with you - I can't understand why anyone wouldn't brine a turkey. It makes such a difference. BTW, Jerod Broussard, Tony C's is awesome on asparagus.
Likes 1
Comment
1 - 3

3 comments

#8.1

EdF commented

November 24, 2017, 01:13 PM

Editing a comment

I've brined for most of the last 10 years and always like the results. My wife complains if it's more than a day or so of a "baloney flavor". This year I dry-brined. I like the results just as much!

#8.2

hoovarmin commented

November 24, 2017, 08:17 PM

Editing a comment

EdF, do you brine beneath the skin, or on top? Always wondered about that.

#8.3

EdF commented

November 25, 2017, 08:52 AM

Editing a comment

I put it on the outside when dry-brining. Works fine. In fact this year I did it for 3 days while it was defrosting.
HawkerXP

Club Member

Joined: Jul 2016

Posts: 11045

Location: Virginia

Lots of knives
3 Weber Performers
1 classic kettle
1 26" kettle
1 Smoky Joe
1 PBC
4 Thermoworks POPs
2 Dot and 1 Chef Alarm
2 Temp spikes
4 Slo n Sears
1 Smokenator
2 Vortex
#9

November 24, 2017, 08:20 AM

Hey Dan, even your turkey is giving you a high five! PBC, PBC, Pbc......................
Likes 1
Comment
1 comment

#9.1

Obi-Dan commented

November 24, 2017, 05:48 PM

Editing a comment

Ha. Yeah, hanging the turkey can do some weird things to the appendages. First time I ever smoked it in the PBC I didn’t tie the legs. It looked like it had been spread eagled.
fzxdoc

Founding Member & Pit Barrel Cooker Queen

Joined: Jul 2014

Posts: 8202

My toys:
Weber Summit Charcoal Grilling Center (WSCGC) aka Mr. Fancypants
Pit Barrel Cooker (which rocks), named Pretty Baby
Weber Summit S650 Gas Grill, named Hot 'n Fast (used mostly for searing and griddling)
Weber Kettle Premium 22" named Kettle Kid, eager to horn in with more cooks in the future
Camp Chef Somerset IV 4-burner outdoor gas range named AfterBurner due to its 30kBTU burners

Adrenaline BBQ Company Gear:
SnS Low Profile, DnG, and Large Charcoal Basket, for WSCGC
SnS Deluxe for 22" Kettle
Elevated SS Rack for WSCGC
SS Rack for DnG
Cast Iron Griddle
Grill Grate for SnS
Grill Grates: five 17.375 sections (retired to storage)
Grill Grates: six 19.25 panels for exact fit for Summit S650
gasser
Grill Grates for 22" Kettle
2 Grill Grate Griddles
Steelmade Griddle for Summit gas grill

Fireboard Gear:
Extreme BBQ Thermometer Package
Additional control unit
Additional probes: Competition Probes 1" (3) and 4" (1), 3 additional Ambient Probes. 1 additional Food Probe
2 Driver Cables
Pit Viper Fan (to pair with Fireboard Fan Driver Cable)
Pit Viper Fan new design (to pair with Fireboard Fan Driver Cable)
Thermoworks Gear:
Thermapen MK4 (pink)
Thermapen Classic (pink too)
Thermoworks MK4 orange
Temp Test 2 Smart Thermometer
Extra Big and Loud Timer
Timestick Trio
Maverick ET 73 a little workhorse with limited range
Maverick ET 733
Maverick (Ivation) ET 732

Grill Pinz
Vortex (two of them)
18" drip pan for WSCGC
Ceramic Spacers for WSCGC in Kamado Mode: 2 sets each 1/2", 1", 2". The 2" spacers work best with the 18" drip pan. The 1+1/2 inch spacers work best with the 14 inch cake pan.

Two Joule Sous Vide devices
3 Lipavi Sous Vide Tubs with Lids: 12, 18 and 26 quarts
Avid Armor Ultra Pro V32 Chamber Sealer

Instant Pot 6 Quart Electric Pressure Cooker
Instant Pot 10 Quart Electric Pressure Cooker

Charcoal Companion TurboQue
A-Maze-N tube 12 inch tube smoker accessory for use with pellets

BBQ Dragon and Dragon Chimney

Shun Classic Series:
8" Chef Knife
6" Chef's Knife
Gokujo Boning and Fillet Knife
3 1/2 inch Paring Knife
#10

November 24, 2017, 08:23 AM

Great looking turkey, Dan. Congrats!

Kathryn
Comment

Previous template Next

Welcome!

Announcement

Best Turkey Yet

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Announcement