• Enter the TVWB 27th Anniversary Prize Drawing for a chance to win a Weber Traveler Portable Gas Grill! Click here to enter!

last minute help!


 
A

Aaron B

New member
hey everybody, I'm kind of in a jam and could use a little help.

So this morning I got voluntold that I will be preparing the turkey for my units Christmas party. Apparently word got around about my thanksgiving turkey (apple brined from the cooking topics section) and now everyone wants to try it. I'll be receiving some petty cash for the party to pick up the birds but not until tomorrow morning.

I tried to explain that it takes a while to brine the birds but it was like talking to a brick wall. So now I'm stuck with zero time and zero turkey to prep until the day of the cook.

My idea is that I get 3 of the largest self basting bone in breasts I can get my hands on and throw a super easy rub on them, and cook away. Its not going to be my best work but at this point I don't see a lot of other options.

I have an 18.5 in, and my actual cooking time is going to be limited as i still have obligations for parts of the morning. from 530 until about 9 I have to be at work. i get about an hour break at 9 and have to be back for about an hour and a half to two hours. so at approx. noon I can really start smoking. The Christmas party is at 6 so birds have to be done and carved by then. Any help, hints or suggestions would be more than welcome.

Thanks in advance guys!
 
Sorry I don't have more than moral support to offer, but best of luck. It will be tight but I've always been amazed at what can get done when you focus. If you can get some help (wife, friend, . . .) get it. Even if it's just a little help, it could make a big difference.

I like your plan on the self basting breasts. Like you said, it may not be great, but it will be good and since most people haven't even had something as good as you're about to produce, I bet people will rave about how good the turkey is.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.
 
Aaron, It will be really tight, but I think you can do it. For Thanksgiving this year my in laws bought a self basting turkey for me to smoke. I simply Patted dry, applied a light coat of veg oil and some creole seasoning for the rub. If you have some apple wood to smoke over, I HIGHLY recommend it! I thought it was the best (and easiest) turkey I had smoked yet. On your hour break, go home and get the smoker ready, if you ave time, pat the birds dry and let 'em sit in the fridge 'til you get home. This way, when you get home around noon, all you will have to do is light the chimney, oil and rub the birds and you're off and smoking!! Good luck, and keep us posted.
Tim
 
If it's breast-only, it should take a couple hours to cook, maybe 2.5-3 if you want to cook at a lower temperature.
 
Ok guys, small update. Apparently turkey breasts are simply non existent in my neck of the woods right now. The wife grabbed 3 young turkeys ranging from 9-10lbs each. Small hiccup but its nothing unmanageable. At this point I'm debating going with vertically cooking them, beer can style. I will have to smoke one at first then the second two.

Any suggestions for holding the first bird for a few hours? Will the standard wrap in foil, put in cooler, cover with towel method work or will it turn the skin rubbery?

Thanks again for all the the help up until this point. You guys have saved my neck thus far! This is the reason this place has such a great community.
 
Aaron,

I've read that tenting with foil will turn the skin soft. I imagine a cooler without foil would be better.

At least you have small birds. That should make it easier. Put a wet rub below and on top of the skin. A simple salt, rosemary, sage, and thyme rub mixed with EVOO should do well. The oil will help crisp the skin. Cook at 315+.

Do you have a kettle or other grill for the 3rd bird?
 
Everything turned out great! Everybody loved it, then again its always pretty easy to impress people who have never had any real barbecue. I'll give a better recap tomorrow, I just got home from the party and I'm beat. Its bed time. Thanks again everyone.
 
Great! Somehow it always does turn out. I hate this time of year from a party/meal/planning perspective, but when it's all said and done, everyone seems to have a good time and it's all worth it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

 

Back
Top