Whole Turkey and an extra breast on 18.5 WSM?


 
B

Benji Whitehead

TVWBB Member
I have a 15 lb butterball knockoff turkey that I bought and plan to either spatchcock or carve up prior to smoking to make life easier. Dad also bought a breast and I said I'd smoke it as well. Can I fit all that on a single 18.5 WSM or have I over committed? I also have a 22" kettle that I could use for the extra breast or the legs and wings if needed. I'm cooking all of this on Thursday morning, taking half the turkey plus the extra breast to dad's house that afternoon, then the rest of the turkey to mom's house on Friday. Trying to plan it all out and also decide if I should go with my clay pot in place of the water pan or nothing at all (water pan has been gone for a while). Thanks for any tips!
 
I’ve done 1.5 turkeys cut up on my WSK. So if you do turkey halves you should have room. Spatchcock will be tight as that full stand alone breast will take up space.

Here’s 1.5 birds in pieces from 2023 TG cook.

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I don’t have a picture, but last year I did a spatchcock turkey, maybe a 12-14 lb on the top grate of my 18” WSM and caught the drippings in a pan on the bottom grate. I had room to spare. I don’t think it would be a problem to do the full bird on the top and the breast on the bottom (or vice versa)

Now if you asked me about cooking two full turkeys, I would have to tell you that you would definitely need the WSM 22”. I know this to be true, because my wife agreed, allowing me to purchase said 22” WSM.

:):)
 
You def have enough space on the two racks.

The tetris will be easier if you separate the legs/thighs. That will also help you cook the various pieces to the correct respective temperatures.
 
So I found out today that my stepmom thought she had a turkey breast but turns out it’s a full turkey. Now I have a 11 lb and a 15 lb to cook. Definitely cutting them up into pieces and I may just cook one Thursday and the other Friday.
 
Another thing you could do if you have a gasser is cook one in that and one in the WSM. My Genesis holds temps as well as my oven. Then, if anyone doesn't care for the charcoal/smoke flavor, they have an option.
 
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