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Okay, with the recent questions and seeing that some people hadn't tried this before or didn't even know what it was, here I go.

I had a practice turkey so wanted to give you some photos and options.

The whole idea of spatchcocking is to open the whole bird up, lay it flat and cook it flat. You can use this for Chicken as well.

Those that love to Spatchcock say that it cooks faster and the whole bird comes out even.

When I'm doing just turkey, I'll do this sometimes as an option. You really need enough space in your smoker to do this, but I LOVE the parting out of the meat, just makes trimming later that much quicker/easier.

I like this for the flexibility it gives me, that if the white/dark get done at different times, you can take them off when done.

Start with a whole turkey:


To Spatchcock you need to remove the spine.

This photo shows the area I'll cut out. I use a share knife and some kitchen shears



This photos shows the spine removed (and that's it at the bottom of the photo



OPTION
I like to remove the keel bone. That's the white shape above the spine. You can see where it was removed in the middle of the turkey, where you see the meat. I like to to this for easier trimming later and it lays flatter. NOTE: it is rather difficult to remove. You have to cut carefully and not ruin the breast meat.



Here's a view with the bird turned over.

You can cook it just like this OR
see the photo after this one



OPTION
Part out the bird. I cut the dark quarters off (thigh/leg) IMPORTANT. Be very away of the skin and where you cut it. You want to leave as much as skin as you can for the breast meat (which I didn't do this time to show you what happens if you cut it close. Just keep this in mind when you trim out the dark pieces.



Loaded in the smoker. I try to off set them so the bird above doesn't drip on the ones below.



Completed

Last edited {1}
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quote:
Originally posted by Briggsy:
Just curious SmokinOkie since I also have an FE, what shelf and temp are you using. And give or take, about how long does a Turkey take?
Thanks
Briggsy


If you look at the sides of the next to last photo, I have the 7 rack in that particular FE. I used the next to top and then the one just above the temp probe.

I did them at 275, bumped to 325 for last 30 min or so. It was about a 14lb'er and only took about 2 1/2 hours.
I just throw my bird in and spatchcock later. Haven't brined one that way.

Opening it up like that does help some, but I can't say how much or how little. My guess would still be a minimum of 36 hours. The size of the bird will matter.

If you cut it fully into parts, you could reduce it, but I think I still recommend in 101 (I'll have to look) that breasts alone need 24 hours.

I have a bucket I always use for brining. I've got my timing down for a two day brine, so I just brine them whole and spatchcock later.

Once I have my brine flavors, my timings, etc, I hate to experiment for turkey day.
quote:
Originally posted by SmokinMAINEiac:
I started brining an 11.3 pound whole turkey in Smokin's Basic Brine III right after work today. I intend to spatchcock it and smoke it on Sunday after 36 hrs in the brine.


Well, I brined my turkey in Smokin's Basic Brine III, I spatchcocked it (not as hard as I thought it would be, but still a lot more difficult than a chicken, rubbed it with Smokin's new poultry rub (very nice), and smoked it at 210* with 4oz of hickory. Unfortunately, the probe on my Cookshack Elite malfunctioned and I ended up with a greatly overdone bird Confused. I have emailed CS and will call them tomorrow.

A lot of work for a disappoiinting result, but equipment malfunction happens. Turkey salad anyone?
quote:
Originally posted by SmokinMAINEiac:
quote:
Originally posted by SmokinMAINEiac:
I started brining an 11.3 pound whole turkey in Smokin's Basic Brine III right after work today. I intend to spatchcock it and smoke it on Sunday after 36 hrs in the brine.


Well, I brined my turkey in Smokin's Basic Brine III, I spatchcocked it (not as hard as I thought it would be, but still a lot more difficult than a chicken, rubbed it with Smokin's new poultry rub (very nice), and smoked it at 210* with 4oz of hickory. Unfortunately, the probe on my Cookshack Elite malfunctioned and I ended up with a greatly overdone bird Confused. I have emailed CS and will call them tomorrow.

A lot of work for a disappointing result, but equipment malfunction happens. Turkey salad anyone?


Cookshack was easy to reach and easy to deal with. A new probe is on its way to me today.

Thanks Bill and Stuart!
Last edited by smokinmaineiac

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