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Q-talk *ON TOPIC ONLY* QUALITY ON TOPIC discussion of Backyard BBQ, grilling, equipment and outdoor cookin' . ** Other cooking techniques are welcomed for when your cookin' in the kitchen. Post your hints, tips, tricks & techniques, success, failures, but stay on topic and watch for that hijacking. |
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11-17-2013, 09:57 PM | #1 |
On the road to being a farker
Join Date: 06-18-13
Location: Denver, CO
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How can I be 100% sure my smoked turkey won't taste like ham?
Hey guys and gals,
I'm pretty new to smoking, and sometimes my spatched chickens turn out tasting a little hammy with just rub and oversmoking them (usually hickory and sometimes a mix of hickory and applewood). Definitely my fault, as I'm still learning. I'm planning on doing the turkey on the OTS this year, and I just want to be 100% sure I am not going to screw this up and have it taste like ham. My chica does not like the smoke profile of anything but hickory on poultry, and I think this in particular is what is making the birds a little hammy tasting ( I would prefer to just use applewood, but she thinks THAT is what makes it taste like him). Good grief I'm scared of trying brining thinking that will exacerbate the problem with the salt/curing effect of the brine, so I just want to inject and use some kind of spicy rub/injection combo. What can you masters of the thin blue suggest?
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1st gen PBC, Mini WSM w/SJG, 22.5" OTG, SJS |
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11-17-2013, 10:18 PM | #3 |
somebody shut me the fark up.
Join Date: 08-22-13
Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana
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Ben sometimes less is more...in this case meaning less smoke and less time in the smoke.
Try i simple rub, smoke at 325-350 as poultry doesn't need much time in smoke. Try dropping the hickory and just use a little apple... it's a mild smoke. If it's enhanced just try smoking it and if it isn't then go ahead and brine. Hopefully the less is more approach will give you better results.
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11-17-2013, 10:28 PM | #4 |
somebody shut me the fark up.
Join Date: 06-26-09
Location: sAn leAnDRo, CA
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First off, start of with something other than a leg of pork...
Seriously, Cut way back on the wood, poultry requires very little smoke, it takes it in just fine. Brineing is fine, use a proven brine recipe and go with that. Now, that being said, if the turkey has been enhanced, or injected, then you don't have to brine, it won't hurt it, but, it is a waste. I also suggest a simple seasoning program. It is most likely the fact that you are going to heavy on the smoke. Also, I like to cook all poultry at or above 300F, 350°F is a good place to be.
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11-17-2013, 10:29 PM | #5 |
On the road to being a farker
Join Date: 06-18-13
Location: Denver, CO
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Thanks guys - I think I'm just going to use a SINGLE fist size chunk of hickory and bury it in the coals. I'll definitely get an unenhanced bird, and want to inject. I'm also definitely plannng on the 325-350 range .
I was thinking of just melted butter with a little cayenne and old bay for the injection. What do you think about that, or will the salt from the old bay make it hammy?
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1st gen PBC, Mini WSM w/SJG, 22.5" OTG, SJS |
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11-17-2013, 10:34 PM | #6 |
somebody shut me the fark up.
Join Date: 06-26-09
Location: sAn leAnDRo, CA
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I wouldn't worry about it
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[COLOR=DarkGreen][COLOR=DarkRed][SIZE=1]me: I don't drink anymore Yelonutz: me either, but, then again, I don't drink any less [/SIZE][/COLOR][/COLOR][SIZE=1][COLOR=DarkRed] [COLOR=Pink]SSS[/COLOR] [/COLOR][/SIZE] |
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11-17-2013, 10:39 PM | #7 |
Banned
Join Date: 09-03-13
Location: Edgewood, TX
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Yes honey, I used hickory... (as I hide the apple wood chunks)
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11-17-2013, 10:39 PM | #8 |
somebody shut me the fark up.
Join Date: 08-22-13
Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana
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Ben it was probably the smoke and amount of time in the smoke that gave you that taste...no problems with the old bay imo....The butter sounds real good ))
What temps were you cooking at?
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Change the way you rotisserie for the BETTER![COLOR="Red"][B]Cajun Bandit Kits for your WSM or Weber Kettle Now Available![/B][/COLOR] Visit [COLOR="Red"]OctoForks[/COLOR] in Sales & Ventures Website & Blog: [url]www.octoforks.com[/url] |
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11-17-2013, 10:54 PM | #9 | |
On the road to being a farker
Join Date: 06-18-13
Location: Denver, CO
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Quote:
she would seriously beat my azz lol. I think I'll shoot for 350 temp in the OTS, and if the skin somehow comes up rubbery due to my idiocy, I'll try and make some cracklins a la meathead
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1st gen PBC, Mini WSM w/SJG, 22.5" OTG, SJS |
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11-17-2013, 11:27 PM | #10 |
is One Chatty Farker
Join Date: 09-13-12
Location: canada
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Back way out on th wood, try using only lump charcoal on your next cook, then add very small amounts after you see what that tastes like.
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11-17-2013, 11:37 PM | #11 |
On the road to being a farker
Join Date: 06-18-13
Location: Denver, CO
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That's a good call with just some good lump - plenty of smoke from that as is. I usually use RO lump for grilling and I think I might have enough. I was planning on doing a mix of that and stubbs briqs but maybe I will just do lump and see what happens.
It seems the general consensus is that it's the damn oversmoking that's causing the ham taste and not the spices in the rub or injection - do I have that right?
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1st gen PBC, Mini WSM w/SJG, 22.5" OTG, SJS |
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11-17-2013, 11:44 PM | #12 |
somebody shut me the fark up.
Join Date: 07-04-09
Location: Jonesboro,Tx
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Start out low like 180 for two hrs with 1 chunk of hickory then dump a 1/2 chimney of lump and a 1/2 chimney of lit lump open the intake and let it finish.
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11-18-2013, 01:37 AM | #13 |
Babbling Farker
Join Date: 07-06-13
Location: Oklahoma
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I just use apple wood for everything--it all tastes good no matter I cook with it and it keeps things simple. Got two 10lb bags of apple wood for $7.99 a bag at Ace Hardware today :) Sale is going on to late December I believe.
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18.5" WSM and 22.5" OTG. |
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11-18-2013, 02:28 AM | #14 |
somebody shut me the fark up.
Join Date: 04-02-09
Location: San Antonio, TX
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While I would use Apple or Cherry wood, I think you should use hickory, but only a title. If your lady likes it, you wanna please her, huh? The above advice to cook hot and fast with little smoke is your best bet. If you brine, DON't OVER-BRINE. Relax and enjoy your Q. Post pics if you can.
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11-18-2013, 02:28 AM | #15 |
somebody shut me the fark up.
Join Date: 08-27-13
Location: Princeton, TX
Name/Nickname : )
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No brining (if already enhanced) or injecting. Cook hot and fast so that it takes on as little smoke as possible. White oak for the wood. Try to find a charcoal that does not overpower the meat. No ham profile when cooking with just splits IMO, but that is not an option.
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