Thanksgiving is right around the corner and if you’re in charge of cooking the turkey this year, you may be wondering if you can smoke it a day ahead of time. Smoking a turkey produces incredibly moist, flavorful meat with a delicious smoky flavor. However it’s a lengthy process that can take hours. Is it possible to smoke your turkey the day before Thanksgiving to make things easier on the big day?
The short answer is yes, you absolutely can smoke your turkey in advance. However, there are some important factors to consider. Properly storing and reheating pre-smoked turkey is crucial for safety, taste and texture.
The Benefits of Smoking Ahead
Smoking a turkey is a labor of love. Depending on the size it can take upwards of 10 hours at low temperatures around 250°F to fully cook through and absorb optimal smoke. This requires constantly monitoring and tending to the smoker.
Smoking a day ahead means you can choose the timing that works best rather than trying to time it perfectly for Thanksgiving dinner. It also frees up oven and stovetop space on the big day for side dishes and other recipes. You’ll already have the star of the show ready to go.
If you’re traveling for Thanksgiving, pre-smoking makes transporting the turkey easy. You don’t have to find space for a smoker at your destination or worry about properly timing the cook.
Potential Drawbacks
While pre-smoking a turkey simplifies Thanksgiving Day itself it does take some forethought. You’ll need ample refrigerator space for chilling the cooked turkey overnight. Make sure you have enough room cleared out beforehand.
The taste and texture of smoked meat is best right off the smoker. Allowing it to sit will degrade both qualities somewhat. Proper storage and gentle reheating will help minimize this effect, but it likely won’t be quite as succulent and smoky as fresh.
You’ll also lose the dramatic presentation of a beautifully bronzed whole smoked turkey coming straight to the table. However, you can still wow guests by carving it right before serving.
Safety Tips for Smoking Ahead
When handling any cooked meat, safety is paramount. Follow these guidelines to keep your pre-smoked turkey safe for Thanksgiving dinner:
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Cook the turkey fully until the thigh meat reaches 165°F. This kills any potential bacteria.
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Allow the turkey to rest 20-30 minutes before refrigerating. This allows juices to settle for more even reheating.
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Refrigerate the turkey within 2 hours of finishing cooking. Use a food thermometer to ensure the fridge maintains a temperature under 40°F.
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Store the turkey tightly wrapped in foil or in a covered container to prevent contamination. Place on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator to avoid any drips.
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Use the turkey within 2-3 days for peak freshness. Make sure it hasn’t exceeded the “use-by” date if purchased pre-smoked.
How to Reheat a Smoked Turkey
You can reheat a smoked turkey in either the oven or back on the smoker. Just make sure to gently warm it to an internal temperature of at least 165°F.
Oven Method
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Remove turkey from fridge 1 hour before reheating.
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Preheat oven to 325°F.
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Place turkey in a roasting pan, tent with foil, and warm approximately 1 hour per 5 pounds.
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Check internal temp periodically until 165°F is reached.
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Let rest 20 minutes before carving.
Smoker Method
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Allow turkey to sit at room temperature 30-60 minutes before reheating.
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Preheat smoker to 300°F. Use lighter smoke wood like apple or cherry.
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Warm turkey approximately 1 hour per 5 pounds until 165°F.
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Remove turkey and let rest 20 minutes.
No matter which reheating method you choose, the turkey skin will not get as crispy as when first smoked. If you want to crisp it slightly, briefly broil the turkey before serving. But watch carefully to avoid burning.
Turkey Smoking Tips and Tricks
Here are some additional tips to ensure smoked turkey success:
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Choose a smaller 12-15 lb turkey if possible. The cook time will be shorter and the reheating easier.
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Inject the turkey with a salt brine before smoking to boost moisture and flavor.
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Use apple, cherry, pecan, or maple wood for mild, sweet smoke flavor.
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Smoke the turkey at 275°F if possible for optimal smoke absorption.
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Insert a meat thermometer to monitor the temperature without opening the smoker.
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Let the turkey rest at least 30 minutes after smoking before refrigerating.
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Slice the breast meat for sandwiches to use up leftovers. The drier reheated meat works great!
Make It an Awesome Thanksgiving
Smoking your turkey up to two days before Thanksgiving is perfectly safe when properly handled. It makes the holiday less hectic. Just focus on proper food safety and gentle reheating, and your pre-smoked turkey will be a delicious centerpiece.
Take the stress out of the big day. Smoke your turkey ahead of time and relax knowing Thanksgiving dinner will be amazing. Your guests will be thrilled when you beautifully carve that tender, juicy, smoky meat right in front of their eyes.
Watch Now: 7 Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Thanksgiving
Roast the turkey the way youd usually do it. (You can even roast the bird unstuffed from the frozen state.) When the interior temperature of the turkey reaches 170 F in the thigh, take it out of the oven and let it rest, covered, for about 30 minutes. Into a container, pour the drippings from the roasting pan, including any bits that are stuck to the bottom; save it all to make the gravy tomorrow. You can wash the roasting pan to store the carved turkey or leave as is. (Dont have a roasting pan? Find a roasting pan substitution in your own kitchen.)
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Carve Your Turkey
Before you begin, make sure your knife is sharp and that you have a large enough cutting board, preferably one with a groove to capture all the delicious turkey juices. First, cut down between one breast and one leg, then pull and twist the leg to pop it out of the joint. Keep cutting until the leg and thigh come free. Then cut the leg away from the thigh. Put the drumstick and pieces of thigh meat into the roasting pan.
Next, cut the breast away from the bird, then slice it crosswise, keeping some skin on each piece. Place this in the pan. Cut off the wing and add to the pan. Then turn the bird around and carve the other side in the same manner. Check out “How to Carve a Turkey” for step-by-step photos of the process. 1:57
How To Reheat & Slice A Holiday Turkey From InterStellar BBQ
FAQ
Can you smoke a turkey a day in advance?
If you’re trying to time your meal, remember that a smoked turkey is a great choice because you can cook it ahead of time and reheat it for the meal without drying it out. It won’t be fast, but it’ll take some of the guesswork out of your feast day.
Can I cook a turkey the day before and reheat it?
Can you cook a turkey the day before and reheat it? Yes you can! If roasting a bird on the big day sounds overwhelming, cook your turkey a day ahead. This easy trick will not only save you time on Thanksgiving, it’ll make the day a lot less stressful, too. The best part? No one will even know!
Can you smoke a turkey and then reheat it?
There are a few different ways that you can cook a pre smoked turkey. You can either reheat it, cook it from frozen, or cook it fresh. Reheating is the quickest and easiest way to cook a pre smoked turkey. Simply put the turkey in a baking dish and heat it at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 15 minutes per pound.
Can you smoke a turkey halfway and finish later?
Smoke it ahead of time but don’t try to keep it whole. You’ll end up with an over cooked, dry and mostly cold bird. Smoke it to temp, carve into primal cuts and then reheat them at a lower temp covered in foil in the oven, then if you want you can try to crisp the skin.
Can you smoke a Turkey before Thanksgiving?
Smoking a turkey isn’t an instant process, and because it takes so many hours, many wonder if they can smoke their turkey before the holiday during which they wish to consume it. While a turkey can be smoked in advance, know that it might change the texture of the meat as well as how nice it looks sitting on your table.
Can a Turkey be smoked in advance?
While a turkey can be smoked in advance, know that it might change the texture of the meat as well as how nice it looks sitting on your table. Not to mention that it still takes 3 hours to reheat, so smoking a turkey in advance will still result in work the day you wish to serve it.
Should you smoke a Turkey a day before you need it?
Unfortunately, while there are many reasons to smoke a turkey a day before you need it, there are many cons as well. First of all, smoked meat has an amazing flavor when you first take it off the grill, and there is just no way to get it back when it is gone. This means your precious smoked bird may not taste as smoky when it is reheated.
Can you smoke a frozen turkey?
While you can smoke a frozen turkey, you will have much better results with one that has been defrosted. We recommend defrosting your turkey in the days leading up to the smoking in your fridge. If it’s already the day of, you can use the cooler method to defrost your turkey more quickly.
How long does it take to smoke a Turkey?
Depending on the size of your smoker and the temperatures it reaches, smoking a turkey takes 8 to 10 hours. This means that if you are serving a holiday dinner around 3 pm, you would need to start cooking around 5 or 6 am. Therefore, those who don’t want to get up early may want to consider smoking their turkey a day ahead.
Should you cook a Turkey in advance?
Not to mention that it still takes 3 hours to reheat, so smoking a turkey in advance will still result in work the day you wish to serve it. This might not be quite the answer you were looking for, but before you resolve to cook your turkey in advance or on the day of your event, read the rest of this article.