If I told you that this garbage can turkey recipe makes one of the best turkeys I’ve ever had, would you believe me?
When I first witnessed a turkey being cooked in a garbage can it blew my mind. I couldn’t fathom how that was even possible!.
We’ve cooked many turkeys this way since then, and it quickly became my favorite way to make the moistest and tastiest turkey I’ve ever had. Let me show you how….
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No seriously, this turkey was cooked in a garbage can in 1. 5 hours you guys! It’s super easy to set up and makes the tastiest trash can turkey.
We also have an amazing Smoked Turkey recipe that is to die for. Full of rich, smokey flavour, it’s another one that you should add to the must try list!.
Check out this eBook for a collection of our tried-and-true, family-favorite Thanksgiving recipes. It’s the complete guide to making the perfect Thanksgiving meal!
If you’ve never made a trash can turkey before, make sure you burn off the galvanized before you cook it. For this, you need to heat the can very quickly. We did this over a campfire, but a torch or smoker would also work.
You can also cook the bird in an extra-large stainless steel stock pot, though the cooking time will be different.
Cooking a turkey in a trash can may sound crazy, but it’s actually an ingenious method that yields incredibly moist, tender and flavorful meat. As a passionate home cook, I was skeptical when I first heard about this unique technique. But after trying it myself, I’m convinced that trash can turkey is the best way to cook a turkey!
In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to make trash can turkey at home. You’ll learn about the benefits, required supplies, step-by-step instructions, helpful tips, and frequently asked questions. By the end, you’ll be fully prepared to make your best turkey yet using this fun and unconventional cooking method.
Why Cook Turkey in a Trash Can?
Trash can turkey offers several advantages over roasting a bird in the oven:
- Infuses the meat with smoky, charcoal flavor
- Keeps the turkey incredibly moist and tender
- Cooks the turkey evenly with crispy skin
- Frees up oven space and doesn’t heat up kitchen
- Shorter cooking time than oven roasting
- Novel, fun and foolproof method for beginners
The closed environment essentially steams the turkey while the charcoal heat roasts it from all sides. You get a perfect bird packed with flavor in under 2 hours!
Supplies Needed
Trash can turkey requires just a few supplies
- 15-20 gallon heavy duty galvanized steel trash can with lid
- Aluminum foil
- 15 inch wooden stake or metal rod
- Natural charcoal briquettes – approx. 5-10 lbs
- Chimney starter or lighter fluid
- Instant read meat thermometer
- Heat resistant gloves
You’ll also need a thawed 10-15 lb whole turkey and seasonings of your choice.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these simple steps for flawless trash can turkey:
1. Prepare the Turkey
- Thaw turkey completely in fridge
- Remove giblets and neck
- Rinse turkey inside and out; pat dry
- Apply dry rub, herbs or seasoning
- Truss legs together with twine
- Insert meat thermometer probe into thickest part of breast
2. Set Up Cooking Area
- Choose a spot away from combustibles
- Make 3 ft foil square with 15 inch stake in center
- Top with more foil to create drip tray
3. Light the Charcoal
- Fill chimney with briquettes and ignite
- Carefully pour lit coals onto trash can lid
4. Add Turkey
- Place turkey breast up onto stake
- Cover completely with trash can
5. Add Coals
- Evenly distribute more hot coals around can
- Maintain even heat, refueling as needed
- Cook for 1.5-2 hours until 165°F minimum
6. Uncover and Enjoy!
- Carefully remove hot can with gloves
- Let turkey rest 15 minutes before carving
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Handy Tips for Best Results
- Choose metal trash can without plastic parts
- Burn off any interior plastic coating first
- Use natural lump charcoal for optimal flavor
- Have extra charcoal on hand to replenish
- Add wood chips, herbs or spices to coals
- Rotate can if cooking unevenly
- Let turkey rest before slicing for juiciest meat
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to cook in a trash can?
Yes, as long as the can is new or thoroughly cleaned. Galvanized steel works best.
How long does it take to fully cook?
Cooking time depends on turkey size, but plan on 1-2 hours for a 12-15 lb bird. Use a meat thermometer.
What size turkey works best?
A 12-15 lb turkey fits perfectly in a 20 gallon can. Adjust time for smaller/larger.
Can I get crispy skin?
Absolutely! The contained heat makes the skin super crispy. Rubbing oil or bacon drippings helps further.
What if I don’t have a trash can?
You can use a large steel drum, bucket or stock pot instead. Adjust cooking time and coals.
Time to Feast on Amazing Trash Can Turkey!
As you can see, cooking turkey in a garbage can is an easy, fun and foolproof method that delivers unbelievably moist, tender and flavorful meat. With these tips and instructions, you can now make the juiciest trash can turkey for your next feast! Once you try it, this will surely become your favorite way to cook turkey.
How to cook delicious garbage can turkey?
1: Prepare the turkey for cooking. We found that this amazing turkey brine recipe was used to brine the turkey the day before it was cooked.
After removing from the brine we then coated it in melted butter and our favorite Mango Chipotle Seasoning. You could also use this herb butter rub recipe. Fasten the wings to the bird with twine and tuck the legs in or fasten together with twine.
2: Prepare the cooking area. You will need to make a stake that sticks out of the ground by 14″. We use a branch buried at least 4 inches deep to make a stand strong enough to hold a 15-pound turkey when we make this recipe while camping.
At home we’ve created a stake using an old ground tamper that we cut to 14″. The weighted end of the tamper is enough to hold up the turkey.
A little bit of preparation…
3: Wrap the stake in tinfoil, creating a ball of foil at the top to support the turkey. Layer about 2 ft of tinfoil on the ground around the stake.
4: Place the bird on the stake.
At this point you can insert a wireless meat thermometer, like the Meater, into the bird to help determine the perfect doneness.
5. Put the trash can over the turkey, making sure it’s in the middle and not touching the can.
6: Pour 1/3 of the bag of briquettes into the garbage can lid and light them. Tip: Be sure to use oven mitts when handling the hot lid and garbage can.
7: Pour lit briquettes around the base of the can.
8: Scatter the remaining briquettes around the base of the can on top of the already lit ones.
9: Set your timer for 1. 5 hours and let the garbage can do its thing! Cook an 18- to 20-pound turkey for 1 hour and 45 minutes.
10: Using oven mitts, lift the can to reveal the delicious turkey underneath.
Doesn’t this turkey just look amazing you guys?! Trust me, it tastes even better!
You can use this garbage can turkey recipe when you’re camping and don’t have access to an oven, when you’re at home and don’t want to heat up the whole house with the oven, or just when you want to make the tastiest turkey ever!
Also, this easy Beer Can Chicken recipe makes the tastiest chicken we’ve ever had. This recipe is good for making a small dish. Please let us know how it turns out!
My friend Michelle cooks her turkey in an air fryer!! Have you ever tried it?! Be sure to check out her Air Fryer Turkey for all of the details!