Smoking is an excellent way to impart some serious flavor into the meat and an excellent cooking technique to cook a large bird like a turkey without drying it out.
Of course, the first choice you need to make when smoking a turkey is the kind of turkey you plan to use. However, coming in a close second is the kind of wood you’ll be using and what flavor you want it to impart.
Now personally, we prefer cherry wood with a touch of hickory for that mixture of sweet-smokiness and rich color.
However, what wood you use will depend on your personal taste, so we’ll be laying out all the options for you to choose from, rather than insisting on one right choice.
Cherry wood is one of the most popular and recommended types of wood for smoking turkey The mild, sweet flavor and aroma of cherry wood pair extremely well with poultry like turkey, making it an excellent choice for your Thanksgiving or holiday bird
Why Use Cherry Wood for Smoking Turkey
There are a few key reasons why cherry wood is so well-suited for smoking turkey:
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Mild, sweet flavor – Cherry wood produces a subtler, lighter smoke compared to woods like hickory or oak. This allows the delicate flavor of turkey to shine through instead of being overpowered. The sweetness of cherry complements poultry beautifully.
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Enhances appearance – The smoke from cherry wood can impart a lovely mahogany color to the turkey skin, which looks very appetizing. This appealing hue is due to compounds like guaiacol in the smoke.
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Popular recommendation – Countless smoking experts, pitmasters, and enthusiasts recommend cherry as their top choice wood for smoking turkey It consistently delivers great flavor without dominating the turkey
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Readily available – Cherry wood is easy to find at many stores that sell smoking wood chips and chunks. You can often buy it pure or blended with other complementary woods.
So by adding the mellow, sweet taste of cherry smoke to your turkey, you can enhance its natural flavors to create a real taste sensation. The wood’s ability to produce a gorgeous mahogany color on the turkey skin is an added bonus.
Using Cherry Wood When Smoking Turkey
Here are some tips on using cherry wood to smoke your holiday turkey:
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Use cherry wood chunks on their own or blended with other mild woods like apple or pecan. Avoid very strong woods like hickory, which can overpower.
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Go easy on the amount of smoke. Turkey doesn’t need too much. A light kiss of smoke is ideal.
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Try adding just a couple of small cherry wood chunks when first starting to smoke the turkey. You can add more later in the process if needed.
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For charcoal smokers, add a few chunks directly onto the hot coals to generate smoke. For electric smokers, put chunks in the chip loader.
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Maintain a consistent smoker temperature between 225-275°F throughout the smoking time for best results. The lower end of this range is ideal.
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Smoke the turkey for around 2-3 hours of total cook time before finishing it off by roasting it until fully cooked. An instant read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh should read 165°F.
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Sprinkling cherry wood chips or pellets over the hot coals right before serving will perfume the turkey with cherry aroma.
Other Tips for Smoking Turkey with Cherry Wood
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Brining the turkey before smoking helps keep it moist and enhances the flavor – a must for smoking. Use a saltwater brine.
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Try adding aromatics like rosemary, thyme, or sage to the turkey or brine to complement the cherry wood.
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Apply a dry rub to the turkey before smoking to further boost the flavor. Stuff fresh herbs under the skin too.
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Use a water pan or spray to add moisture to the smoker, preventing the turkey from drying out. Don’t soak the cherry wood though.
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Allow the turkey to rest for 20-30 minutes after smoking before carving. This allows the juices to redistribute.
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Serve the smoked cherry turkey with traditional Thanksgiving sides and sauces. The sweet smoke flavor pairs wonderfully.
Alternative Woods to Cherry for Smoking Turkey
While cherry is ideal for smoking turkey, you can also use these other mild woods:
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Apple – Adds a delicate sweetness similar to cherry. Great blended 50/50 with cherry.
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Pecan – Provides a subtle nutty flavor that works well with poultry.
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Maple – Imparts a subtle hint of sweetness. Maple enhances the turkey nicely.
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Peach – Produces a very mild, fruity smoke perfect for turkey.
Always avoid mesquite, hickory, or oak for smoking turkey, as they are far too strong and will overpower the delicate flavor.
So for your next smoked turkey, whether for Thanksgiving or anytime, choose sweet and delicate cherry wood. This mild, fragrant wood allows the turkey flavor to shine while lending a beautiful color and aroma. When used properly, cherry wood will take your holiday bird to amazing new heights of taste.
Q: Is mesquite bad for smoking turkey?
A: Mesquite is a very strongly flavored wood that can easily overwhelm the taste of the turkey. We recommend you keep it for more robust BBQ meats and stick to lighter woods for smoking turkey.
Use a drip pan
The main aim of smoking a turkey is to impart a depth of flavor to the meat. Adding a drip pan to your smokey catches the fat from the turkey and turns it back into flavorsome smoke.
To add more flavor you can always fill the tray with chopped-up onions, carrots, celery, herbs, and stock.
AWESOME Smoked Turkey Recipe For Beginners!
FAQ
Can you smoke a turkey with cherry wood?
Poultry, in this case turkey, adheres very well to any type of wood. If you are smoking a turkey, you are sure to do well with most especially oak, hickory, apple, cherry, and many more.
What is the best wood to smoke turkey?
Hickory is a classic hard wood choice for smoking turkey for several reasons.
Is cherry good for turkey?
Cherry is an excellent mild sweet wood. Slightly different flavor then apple. Excellent with turkey.
What meat is best for cherry wood smoke?
Cherry wood is an excellent choice for smoking various types of meat, including pork, poultry, and beef. The sweet and fruity flavor of cherry wood complements the natural taste of these meats without overpowering them.