Smoking a juicy, flavorful turkey for holidays like Thanksgiving is a specialty skill. But experienced pitmasters know one secret weapon—spritzing the turkey with a flavorful liquid while it smokes. Spraying or misting the bird helps prevent it from drying out. It also allows you to infuse extra dimensions of taste.
But with so many options for turkey spritzes and sprays, it can get confusing. Here I’ll cover the 12 best liquids to use when spritzing your smoking turkey From citrus to savory to sweet, you’ll learn how to take your smoked turkey to the next level.
Why Spritz Turkey During Smoking
Before jumping into the spritz recipes, let’s look at why it’s important:
- Prevents drying and moisture loss, keeping the turkey juicy
- Allows better smoke absorption into the meat
- Provides additional flavors that complement the smoke
- Promotes crisping and browning of the skin
- Cools and regulates temperature as needed
Spritzing every 45-60 minutes gives the full benefits. Avoid overdoing it or making the skin soggy Now let’s explore the top spritz solutions!
1. Apple Cider
Tangy and lightly sweet apple cider makes an excellent spritz. The natural sugars caramelize into the skin for perfect crisping. The acetic acid in the cider also helps the turkey retain moisture. One of the most popular choices.
2. Chicken or Turkey Stock
Misting the turkey with homemade chicken or turkey stock adds incredible depth of flavor. The collagen and gelatin also helps keep the meat succulent and juicy.
3. Fruit Juices
Spritzing with pure fruit juices infuses notes of sweetness. Apple, orange, grape, pineapple, and other juices contain sugars that promote browning. Citrus juices pair wonderfully with poultry.
4. Beer or Wine
Misting with lighter beers or wines allows their subtle flavors to be imparted into the turkey. As the alcohol cooks off, it leaves behind traces of malt, hops, or fruity vines.
5. Herbs and Spices
Herb-infused water makes a great spritz, like rosemary, thyme, sage, and oregano. For a kick of heat, dissolve spices like chili powder in water. Let the herb and spice essences complement the smoke.
6. Butter
For indulgence, drizzle turkey with melted butter, garlic butter, or other seasoned butters. The fat keeps the meat insanely moist and adds richness.
7. Soy Sauce
The salty umami hit of soy sauce boosts the turkey’s savory flavor. The extra salt also improves moisture retention. Dilute it slightly so the saltiness doesn’t overwhelm.
8. Oil and Vinegar
A quick oil and vinegar blend makes a simple spritz. Go with olive oil and your favorite vinegar variety. This gives a nice sheen and tang.
9. Honey
Sweet honey encourages the skin to caramelize and brown for excellent crisping. Its thick syrupy consistency helps it adhere and penetrate into the meat.
10. Maple Syrup
Similar to honey, pure maple syrup gives incredible moisture and flavor. The inherent maple notes pair divinely with the smokiness.
11. Citrus Juice and Zest
Fresh-squeezed lemon, lime, grapefruit or orange juice provides bright, vibrant citrus flavor. Grate the zest over top too for an aromatic essence.
12. Marinades and Sauces
Re-purpose leftover marinades, salad dressings, barbecue sauces, etc. as spritzes. They reinforce those complementary flavors into the turkey.
How to Spritz
Follow these tips for proper spritzing technique:
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Use a mister or spray bottle that spritzes a fine, even mist – avoid messy streams.
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Lift up skin flaps and spritz directly onto breast and thigh meat for maximum moisture impact.
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Mist exposed turkey every 45-60 minutes during smoking, except for the last hour.
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Combine spritzes for complex layers of flavor, like apple cider and chicken broth.
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Apply approximately 1-3 tbsp of spritz liquid each time. Thin with water if needed.
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Let turkey rest 15 minutes after smoking before slicing – no need to spritz during rest time.
Spritzing with various liquids is crucial for smoking an incredibly juicy, tender turkey with maximum flavor. The options are endless, so get creative with citrus juices, marinades, stocks and more. Apples, herbs, butter and maple make easy starters. With the right technique, spritzing takes your smoked turkey to new heights!
Here are some example recipes for spritzes to use when smoking turkey:
Apple Cider Spritz
- 2 cups apple cider
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp coarse salt
Mix ingredients together. Thin with water if needed.
Herb Spritz
- 4 cups water
- 3 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme
- 3 sage leaves
Bring water to a boil. Remove from heat and add fresh herbs. Let steep 20 minutes. Strain and transfer to a spray bottle.
Maple Bourbon Spritz
- 1 cup maple syrup
- 1/2 cup bourbon
- 1/4 cup apple juice
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
Whisk together all ingredients. Add water to thin if desired.
Chili Lime Spritz
- Juice of 3 limes
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Mix everything together. Add water to reach a good spray consistency.
Soy Sauce and Ginger
- 1 cup soy sauce
- 1⁄4 cup water
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp minced ginger
Combine ingredients and mix well. Transfer to a spray bottle.
Orange Cranberry Spritz
- Zest of 1 orange
- Juice of 2 oranges
- 1 cup cranberry juice
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 star anise
Heat cranberry juice and spices until warm. Remove from heat and add orange zest and juice. Let cool before using.
Remember to spritz every 45 minutes while smoking, and lift up the skin to spray right onto the meat. Limit spritzing to avoid sogginess. Combine different spritzes for amazing flavors! With these recipes, you’ll have the most flavorful and juicy smoked turkey ever.
Step 1: Select the Turkey
What size turkey is best for smoking?
We recommend a turkey that ranges from 12-14 lbs. Larger turkeys tend to cook unevenly, so the 12-14 lb. range is our sweet spot. Cooking for a pretty big crowd? Rather than smoking a larger turkey, we recommend smoking two separate turkeys within our recommended range.
How long does my frozen turkey need to thaw?
It typically takes a 12-14 lb. turkey about 3-4 days to thaw in the refrigerator. Always thaw meats safely in the refrigerator, never at room temperature. (Thawing at room temperature or running it under hot water to thaw could introduce bacteria to the turkey, but a slow thaw at a cool temperature is safe!)
Should I brine my turkey?
Brining is completely optional when smoking a turkey. Because the turkey smokes at a low temperature, it doesn’t tend to dry out like a traditionally cooked turkey. However, we do encourage buying a brined turkey or creating your own brine to double down on the flavor and tenderness of your turkey.
Can I purchase a brined turkey?
Yes! Some turkeys are brined before being packaged, which can be a great time-saver if you don’t have the extra days to add the brining process to your turkey-smoking schedule. Brined turkeys should be clearly labeled on the turkey packaging. If you purchase a brined turkey, there is no need to brine it yourself.
If you prefer to brine your turkey yourself, it is a fairly easy process. There are two types of brines: a wet brine and a dry brine. We prefer the wet brine method, which submerges the turkey into liquids mixed with seasonings.
Step 2: Prep the Turkey
Remove the turkey from the brining solution (if used) and place it on a rimmed baking sheet lined with paper towels to soak up any excess water. Use a paper towel to dry off the turkey as much as possible and be sure to dry the cavity of the turkey too. Tuck the wings of the turkey underneath the body; this helps the turkey stay stable while resting in the smoker.
Coat the turkey with a type of fat: we recommend canola oil spray, vegetable oil spray, olive oil spray, or if you’re feeling fancy, duck fat spray. This helps the seasoning stick to the skin. (We like to do this step near the sink so any excess spray will spray into the sink for easy cleanup.)
Season the turkey generously with your favorite seasonings! We love an all-purpose rub of salt, pepper, and garlic powder combined with Cajun seasoning. A 12-14 lb. turkey will require about ¼-⅓ cup total of seasoning or around ½ tbsp. per pound.
Season the turkey thoroughly, and be sure to get the wings, legs, thighs, and underside of the body.
- 2 tsp. kosher salt
- 2 tsp. garlic powder
- 2 tsp. onion powder
- 2 tsp. cracked black pepper
- 2 tbsp. Cajun seasoning
At this point, you can add stuffing to the cavity to give the bird more mass. (This is totally optional and based on personal preference.) Most stuffings consist of a sliced apple, a sliced onion, and chopped celery. Quantities may differ depending on the size of the turkey, and you are more than welcome to add any additional fruits, vegetables, herbs, and even a touch of unsalted butter if preferred.
Once the turkey is thoroughly seasoned, fill a large plastic bag with ice. Place the bag of ice on top of the turkey breasts and let it rest for one hour. The breasts consist of white meat, which cooks faster than dark meat (dark meat is found in the legs, thighs, and wings of the turkey). The ice brings the temperature of the breasts down, which helps the bird cook more consistently and evenly.
How to Smoke a Turkey Full of Flavor and Dripping with Moisture
FAQ
What should I spray turkey with while smoking?
Also, I always recommend spraying the outside of your turkey with cooking spray. This also works to keep the skin crispy and give it that golden-brown color. But to start off with, I always BRINE my turkeys before I smoke them.
How do you keep a turkey moist when smoking?
We swear by wet brining our turkey before smoking because it not only adds a ton of flavor but also helps the turkey retain moisture during the smoking process.Oct 17, 2022
What do you stuff a turkey with when smoking?
Of course, this turkey is smoked (you won’t eat an oven roasted or deep-fried bird after this) but I also take country sausage, fresh herbs, sautéed vegetables, fresh herbs, bread, and tart apples all combined into a stuffing that cooks inside the bird.
How do you rub a smoked turkey?
A simple smoked turkey rub you can use is: Mix all your ingredients together, then spray your turkey with oil to help the rub stick and the skin to crispen. For more ideas check out our round-up of the best turkey rub recipes. 6. Give yourself enough time to brine Brining your turkey is an important step if you want maximum juiciness and flavor.
Should you Spritz a Turkey?
When it comes to smoking a turkey, achieving a moist and flavorful bird is the ultimate goal. One essential technique to accomplish this is spritzing. Spritzing involves periodically misting the turkey with a liquid during the smoking process to keep it moist and enhance its flavors. But what exactly should you spritz your turkey with?
Should you brine a Turkey before smoking?
Turkeys should be brined overnight, coated with fat only initially, and minimally seasoned. Brining keeps the turkey from drying out during the smoking process. Basting the turkey only results in soggy skin. Overly seasoning the skin just makes inedible skin – let the brine and aromatics add flavor. What liquid to use when smoking a turkey?
Can you smoke a whole turkey?
Turkey belongs on a smoker, especially around Thanksgiving when oven space is at a premium. You don’t have to worry about ruining Thanksgiving, though. By following these tips for smoking a whole turkey, your guests will be begging you for your secret recipe (and if you want a detailed recipe, check out our smoked spatchcock turkey recipe). 1.
Can you smoke a Turkey on a pellet grill?
You should also be more than safe smoking a turkey in any pellet grill The main thing you need to ensure is that there is ample space above and around the turkey to allow for airflow. Smoking a turkey on an electric smoker can be tricky, but you should be able to move the racks around to create room.
How long does it take to smoke a whole turkey?
Less natural fat means it dries out faster. Long cook time – Smoking a whole turkey can take 8+ hours at low temps. That gives moisture plenty of time to evaporate. Misting and spritzing adds back moisture lost during the long smoking process. This keeps the meat tender and stops it drying into jerky.