Everyone in our house loves steak. We also love tacos. As regular readers know, we make both. A lot. But besides sweet potatoes, asparagus, and potatoes — we’ve never really tried smoking many vegetables.
Last night, we expanded the playbook, and think we finally nailed it. So we put together this quick little how to video for you…in under 60 seconds …
If you’re devoted to cooking outdoors, you probably already know that half the work is in preparation. And there’s nothing worse than trying to cut with a dull knife. In fact, it can be downright dangerous. So, if it’s time to upgrade, this post is for you!
12/2 Update: We have a winner!
GIVEAWAY ITEMS:
ONE (1) Meat Smoking Guide ($13.99 value)
ONE (1) ThermoPro Instant Read Thermometer ($12.49 value)
One of the most common questions in online forums and groups of pellet grill owners is “What kinds of pellets are out there?” Many questions seem to reflect negative things they’ve heard about “other brands,” and murmurs of possible additives, binders, oils, fillers or scents in some pellets. Sounds gross, right?
TALK BACK: What are your favorite pellets, and how do you store them? (Leave us a reply at bottom of the post!)
Full disclosure, we are no wood pellet experts, but we plan to get better acquainted ourselves! And we’d like to invite you to join us. Over the next few months, we plan to order and review the Best Sellers in Grilling Wood Pellets on Amazon.
For reference, as of today, here’s the #1 Best Seller in the category:
CookinPellets Perfect Mix Smoking Pellets (40 Lbs. Bag)
See the full Best Sellers in Grilling Wood Pellets list.
We’ll also be trying out the #1 New Release (as of today) in the category (and a brand with significant buzz among pellet grill owners):
Lumber Jack Smoker Pellets (120 Lbs.)
Final thought: Many of us pay a lot of attention to labels on food. So why not take a closer look at the labels of our wood pellets? We want to hear from you! Have a favorite brand of grill or smoker wood pellets? Learned something we should share with readers? Leave a comment or Contact Us.
Editor’s Note: Post contains affiliate links.
Via BBQBros.net:
Step-by-step instructions and a parts list can be found here.
These look like the perfect tailgater BBQ!
Want to make one? You can likely find most of the nuts & bolts at your local hardware store. Here are a few of the components you can source online at decent prices:
With the holidays coming up, there are many deals to be had. We’ve seen a few in particular on wireless remote thermometers. Be sure to visit our Deal Zone for the latest finds.
Two decent deals to check out below …
If you’re entrusted with cooking the bird on Thanksgiving, you’re probably looking for a risk-free, no-fuss tried and true recipe. Have a reoccurring nightmare about dry turkey, or sweet dreams about crispy, herb-crusted turkey legs?
If you’re on a wood pellet grill, this Traeger Turkey Pellets Blend might be for you:
We did a 20-pound test bird this weekend, and were cooking for 16 people. It was your typical friends-giving feast (with no less than 4 other Traeger-owners coming, NO PRESSURE!).
Again, we were looking for an easy, but proven, method and recipe. After skimming a dozen articles on spatchcocking, brining, injecting, rubbing, etc — we said: “Meh, nothing exotic.”
That’s when we turned to the wisdom of the Traeger Grills family. We had two bags delivered from a Traeger Instagram contest (“BBQ Hero of the Week”) over the summer.
The results were nothing short of amazing. “Best turkey I’ve ever had,” raved one friend. “OMG, moist, zesty, and great smoke flavor,” commented another. “Got to try that for our family Thanksgiving now, ” said one of our Traeger brethren.
Now, most everything that comes off the Traeger at our house is good. But that’s “most” not all. Not ashamed to admit we have a few hiccups every now and again. So these were pretty strong endorsements. What’s the secret? We followed Traeger’s included Smoked Bourbon & Orange Brined Turkey recipe to a T. Here are the basics (minus the booze):
Brine overnight (bag comes inside the pellets bag, fish it out!)
Pat dry, apply rub (again, included in the bag)
Put turkey directly on the grate (we put in a disposable roasting pan)
Set Traeger to smoke for 2 hours (for us, 180F)
Turn up to 350F for 2-3 hours (or until internal temp reaches 165F)
WHERE TO BUY?
You can pick up the Traeger Turkey Pellets Blend at your local dealer, or order from Amazon. If you HURRY, you select one-day or two-day shipping for Prime members, to still get in time for Thanksgiving.
Watch our mid-cook Facebook LIVE video from TraegerFanatics.com for some laughs:
Editor’s Note: This post contains affiliate links.
Via Jeff Phillips, author of Smoking Meat, this one is an oldie (2009) but a goodie:
Looking for more recipes? Check out Jeff’s book:
Be sure to also check out other great HOW TO VIDEOS on our blog.
Via Chef Tips:
Smoking instructions:
Smoke for about 4 hours at 225 F. Bring it down to 180F for the last hour, or until the meat reaches an internal temperature of 160 F. When you remove the turkey legs, it will continue to cook up to the proper 165 F.
Update: If you’re cooking on a wood pellet grill, Traeger is now offering it’s Turkey Pellet blend (includes brine and rub in bag) on Amazon. Prime members can still order in time for arrival by T-Day:
Need a pair of versatile, heavy-duty kitchen shears to get the job done? We found these on Amazon:
BRINING
Lots of people asking on social media, “should I spatchcock AND brine my turkey?” The main reason most people brine is to lock moisture into the meat. A brine can also enhance the flavor of your turkey with various herbs, fruits, and spices.
To start with, get yourself a brining bucket or bags:
Want a pre-made, tried and true, turkey brine? Rodelle’s is a best-seller:
Consider the Apple Cider Turkey recipe, also by the BBQ Pit Boys:
Here’s what you’ll need for the brine:
Water
FINAL WORD: If you’re wary of too much experimenting, we suggest you try a “test turkey,” the week or weekend before, if only to build confidence!
Editor’s Note: Post contains affiliate links. Learn more.
RendezvousBBQ.com 