Traeger Orange Bourbon Brined Turkey

VIDEO: How to Spatchcock and Brine a Turkey

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:

Via BBQPitBoys.com, here’s a top spatchcock turkey recipe:

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:

Want to try making your own brine?

Consider the Apple Cider Turkey recipe, also by the BBQ Pit Boys:

https://youtu.be/-nxXUl1-KUg

 

Here’s what you’ll need for the brine:

Apple Cider

Kosher Salt

Dark Brown Sugar

Garlic

Ginger

Apple Cider Vinegar

Water

Chili Pepper Flakes

 

Continue reading….

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.



VIDEO: Traeger Grill Modifications

Companies often times build products with the mass consumer in mind. They then offer their own, sold-separately accessories at a premium. That’s why “mods” or modifications are increasingly popular, especially among BBQ enthusiasts.

While Traeger Grills really does a fine job, some folks will always want to keep toying with perfection. We were looking for some inspiration, and found Trikester’s video:

Here’s a list of some comparable parts you’ll need, if you want to trick out your Traeger like Trikester (whew, say that three times fast!):

1. 10in Air Tires or 7in Universal Wheel (see also Traeger Wheel Modification video for step-by-step and more parts/tools needed)

2. Traeger Front-Shelf (step-by-step video here; see also Under Shelf)

3. Cutlery Storage Caddy

4. Large Zip Ties (for securing caddy to leg, or drip bucket to hook)

5. Savannah Stoker (upgraded thermostat)

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Do you have a favorite Traeger or pellet grill hack? Leave a comment or hit the Contact Us form. If you liked this post, please share it and bookmark us!

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7 Traeger Hacks, Tips, and Tricks

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Editor’s Note: Post contains affiliate links. Learn more.


VIDEO: How to make Tacos Al Pastor on the Pit Barrel Cooker

If you’re a regular Rendezvous’er, you know we LOVE Tacos Al Pastor. While surfing some BBQ groups on Facebook, we came across TheHollarBBQ.

Here’s their host, Kevin Griffith, on one of our all-time favorites:

Looking to take your Tacos Al Pastor to the next level? If you’re using a traditional BBQ or grill with grates, we recommend the Super Skewer (a/k/a/ Brazilian Gaucho Skewer).

If you like this video, check out others on our blog (we’ll be adding many more soon!), and subscribe to TheHollarBBQ.

Editor’s Note: This post contains affiliate links. Learn more.


VIDEO: Meathead’s Buying Guide to Thermometers

From Meathead at AmazingRibs.com:

Meathead does a great job over-viewing the various types of thermometers. Now here are some of the best-sellers and most highly-rated among BBQ enthusiasts:

ThermoPro TP03A – Instant Read Thermometer. A high precision sensor gives you accurate readings within 4-7 seconds. Stainless steel probe is easy to clean, and folds for convenient storage. Five-year warranty. Price range: $.

Lavatools Javelin – Instant Read Thermometer. For about twice the cost as the TP03A, you can get this ultra-fast sensor probe (3-4 seconds). Display is nice and big for easy reading. An integrated magnet allows for easy storage on your fridge or grill. Lifetime warranty. Price range: $$.

ThermoPro TP08 – Dual Probe Wireless Thermometer. We own this unit, and have found it well-suited to monitoring our wood pellet and gas grills alike. One probe monitors the meat, the other monitors the grill temp. Alarm and receiver both alert you to when temp has been reached. Up to 300 feet range. Lifetime Sensor Probe Warranty. Price range: $$.

ThermoPro TP20 – Dual Probe Wireless Thermometer. Simple and easy to use. Main difference from the TP08, are a Meat and Taste button that give you pre-programmed internal temps. Takes the guess work out of cooking any meat. Lifetime Sensor Probe Warranty. Price range: $$.

Tappecue – Meat Thermometer with Wifi. Comes with a phone app to monitor temps that’s available on all Apple, as well as Android products. You can get alerts when the meat or chamber goes above or below a min/max temp. Four meat probes mean you can keep track of multiple cooks at once! One year limited warranty. Price range: $$$.

Have a favorite we should review? Leave a comment, or send us a message.

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7 Tips and Tricks for Traeger and Pellet Grill Owners

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30 Traeger Essentials, Accessories, Gadgets, Gift Ideas, and More

Editor’s Note: This post contains affiliate links.



Spicy Mexican Beef Rub for Tri-Tip

We are on a beef kick here at Rendezvous. Our go to cut for the grill as of late has been the Tri Tip. Grilling this meat to perfection, however, requires a bit of practice. The best place to start is with a good seasoning.

RELATED: 21 Essentials for Traeger Owners: http://bit.ly/TraegerEssentials

You can’t go wrong with Traeger’s Santa Maria Tri Tip recipe.

But if you want to try your hand at rub-making, give this Mexican Dry Rub a try.

If you like it on beef, try it on chicken and pork too. We love this recipe so much, we keep a small batch of this rub mixed and ready to go in our pantry.

Pro-tip: This rub can pack a punch. If you are keeping several pre-mixed rubs on hand, a label is a must.

If you’re grilling or smoking the Tri-Tip, a good char and crust will provide lots of flavor. But this cut is very easy to overcook. When in doubt, use a meat thermometer.

RELATED: Digital Thermometers Buying Guide: http://bit.ly/BestThermometers

Here’s a helpful “how to” from Traeger on carving up your creation (once you’ve tented it, and let it rest appropriately):

How to Carve a Tri Tip by Traeger Grills

Here’s what the result should look like:


Tacos Al Pastor on the Grill

While vacationing on Kauai a few years back, we stopped at a food truck called Al Pastor. The truck is named for the vertical rotisserie method they use to cook the pork.

The first go round, we went for the “fish taco,” which is hawked on sandwich boards all over the islands. It was grilled, a little mushy, and ultimately underwhelming. Not ones to give up, the next time we were passing by, we stopped in and ordered the truck’s eponymous dish: Tacos Al Pastor.

The three tacos were devoured in minutes, and left us wanting more. Soon we were wondering: Could we make those at home on the grill?

Related Post: 21 Essentials for Traeger and Pellet Grill Owners

Looking into vertical rotisserie grills online, we were less than impressed. Industrial-sized kitchen options abounded, but the in-home selection was a little thin — even QVC could do better. So for our first go round, we went with the bamboo skewer. But all that meat is too much for one skewer.

Doing some more browsing, we found the Brazilian Gaucho Skewer ($39.95). Made from stainless steel, it’s a durable accessory — easy to clean, and no fuss set up.

Our friend Bennie Kendrick recently gave the Trompo King a spin, and it looks like a decent (though more expensive at $79.99) option as well.

These were our results using the Super Skewer:

Here’s the recipe we followed, enjoy from our friends at Tasty!

Here is what you’ll need!

Homemade Al Pastor
Serves 10-12

INGREDIENTS
5 pounds boneless pork shoulder
3 tablespoons achiote paste
2 tablespoons guajillo chili powder
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon oregano
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon pepper
¾ cup white vinegar
1 cup pineapple juice
1 pineapple, skinned and sliced into 1-inch rounds
1 thick wooden skewer, trimmed to the height of your oven
10-12 small corn tortillas
1 white onion, chopped finely
1 cup cilantro, chopped finely
1 cup salsa of your choice

PREPARATION
Preheat oven to 350°F/180°C.
Slice the pork shoulder into about 1-cm slices, then transfer to a large dish or bowl.
In a bowl, combine the achiote powder, chili powder, garlic powder, oregano, cumin, salt, pepper, vinegar, and pineapple juice, mashing and stirring until smooth with no lumps.
Pour the marinade over the pork, then toss the pork slices to make sure that they are all coated on all sides. Wrap the dish/bowl in cling film then marinate the pork for at least 2 hours, up to 3-5 days in the refrigerator.
On a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or foil, place down a slice or two of the pineapple. Take a wooden skewer and push it directly in the middle of the pineapple.
Remove the pork from the fridge and push the slices through the skewer, layering one after the other until there is a 1-inch gap at the top. Push another pineapple slice on top.
Bake for about an hour and a half, until slightly charred on the outside and deep red.
Rest the meat for about 10 minutes, then carve off thin slices of the pork.
Slice off thin pieces of the roasted pineapples as well.
To assemble and serve, place some pork on the tortillas, followed by a few pieces of pineapple, a sprinkle of onions, a pinch of cilantro, then a small spoonful of the salsa.
Enjoy!

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