need advice.

I'm not familiar with a "Mecco" smoker but in the 325-350 range a 12 lb bird is going to take between 4-5 hours most likely. It will definitely be done by 1pm. I would use the same amount of lump as you would the brickets just fill up the chimney. Don't forget to give yourself plenty of time to knock the refrigerator chill off the bird and to get the coals going. I used to forget that the prep can be about 1 hour and my plan to start at 6am would result in the bird actually going on at about 7am.

This should help as well. Link contains a thread with a great tutorial.

http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=95615&highlight=Turkey

Doug, first off is the temp. Are you using a surface gauge of some type, or using
the gauge on the outside of the cooker. The ones on the outside tend to be WAY
off, either high or low. I suggest having some type of surface gauge. A 12lb bird,
at 275 to 350, should be done in about 5 hours, perhaps even a little less.

Definitely inject with something. Otherwise you'll dry it out quite a bit. I prefer
a creole butter injection by Cajun Injectors, but that's me. You could use something
as simple as apple juice and worchestershire as an injection. Some inject a brine
solution... All personal taste.

Also, remember that this is basically white meat bird with delicate flavors. Too much
smoke and you'll end up with a feast that tastes like smoke vs. smoked meat. I
suggest using only a small amount of dry smoking wood (if you're using any additional
to the lump charcoal).

I dont use lump, but I'd imagine the answer is yes, about the same amount. Also,
definitely light this using a chimney vs. lighter fluid, otherwise that meat will taste
like lighter fluid...

Hope ya have good luck using Cowboy lump. I tried it once and will never use it again.

275 - 350 is a pretty wide range. If you can narrow it down a bit, you'll have a much better time of predicting your finish time. Turkey is not like brisket. Times and temperatures are fairly consistent on the bird.

My experience (and the Butterball web site confirms it http://www.butterball.com/tips-how-tos/how-tos/roast ) is that at 325 degrees, a 12lb un-stuffed bird will be done between 3 and 3-1/2 hours. I'm not sure which cooking sites suggest 30 minutes per pound at 350, but that seems wrong. 6 hours at 350* for a 12lb bird?! Can't be!

If you are spiking to 350, and not getting many deep drops in temperature, you'd better start checking internal temperature closer to 3 hours into the cook than 4 or 5. Try to keep your temps between 300 and 350 and go for an internal temp in the breast of 170. Wrap tightly and rest for an hour (in a cooler preferably). Carryover cooking will take it to the desired 175 and it should be moist and tender because all the juices will have redistributed. Without the hour of resting, you will wind up with a cutting board full of juice and dry turkey.

Mister Bob said:

275 - 350 is a pretty wide range. If you can narrow it down a bit, you'll have a much better time of predicting your finish time. Turkey is not like brisket. Times and temperatures are fairly consistent on the bird.

My experience (and the Butterball web site confirms it http://www.butterball.com/tips-how-tos/how-tos/roast ) is that at 325 degrees, a 12lb un-stuffed bird will be done between 3 and 3-1/2 hours. I'm not sure which cooking sites suggest 30 minutes per pound at 350, but that seems wrong. 6 hours at 350* for a 12lb bird?! Can't be!

If you are spiking to 350, and not getting many deep drops in temperature, you'd better start checking internal temperature closer to 3 hours into the cook than 4 or 5. Try to keep your temps between 300 and 350 and go for an internal temp in the breast of 170. Wrap tightly and rest for an hour (in a cooler preferably). Carryover cooking will take it to the desired 175 and it should be moist and tender because all the juices will have redistributed. Without the hour of resting, you will wind up with a cutting board full of juice and dry turkey.

Click to expand...

I agree with Mr Bob here. I've always done about 12 pounders for the last few years. Always takes between 3.5-4 hrs. I always shoot for 325ish with poultry. At least between 300 and 350.

If you've got a thermo that you can stick it with do be sure, that's best of course.


Good luck yo!

I think I would take the backbone out, it will cook faster, and just hope it be nice in your area because wind will kill your heat on that type of smoker