smoking a turkey electric smoker
Olivia Hensley
Updated on June 13, 2026
Set a timer for 30-40 minutes per pound of turkey you are smoking. When the internal temperature reaches 155°F you can add a little more rub to the exposed parts of the skin.
How long does it take to smoke a turkey on a Masterbuilt electric smoker?
Place the seasoned turkey on the middle rack of the smoker, close the door, and set a timer for approximately 6.5 hours. The turkey should smoke for 30 to 40 minutes per pound, until the inside temperature reaches 165˚F. 6. Check every hour for smoke.
What temperature do you smoke a turkey in an electric smoker?
Smoking time! Preheat your electric smoker to 225°F. If your not using a foil tray, oil the grates to stop the turkey sticking. Check The Temperature Regulary. Put a temperature probe in the breast and let it smoke until the breast reaches 165°F.
Is it better to smoke a turkey at 225 or 250?
Turkey can be smoked at a smoker temperature as low as 225 degrees, but it’s much quicker if smoked at 275-300 degrees, or even higher. When smoking at a lower temperature you’re looking at more time in the smoker, but that means the turkey could potentially have a richer smoke flavor.
How long does it take to smoke a 20lb turkey in an electric smoker?
It depends on the size of your turkey and the smoker you’re using. Generally, though, you should allow for about 30-40 minutes of smoking per pound. So, if you have a 20-pound turkey, it’ll probably take 10-12 hours to completely smoke it. You should always determine doneness by internal temperature and not by time.
How long do I smoke a turkey at 225?
If you are smoking a turkey breast, you will want to follow the rule of 225 degrees for about 30 minutes per pound. If you choose a fairly typical 4-lb turkey breast, you’d be looking at about a 2 hour cook time.
How do you cook a turkey in a Masterbuilt electric smoker?
Instructions
Preheat smoker to 275F.Coat turkey with olive oil and pat with salt and pepper to taste.Place turkey directly onto bottom rack of smoker.Smoke for 3.5-4 hours or until internal temp reaches 165F.
Do you wrap turkey in foil when smoking?
He wraps the turkey in heavy duty aluminum foil and finishes the cooking in the smoker until the turkey’s internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. Once the turkey is cooked through, allow it to rest for five to 10 minutes before carving.
Should I inject my turkey before smoking?
Smoked turkey prep work. Cooking a whole turkey can feel intimidating, especially if it’s your first time. The good news is you can get a lot of the work out of the way early. I recommend getting the rub, injection, and gravy (if you’re making it) ready ahead of time so you can focus on smoking the turkey.
How do you keep a turkey moist when 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.
How long does it take to smoke a 20lb turkey at 250 degrees?
At 225 degrees, a 20-pound turkey should cook at a rate of 30 to 40 minutes per pound. If you increase the temperature to 250, it will take 25 to 30 minutes per pound.
How long do I smoke a 12 lb turkey?
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO SMOKE A TURKEY? It’s good to plan 30 minutes per pound when you smoke a turkey between 225-250 degrees Fahrenheit.
How do you make smoked turkey skin crispy?
Low and slow is perfect for the gorgeous smoky flavored juicy breast meat, but the process does nothing for achieving crispy turkey skin. High heat is required to render some of the fat from the skin and crisp it up. Temperatures between 275-325 are the ideal temp.
Do turkeys stall when smoking?
Smoking is almost impossible to mess up. When I’ve done it, I’ve found there’s a natural stall point where the meat temperature kind of drags for 60-90 minutes between about 145-155 F.
How long does it take to smoke a 14lb turkey?
It’s best to use a smaller turkey in the 10-12 pound range. If you go with a larger turkey, you run into the potential for food safety issues. A turkey must pass through the temperature range from 40-140 degrees F within 4 hours of being in the smoker, otherwise it could start to spoil before it cooks through.
Is a 20 pound turkey too big to smoke?
For a faster cooking time, you can smoke at 250 or even 275 degrees, but for a regular-sized turkey, we like 225 for about 30 minutes per pound. In fact, it might be best to avoid smoking big birds (say, 20 pounds), because the increased time required could increase your risk of the bacteria issues we noted above.
How long does it take to smoke a 20 pound turkey at 275 degrees?
At 275 F/135 C, your turkey will take 20 to 25 minutes per pound.
How long does it take to smoke a 20lb turkey at 275 degrees?
Meats smoked at higher temperatures will take less time than at lower temperatures. You should allocate 35 minutes/pound at 235 degrees, 30 minutes/pound at 250 degrees, and 25 minutes at 275 degrees.