Grilled Turkey

Want to add some fun and flavor to the cooking of your holiday turkey? How about cooking it on the grill?

Not only is grilling a turkey fun, but cooking it over live wood adds a ton of flavor and frees up your oven for roasted vegetables and more pies.

Preparation Time: 40 minutes
Start to Finish Time: 27 hours
Yield: 10 servings

Directions
Start the day before by brining your bird in a herb and salt solution which helps tenderize the meat, you'll grill it unstuffed, which shortens the cooking time and allows the smoke to move through the cavity and permeate the turkey.

Place turkey breast side up in a large disposable aluminum baking pan and place on the grill. If using charcoal, place pan on opposite side of the fire for full circulation of heat. Cover grill tightly. Check turkey every 30 minutes and baste with any pan juices. Charcoal grills may need to have extra charcoal added to maintain heat. Grill turkey about 2 hours, or until a meat thermometer inserted into thigh registers 170.°

Heat grill to medium (about 375° to 400°). If using charcoal, build fire on one side of grill. Remove turkey from brine and discard brine. Rinse and pat turkey dry, then place fresh herbs and bay leaves inside cavity. Place turkey breast side up in a large disposable aluminum baking pan and place on grill. If using charcoal, place pan on opposite side of fire for full circulation of heat. Cover grill tightly.

Check turkey every 30 minutes and baste with any pan juices. Charcoal grills may need to have extra charcoal added to maintain heat. Be careful not to let grill flare up (the pan ought to catch any drippings). Grill turkey about 2 hours, or until a meat thermometer inserted into thigh registers 170.°

Let turkey rest at least 30 minutes before carving.

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