Learn To Cook Turkey On Your Barbecue

As Thanksgiving approaches our thoughts naturally turn to idea of serving a traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings. While tradition is wonderful, you might want to think about trying something a little out of the ordinary for this year's celebration. Maybe this is the year to do something a little different and think about a new tradition.

You can use your gas grill to cook your turkey and even add a little smokey flavor, too. It's really pretty simple to do And, by using the grill for your turkey, it leaves you more room in the kitchen to prepare other dishes.

Keep the size of your grill in mind when choosing your turkey. Don't get one that's too large to fit on the grill You should be able to close the lid of the grill completely without it touching the turkey at all. If you discover that the one you bought is too large, you can still cook it on your grill. Just prop open the lid and place some heavy aluminum foil over the gap.

Get the turkey ready and stuff it just like you normally would. Place it in a sturdy pan - I like to use and heavy aluminum foil pan for grilling. Place it on the grill over a burner that can be turned off. You want to use indirect heat to cook your turkey, so you can turn the other burners on, just not the one directly under the turkey.

If you'd like to infuse your turkey with a smokey taste, then you'll need to get some wood chips. Most likely you'll be able to find that at any store that sells either grills or grill accessories. Soak them in water per the instructions that come with them. Place them in aluminum foil, or you can buy a special metal box made just for wood chips. As they heat up they release a flavored smoke. Place the wood chips (in their container) over a lit burner.

At this point, close the lid of your grill. If you can't close it without the lid touching the turkey, you'll need to prop the lid open and cover the gap with some heavy foil. If you have to prop the lid open then some of the heat is going to escape, so add extra cooking time. But, the foil will help to keep the smoke in.

Cooking time will vary, of course, based on the size of the turkey, whether or not you've stuffed it and whether or not you've been able to close the lid of the grill completely. After a couple of hours of cooking, turn the turkey 180 degrees to ensure even cooking.

For safety sake, as you would with any poultry, cook until the internal temperature reaches at last 160 degrees F. It's best not to guess, so invest in a meat thermometer to be certain If poultry is not properly cooked it is a health hazard.

Your fully cooked turkey should be nicely browned and when you poke the thigh with a fork or skewer the juices should run clear. You might want to glaze the cooked turkey before carving it. Use your imagination, try different ideas and you just might end up with a whole new holiday tradition.