Grill
Keeping the oven free of turkey on Thanksgiving Day to cook the green bean casserole and the sweet potato pie is a huge help. How is this possible? Grill the turkey, the whole thing, on your grill. In warmer climates this encourages guests to mingle outside, standing around the bird while it cooks. In colder climates, the grill can be set up inside an open garage, and more often than not the same mingling occurs. Grilling a turkey requires indirect heat, so using a charcoal grill is preferred. However, a gas grill may be used as well. Follow the steps below to prepare both types of grills to take on the biggest task of Thanksgiving Day.
Instructions
Prepare a Charcoal Grill
1. Remove the top grill rack and open all vents. Keep the vents open throughout the preparation and the cooking process.
2. Pile 50 or 60 briquettes in the middle of the lower grill rack or on the bottom of the grill. Pour lighter fluid on the briquettes and light them on fire. Let the briquettes heat up until they turn gray (about 30 minutes).
3. Using tongs, spread the briquettes around the outside edge of the lower grill rack or bottom of the grill. Remember, you are going to use indirect heat to cook the bird, so think of encircling the turkey with heat.
4. In the center of the briquette circle, place a medium-sized aluminum drip pan (about the size of a pie pan) or a double layer of foil to catch the bird drippings.
5. Grease the top grill rack by brushing it generously with vegetable oil before placing the rack on the hot coals.
6. Place the prepared turkey in the center of the top grill rack directly above the foil, and place the lid on the grill, keeping the lid's vents open.
7. Add a few briquettes to the circle of heat at least once an hour while the bird cooks (five or six briquettes per side).
Prepare a Gas Grill
8. Turn on all burners to high and close the lid for 15 minutes.
9. Reduce the heat of all burners to medium.
10. Place the turkey in a large foil drip pan and place the pan directly on the grill rack.
11. Close the lid of the grill.
Tags: grill rack, bottom grill, grill rack bottom, indirect heat, lower grill, lower grill rack, Prepare Grill