New Smoker

[team wild]

Just bought A new Weber Smokey Mountain cooker!I have A couple questions how important is it to season A new smoker before using it for the first time?Also I will be smoking A whole turkey and was wondering what A good simple brine would be also do you inject the bird or not and what is A good rub to use?any help from you EXPERTS would be greatly appreciated. thanks and wish me luck!!! LOL

[archerystud]

I never really seasoned either of mine at all but it probably does get a little better once I used it a few times.

The best advice I can give on the WSM is when adjusting the vents, remember to make small adjustments and walk away for at least 20 minutes.

I've never really smoked a whole turkey before. I've had good luck smoking breasts with just a rub, but it's been a while and I can't remember the rub I used (sorry).

Check out virtual weber bullet dot com for some good recipes and advice.

One of my favorites out there is the Salmon - Brown Sugar Rub. I've had good success with that one and a lot of people seem to like it.

They have a whole turkey basic brining recipe out there but I haven't tried it. I know another person who warned me that if you want to brine a bird make sure you buy one which isn't already in a brine (i.e. self basting)!!!

Good Luck!

[team wild]

Thanks Archerystud, I didn't season mine either and smoked some ribs on sat. and boy did they turn out good!!! Just put the turkey on this morning and I also read about the self basted turkey and it happend this one was so I didn't brine this one just put some garlic and onion powder and some Famous Daves chicken rub on it and quarterd an onion and A couple celery stalks and stuffed them in the cavity with some hickory and cherry wood for the smoke.

[KEN W]

My family really likes that Famous Dave's Chicken Rub.I always use it on chicken and turkey.Whether its smoked,fried,grilled or baked.It even works well as a rib rub.

[MNmikew]

Congrats on the WSM, you'll love it. A couple of nice additions would be a Maverick ET732 remote thermomter and a PitMaster IQ110 pit controller. The IQ110 is a lifesaver, especially for long or over night cooks. Set it and forget it.

As for the turkey, I would inject it and rub. I personally like the Simply Marvalous and Ployboys brands. You can get these at a number of places online.

Don't rely on the temp gauge in the dome, they tend to be off a bit. That's where the ET732 comes in.