Anybody grilled a turkey on a gas grill

[preslove]

A friend on facebook sparked my interest in grilling the turkey, this year. But, I don't have charcoal grill, just a 4 burner gas grill. I've read that charcoal is preferred. Is gas not a good option? It'd be nice not to clutter up the oven for all that time...

 

[thestrangebrew1]

Anything I cook on my el cheapo gas grill takes forever. Like twice as long sometimes. I always opt for the charcoal grill when I can. I've never cooked a turkey before myself, but I know that the folks we're going to tomorrow are putting one on their charcoal Weber and cooking it that way. He's putting it on at 1130, should be done by about 4ish.

 

[KMc]

I've done this many times, mainly due to the benefit of freeing up the oven for cooking other items. You'll find lots of tips on the interwebs, but here are a few things to consider:

1. Size of turkey compared to volume of gas grill cooking area. The more volume you take up with bird, the less even cooking will be, so you'll have to employ some sort of rotation/flipping program.
2. Ambient air temp around grill. The colder it is outside, the more heat loss you will have through the cover, which amplifies the problem in #1.
3. Do not open the cover unless you absolutely have to due to #1 and #2. It will significantly affect your overall cooking times if you do this too much.
4. Even if you have #1, #2 and #3 handled, you aren't going to get much difference in flavor between the gas grill and your oven.
5. To address #4, I suggest using wood chips to get some smoke going. If you do, I've found that pecan and apple/cherry woods are good, whereas mesquite and hickory are a little strong for turkey.

 

[waggy]

I'm sure most have. It's called a oven.

 

[waffleironhead]

I grill turkey breast on the rotisserie on my gas grill about every 2 weeks.
. Turns out great every time. Ive converted a lot of people who say they dont like turkey. They have bad memories of dry flavorless thanksgiving birds. They change their tune after having it off the grill.
Along the lines of this guys write up.
http://dadcooksdinner.com/2011/08/rotisserie-turkey-breast-with-spice-rub.html/

 

[Drako]

I have Weber rotisserie that I use for turkey, chicken, roasts, etc.

It works great.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Spatchcock the turkey. It will be easier to grill, quiker, and it will cook more evenly.

 

[Kaido]

Spatchcock the turkey. It will be easier to grill, quiker, and it will cook more evenly.

Yup! This tutorial is for charcoal, but just apply it to your gas grill OP:

http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2014/11/grilled-spatchcock-turkey-recipe.html

 

[Uppsala9496]

Spatchcock it and if possible do it over indirect heat (only use the 2 outside burners).
I do this with chicken all the time.

 

[preslove]

I've done this many times, mainly due to the benefit of freeing up the oven for cooking other items. You'll find lots of tips on the interwebs, but here are a few things to consider:

1. Size of turkey compared to volume of gas grill cooking area. The more volume you take up with bird, the less even cooking will be, so you'll have to employ some sort of rotation/flipping program.
2. Ambient air temp around grill. The colder it is outside, the more heat loss you will have through the cover, which amplifies the problem in #1.
3. Do not open the cover unless you absolutely have to due to #1 and #2. It will significantly affect your overall cooking times if you do this too much.
4. Even if you have #1, #2 and #3 handled, you aren't going to get much difference in flavor between the gas grill and your oven.
5. To address #4, I suggest using wood chips to get some smoke going. If you do, I've found that pecan and apple/cherry woods are good, whereas mesquite and hickory are a little strong for turkey.

1. It's just the wife and I, so it's just a 7lb bird
2. We live in texas and it shouldn't be too cold tomorrow

Spatchcock it and if possible do it over indirect heat (only use the 2 outside burners).
I do this with chicken all the time.

Yeah, I was thinking of spatchcocking it, doing indirect heat, and putting a roasting pan below the turkey for drippings.

 

[Homerboy]

I'm sure most have. It's called a oven.

Ding!

What the hell is the purpose of cooking a turkey on a gas grill anyways? It really isn't going to be any different than an oven.

Charcoal? Fine, I get that (I've had it many times and I actually hate it)

 

[mrrman]

done it on the barbeque, love it, stuff it with oranges and apples, great taste and doesnt get dried out like the oven...much better IMO

 

[Newell Steamer]

Using a grill for anything other than beef and/or pork should result in permanent banning from these forums.

Also, the local authorities need to contacted. You are clearly a rapist of some sorts.

 

[virtuamike]

Been smoking turduckens the last few years, at 190F it takes about 24 hrs.

Haven't tried grilling a turkey but would want low and slow and indirect heat to get it to cook even.

 

[MarkXIX]

I've done bone-in turkey breasts before with a spice rub and then glazed with beer reduction on a gas grill. It was delicious.

 

[Markbnj]

Ding!

What the hell is the purpose of cooking a turkey on a gas grill anyways? It really isn't going to be any different than an oven.

Charcoal? Fine, I get that (I've had it many times and I actually hate it)

Like the man said above, frees up the oven for other stuff, or just keeps the temps down in the kitchen. We use our grill for roasts and chops all winter long.

 

[JEDIYoda]

I have used my Weber Dylithium Grill many times@!
Dylithium cooks fast and keeps the moisture inside the bird!!

I can remember one thanksgiving being stranded on the Boonatoon and cooking our turkey using our light sabres!!

 

[TheGardener]

My cousin cooked a 25 pound turkey on a Weber charcoal grill. It was very juice. I can attest to that. He said it took half time to cook.

 

[NAC4EV]

Been smoking turduckens the last few years, at 190F it takes about 24 hrs.

I slow cook my turkeys in a sealed up Old Smokey Electric Smoker
for 24hrs no wood chips, just the the natural juices from bird to make the smoke. It's goof proof and requires little attention...:thumbsup:

 

[MongGrel]

Spatchcock the turkey. It will be easier to grill, quiker, and it will cook more evenly.

Yup! This tutorial is for charcoal, but just apply it to your gas grill OP:

http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2014/11/grilled-spatchcock-turkey-recipe.html

That does look very interesting, will have to try it on the Weber kettle in the future.

Nice to learn new things

 

[Linux23]

hmmm, might try this today as I didn't get to cook my turkey on Thanksgiving Day.