Smoking a fully cooked turkey may sound counterintuitive, but it’s actually a great way to add flavor and moisture to leftover turkey or pre-cooked turkey from the store. With the right technique, you can infuse delicious smoky flavor into the meat without overcooking it.
Why Smoke a Turkey That’s Already Cooked?
There are a few good reasons to smoke a turkey that’s already fully cooked
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Add smoke flavor – Smoking is the best way to get that distinctive smoky flavor into any meat. It takes a plain roasted turkey from boring to bold and exciting.
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Use up leftovers – Don’t waste leftover turkey after the holidays or a big meal. Give it new life by smoking it for tasty sandwiches casseroles soups, salads and more.
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Preserve moisture – The low, indirect heat of a smoker reheats the turkey gently without drying it out like a regular oven would.
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Freshen it up – Smoking transforms leftover turkey so it tastes freshly cooked again. The smoke flavor helps disguise the fact that it’s not brand new.
With just a touch of hickory, apple, cherry or maple smoke, you can turn leftover turkey or pre-cooked turkey into something special.
How to Smoke a Fully Cooked Turkey
Smoking a turkey that’s already cooked is simple. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
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Pat the turkey dry with paper towels. Removing excess moisture helps the smoke flavors absorb better and gives you crisper skin.
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Apply a light seasoning rub. Go easy on the rub since the turkey is already cooked through. A simple salt, pepper and garlic powder blend works well.
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Preheat your smoker or grill to 300-325°F. The low, indirect heat prevents drying out the already cooked meat.
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Add wood chips or chunks to generate smoke. Use milder fruit woods like apple, cherry or maple so the smoke complements the turkey instead of overpowering it.
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Place the turkey in the smoker, away from direct heat. Smoke for 1-2 hours until it reaches 165°F internal temperature.
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Let the turkey rest 15 minutes before slicing into it. This allows the juices to reabsorb for moister meat.
It only takes a short smoking time to impart maximum flavor since the turkey is already fully cooked. The key is controlling the temperature so it gently reheats without drying out.
Handling Leftover Turkey for Best Results
To ensure the best results when smoking leftover turkey, proper storage and handling are essential:
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Let the roasted turkey rest at least 20-30 minutes before carving. This allows juices to be reabsorbed.
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Refrigerate all carved turkey within 2 hours of cooking. Bacteria multiply rapidly at room temperature.
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Store turkey tightly wrapped in the fridge for no more than 3-4 days. Freezing is best for longer storage.
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Slice, shred or dice turkey before smoking to increase the smoky flavor coverage.
Proper chilling and using leftovers within a safe timeframe prevents bacterial growth and spoilage.
Choosing the Right Wood for Smoking Turkey
You want a complementary smoke flavor that doesn’t overpower the delicate turkey meat. Good wood choices include:
- Apple – mild, sweet, fruity smoke
- Cherry – subtly smoky with a hint of fruit
- Maple – light smokiness with a touch of sweetness
- Pecan – rich nuttiness but still mild
Avoid heavy smoke from mesquite, hickory or oak, which can easily make turkey taste bitter.
Smoked Turkey Leftover Ideas
Smoking cooked turkey opens up all kinds of possibilities for leftovers. Get creative with these ideas:
- Smoked turkey sandwiches with cranberry sauce and stuffing
- Turkey chili with a hint of smoky flavor
- Smoked turkey nachos or tacos for a fun twist
- Turkey casserole with a touch of cherry wood smoke
- Turkey soup or smoked turkey salad
- Smoked turkey pizza with gooey cheese and crispy crust
With just a little smoke, you can give leftover turkey new life in all sorts of dishes.
Yes, You Can Smoke a Fully Cooked Turkey!
Whether you have holiday leftovers or picked up a pre-cooked turkey, smoking is a great way to reinvigorate it with bold flavor. Low, indirect smoker heat prevents drying out the meat. With proper handling and mild fruit woods, smoked fully cooked turkey turns out juicy, tender and full of flavor. It takes boring leftovers from dull to delicious. Give your taste buds a treat by smoking that turkey!
The Ultimate Guide to Turkey
What to do with Leftover Turkey
- Replace chicken with turkey in your favorite pot pie recipe
- Add turkey to the soup
- Make a grilled turkey sandwich; add cranberry sauce (and even leftover stuffing) for extra flavor.
- Put the chopped turkey in your omelet or scrambled eggs
- Top your salad with turkey
- Put the turkey in a panini
- Add turkey to your favorite lasagna recipe
- Create a turkey, avocado, and bacon sandwich
- Add turkey to a plate of nachos
- Put the turkey in enchiladas
- Make a turkey casserole
- Turkeys are native to northern Mexico and the eastern United States.
- 50% of Americans eat turkey at least once a week.
- A 15-pound turkey usually has about 30% dark and 70% white meat.
- Forty-five million turkeys are eaten each Thanksgiving.
- The average weight of a Thanksgiving turkey is 15 pounds.
- Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to be the United States national bird.
- The heaviest turkey was 86 pounds.
- The world’s largest turkey farm is in Norfolk, England.
- Minnesota is the state that produces the most turkey.
- It takes about 75 pounds of feed to raise a 30-pound turkey.
- The United States produces about 6 billion pounds of turkey meat each year.
- Americans consume an average of 17.6 pounds of turkey per person each year.
- The Pilgrims probably did not eat wild turkey at their first Thanksgiving feast because it was not a common food then.
- Edwin Aldrin and Neil Armstrong ate turkey as their first meal on the moon.
- The most popular recipes for leftover turkey are turkey sandwiches, stew, and casserole.
Sources: extension.illinois.edu, guinnessworldrecords.com, time.com, mentalfloss.com
How to Heat and Serve – Smoked and Fully Cooked Turkey
FAQ
Can you smoke meat that has already been cooked?
Smoking Pre-Cooked Meats
Another thing to note in smoking pre-cooked meat is making sure that it has not been smoked before to get its best possible flavor. Some meats are easier to smoke and more fit for food smoking than others, so these meats, when pre-cooked, are also great for smoking.
How long does it take to cook a precooked turkey?
“It normally takes four to five hours to roast a turkey. With a pre-cooked turkey, you can have it ready in just about an hour,” Stovall said.Nov 23, 2020
How do you prepare a fully cooked smoked turkey?
Place the trayed smoked turkey in the middle of a 350° F oven and cook for about 1.5 – 2 hours (or until a meat thermometer reaches about 140° F in the center of the breast). Remove the turkey and carve for serving.
How do you reheat a precooked turkey without drying it out?
Our advice is to set the oven to 325°F. This temperature is high enough to heat the turkey thoroughly without drying out the meat.May 13, 2024