The very first time that I smoked anything, it was a disaster. I didn’t know how to change the temperature and didn’t know what to do when the meat’s temperature stopped rising. My family was impatiently watching from the dinner table as I messed with the vents on my Apollo® Smoker and added charcoal. I was freaking out.
If you use a smoker with any regularity, you have probably heard of this phenomenon before. The dreaded stall. Also known as the plateau or the zone. Find out what the stall is and why it happens, as well as how to get past or avoid it, in this article.
For many backyard barbecue fans, smoking a turkey for the holidays is a cherished tradition. However, newbie smokers often hit a roadblock in the form of the dreaded “turkey stall.” If you’ve tried smoking turkey only to be perplexed by this phenomenon you’re not alone. Let’s shed some light on what causes the turkey stall and tips to push through it for smoked holiday perfection.
What is the Turkey Stall?
The “turkey stall” refers to the temperature plateau that occurs when smoking a whole turkey at around 150-170°F, where the internal temperature stalls and refuses to climb higher for a period of 1-3 hours. This can cause panic in novice smokers who wonder if their turkey will ever fully cook.
Rest assured this stall is completely normal for smoking whole turkeys and large cuts of meat low and slow. With some awareness and patience, you can conquer the infamous turkey stall.
What Causes the Turkey to Stall?
There are several key factors that contribute to a smoked turkey hitting a stall:
- Low cooking temp (225-250°F)
- Large thermal mass – a whole 15+ lb turkey
- Long cook times required to break down collagen
- Evaporative cooling as moisture evaporates from the surface
The slow gentle cooking gives collagen time to transform into luscious gelatin. As this happens moisture is driven out of the meat then condenses on the cooler surface, stalling the internal temp rise.
At What Temperature Does Turkey Stall?
For smoking turkey, the stall generally occurs between 150°F and 170°F. Many firsthand reports cite stalls around:
- 160°F
- 165°F
- 170°F
The exact temperature varies based on the size of the turkey, accuracy of the thermometer, and smoking temp. Lower temps like 225°F tend to stall closer to 150°F, while 250°F stalls nearer 170°F.
How Long Does the Turkey Stall Last?
Once that dreaded plateau hits, how long can you expect to wait it out? Most turkey stalls last
- 1-2 hours for a 12-15 lb turkey
- 2-3 hours for an 18-20 lb turkey
As difficult as it is, patience is required to let the reactions run their course untouched. Avoid constantly checking it or bumping up the heat during a stall.
7 Tips to Navigate the Turkey Stall
Here are some tips from smoking veterans to help “survive” the infamous turkey stall:
- Expect the stall is coming and have a game plan
- Don’t panic – stalling is normal
- Toss more wood chips on for smoke flavor
- Mop or spritz the surface to aid moisture evaporation
- Limit checking temperature to every 30 minutes
- Be patient – don’t rush the process!
- Allow the turkey to rest 20+ minutes before slicing
Smoked Turkey Perfection is Worth the Wait
Waiting out a 1-3 hour turkey stall can test your patience, but keeping a cool head and letting the science run its course results in the best outcome. Your perseverance will be rewarded with incredibly moist, juicy and smoke-kissed holiday perfection!
What is the Stall?
The stall, the plateau, or the zone happens when bigger pieces of meat are smoked or cooked at low temperatures for a long time. It is when the interior temperature of that meat reaches about 150°F to 170°F and stops going up. This state can last for hours.
What Causes the Stall?
The stall is caused by the evaporation of liquid on the meats surface. This evaporative cooling works just like when you sweat while working hard. The stall can get frustrating because it lasts for hours. This is because the rate at which the meat and smoker heat up and cool down is the same.
Should you worry that your meat will dry out and taste awful? No, that doesn’t mean that. First of all, the meat wont remain in the stall forever. There is a finite amount of excess moisture available to be consumed when meat is in this state. The collagen, fat, and protein in the meat hold on to the rest of the water, which is what makes your favorite meat jello so juicy. Once that excess moisture is used up, your meat should start raising in temperature once more.
Will a turkey breast stall in a smoker?
FAQ
Is it better to smoke a turkey at 225 or 250?
What not to do when smoking a turkey?
Should I spray turkey while smoking?
What if my turkey won’t reach 165?
Does turkey breast stall while smoking?
Turkey breast does stall while smoking and may even drop a few degrees while cooking. It is easy to panic as this may feel like it will last forever. However, staying calm, cranking up the smoker temperature, or throwing it in the oven is your best bet at speeding up the process. Why Does It Stall?
Can you smoke a whole turkey?
So if you want to feed a large crowd with your equally large smoker, a whole turkey is the perfect candidate for smoking. The flavor will be even better when you use specific, best wood for smoking turkey. Like our recommendation for chicken leg quarters, you might want to cook a whole turkey low and slow.
Should Turkey Breast be side down while smoking?
Positioning the turkey breast side down while it rests may yield juicier and more tender breast meat. Although turkey breast does have a ‘stall’ period during the smoking process, it can be worked around by using the right technique and cranking your smoker temperature up.
Does a smoked turkey become bad?
When you buy a smoked turkey from the store, it will usually have a sell-by date on the packaging. This date is not an indicator of when the turkey will go bad, but rather when it will be at its best quality. After the sell-by date, the turkey may still be safe to eat, but the quality will start to decline.
How long does smoked turkey last?
Smoked turkey can last for weeks or even months if stored properly. However, it will only last for a few days if not stored correctly. The general rule of thumb is that smoked turkey will last for up to two weeks in the fridge. When it comes to storing smoked turkey, the key is to keep it in a cool, dry place.
How long does turkey breast take to stall?
Turkey Breast usually stalls at the 160°F mark where the meat temperature usually drags for about 60-90 minutes. This is the point when the tough collagen starts to break down into gelatin. Should You Wrap It In Foil?