Brand new here...

[bmwlarry]

I am brand new here and thought this may be where I could get a quick answer. I will be cooking/smoking a turkey on Sunday on a Traeger. I planned on brining it tomorrow but It says it has salt solution added so its not fresh. My question is that many recipes say to brine but if I remember reading that if the turkey is not fresh it is called self basting and this bird should not be brined! Is that correct?
Thanks

 

[Pappymn]

Can't say I have heard of that. I brine all my birds, especially turkey. Welcome to the group.

 

[CarterQ]

Generally "enhanced flavor" or "self basting turkeys" have been injected with a salt solution. I would avoid brining this type of bird.

 

[MossyMO]

Glad you joined us Larry, welcome!

 

[sparky]

welcome buddy from northern california. i don't brine. just rub and cook. i do love spatchcocking my birds. i think they cook better that way.

 

[bmwlarry]

spatchcocking??

 

[Pappymn]

spatchcocking??

I call it butterflying. Very easy to do. I use chicken shears. Takes about one minute to do. Cut the back bone out and remove the chine bone. Best way to cook chicken.

 

[dpom]

Welcome Larry, you've definitely came to the right site. You can search old threads for at least months,you can also put turkey in the search thread. Or do as you have done. The amount Info and research on this site is amazing!!

 

[ACW3]

Welcome from North Carolina. Spatchcocking a chicken or turkey is easy and allows the bird to cook more evenly without overcooking some parts. Helps to keep it moist.

Art

 

[Chili Head]

Welcome! Take pics and let us know how it turns out.

 

[Kite]

Welcome aboard! Good luck with the bird.

 

[ajstrider]

Welcome to the site! I do not brine my birds either, I have not done this spatchcocking that they are referring to but I have done relatively few birds.

 

[muebe]

Welcome to the site! I do not brine my birds either, I have not done this spatchcocking that they are referring to but I have done relatively few birds.

Your splitting the chicken and then making it flat

 

[TentHunter]

Welcome to the forum, from N.E. Ohio!

 

[So Cal Smoker]

Welcome to the forum. Once you Spatchcock a bird you will never go back. It's that good. So throw away the beer can chic holders, the rotisseries, and pull out the shears.

 

[Meat Man]

^+1^ on the spachchock, I know it's a little late, but you can still brine a pre basted turkey. Just reduce your salt in your brine by half. Have a great cook today.