19lb Turkey in the Little guy?!

[rjaffrey]

Hi guys, need some help, I got a bit over ambitious and bought a 19lb turkey. 
I am quite sure I can stuff the bird in the little guy, but it may touch the sides a little.  Will it still smoke okay?
Last year I did a 13lb Turkey and it came out great...

Any advice appreciated.

thanks

Ray

 

[BedouinBob]

Ray, don't do it. Cook this one regular and get a 13 lb one for cooking. It has the chance of staying in the danger zone too long as a whole bird. If you really must, split it in half and do it on two shelves if it will fit.

 

[DivotMaker]

+1!  Save that one for the oven, and get a 14 lb, or less, bird for the smoker.  Too much risk at 250!

 

[RSNovi]

You could smoke it for 1.5 - 2 hours and finish in the oven.

 

[rjaffrey]

Guys thank you so much for the advice.  I won't do it.  I'll stick it in the Cajun Big Easy Dutch style oven. 
Appreciate your help, you probably saved 20 people from food posioning!!  :-[

 

[LarryD]

Ray, don't do it. Cook this one regular and get a 13 lb one for cooking. It has the chance of staying in the danger zone too long as a whole bird. If you really must, split it in half and do it on two shelves if it will fit.

Isn't the idea of getting it to at least 165 to kill off all the bad stuff?

 

[NDKoze]

The other option would be to spatchcock the bird as it should smoke more like a 9.5 lb bird. But even then, in the #1 you may have to rotate racks or pull one early as the lower shelved bird would get done earlier if not rotated.

 

[DivotMaker]

Isn't the idea of getting it to at least 165 to kill off all the bad stuff?

No.  Getting it to "touch" 165 will not kill all the bad stuff, if it has grown any during the rise from 40-140.  The key to killing the bad stuff is sustained temp, like in sous vide cooking.  It's the time in temp that matters.  A 19 lb bird will stay in that danger zone way too long.