I was so excited to cook my first turkey in the SRG (actually, my first turkey ever).
I read several threads and decided on TMB's 2 stick turkey. I didn't have time to get the WOW trail dust but I recalled reading Mrs. Dash was good too. So I went to the store and well, they sell about 15 different seasoning blends so I just bought the original blend.
I had problems getting the butter / seasoning mixture into the injector. The seasoning was too thick to get sucked up into the injector. Looking back, I didn't let the butter and seasoning cook or simmer. I believe I just let it melt and stirred it up. I wonder now, if I had let it cook a bit, would the seasoning broke down enough to go into the injector? I also forgot to dry off the turkey.
I tried to brush on an even coat of the mixture but by the time I had got the turkey into the basket, over half of my seasoning had dripped off. Plan B - I sprayed the turkey with cooking spray and sprinkled more Mrs. Dash on it before dropping it into the chamber. I used the half racks to raise the turkey a bit in the basket. Legs down, breast up.
I used some apple wood smoking chips to see if the smoke would add some flavor as well. I filled the smoke tray up about 4-5 times. I wasn't able to taste a smoke flavor in the turkey.
This was an 11.5 pound bird so I was guessing around 2 hour cook time. For the first hour, I cooked with the lid up, watching the thermometer to hit around 130 and was changing out the wood chips every 15 minutes or so. After the IT hit 130, I raised the lid and rotated 1/3 turn. I checked a few more times (rotating again after 30 min) and then got busy with things in the kitchen and when I realized I was at my 2 hours, I ran outside to find the IT at 170. I killed the gas and let it rest for a few minutes in the chamber.
Everyone liked it and said it was very tender. I think it was a little dry - but I have had much dryer turkeys out of the oven. Next time, I will make sure to hang around after the 150 mark.