I'm planning on smoking a turkey for the holidays. I have done that before, and it turned out good on the tenderness and flavor, but still had a very "gamy" flavor. I typically use either hickory or fruit wood (fruit has milder smokiness), lump charcoal, for about 8 hours at 200°F and finish it on high heat in the oven.
I use a salt brine overnight the day before, and typically don't apply much seasoning, mostly just a honey glaze. While cooking I occasionally sprinkle it with Sprite or Seven-Up soda to keep it moist.
Do you have any advice on how to make the meat flavor milder or closer to chicken?
Best Answer
I've never thought of turkey as gamey at all, but that's just my own taste I guess. It sounds to me you want a milder bird, in which case you want to buy a cheap battery bird. Gameyness comes from exercise and diet, the blander diet and less exercise the milder (read blander) bird you get. Don't go free-range, get store-brand.