The Perfect Turkey

A perfect turkey is the climax of every Thanksgiving dinner. We can all give thanks to one local pit-master for sharing his tips and tricks for bringing the best tasting bird to the table this year. News 25’s Hank Davis shows us how.
Bruce Bragg is the owner of The Meat Market in Vancleave. He’s got over 30 years of experience and self-taught skills when it comes to smoking meats. “It’s become a passion for me. That’s what we’re all about. We’re selling #1 grade choice meat. Today, I’m gonna show you how to make a perfect Thanksgiving Day turkey.”
Bragg prepares his turkeys on his custom built smoker, using seasoned wood and low heat to create his signature flavor profile. “325, that’s recommended for oven-cooking which my cooking chamber is like an oven. I’m just adding smoke to it,” said Bragg.
Another simple step that makes all the difference is his choice in flavor injection which is plain apple juice. “It’s kind of like brine for them. It has the acid to break down the fibers of the meat and it helps to keep it moist during cook time and also every 15-20 minutes baste the turkey with apple juice.”
From there just let four hours of smoke and a well-timed flip half way through take care of the rest and you’ve got your perfectly smoked bird.
If you’re interested in a smoked turkey, but it seems a bit out of your skill range, Bragg teams up with Vancleave High School’s softball program every year, selling turkeys to help the team raise extra money. “Thanksgiving orders for hams and turkeys has ended, but if you want one for Christmas just give us a call,” said Bragg.