Recipe

Garbage Can Turkey Recipe

Add Step-by-Step Photos	Hollymayb / All my dishes 1 year, 7 months ago I've done this production many times and everyone always says it's the best bird they've ever had. Of course, by the time we get to eating it, there's usually a pretty big pile of empties, but a compliment is a compliment. Prep:60m Cook:120m Servings:10	Hollymayb
	turkey camping garbage can inventive fun crazy

Add Photos

Does this look good? Yeah! / Nope

Fans

mystic_riv

fizzle3nat

Ingredients

New metal garbage can

Wooden pole - 1 inch thick, 3 feet long

20 pound bag of charcoal

Aluminum foil

Whole turkey, cleaned (mine are usually about 16-18 lbs)

Potatoes, carrots, and green beans

Directions

At home, clean the turkey and tie the wings firmly to the bird. Do not season or stuff the turkey.

At camp, light half the charcoal on the upside down lid of the garbage can. It is ready to use when white.

Pound the pole about 1 1/2 feet into the ground.

If you can find the smaller-sized, 10-gallon metal garbage cans, you're set. Otherwise, if you're working with a 20-gallon can, you'll need to dig a trench or lower the can into the sand by 8-10 inches. This reduces the volume of the can so that there will be less air to heat, and cooking time will be faster.

Make a tinfoil ball around the top of the wooden pole. It should be the size of a baseball. An empty pop or beer can forced onto the top also works.

Place the bird cavity down onto the pole and foil ball. The foil ball or can will support the bird while it cooks and stop the pole from going all the way through. Be sure not to let the turkey touch the ground.

Lower the garbage can over the turkey. No part of the turkey should touch the sides or top of the can. Remember, if you are using a 20-gallon can, you will need to dig a trench to provide a raised platform inside the can. If you do not do this, the turkey will not cook sufficiently.

Transfer the hot charcoal from the lid of the can to around the sides and on top of the can. The coals along the sides should be piled as high as possible to be close to where the turkey is inside. If using a large sized can, you may want to build up a ledge around the sides of the can with dirt or sand and put the coals on top of the ledge. Add coals as necessary. You will probably use the whole bag.

Wrap single potatoes in tin foil and place on top of the can to bake. Leave them there for the full cooking time of the turkey. Don't forget to poke the potatoes with a fork!

Wrap the cut carrots and beans (and any other vegetables you might like) in foil with a little water and butter and roast over coals for the last 30 minutes of cooking time. You can add powdered soup mix or, if you're like me and camp with a spice rack, your favourite spice combos. You may want to double wrap in heavy foil so the vegetables don't burn.

After 2 hours, put on oven mitts. Carefully and slowly lift the can off the turkey. Test it by poking it in the thigh with a knife or roasting stick. If the juices run clear, it's done; if not, replace the can and add more coals and cook for an additional 30 minutes. Turkey should be a crispy golden brown.

Share and enjoy! Serve with instant stuffing and gravy. You are now the talk of the campsite!

Recent Gawkers

tucky

cherrypi

msnatura

aridge

southern

mbeards2

llacks

tinapbea

ronw

crazeecn

suzzles

fizzle3n

Not quite what you're looking for? See more Main Dish / Turkey

Or see more just like this

Comments

kidaria 1 year, 7 months ago said:
Thank you for the recipe. I was invited to a turkey fry once-It was an incredible experience.

hollymayb 1 year, 7 months ago said:
I've been thinking of getting a turkey fryer... Could be a lot of fun!

deedeec 1 year, 7 months ago said:
I like the point "New" metal garbage can... Ya know, now days you've got to be specific. Or some old lady with a Hot cup of coffee between her thighs will sue you! LOL

jimrug1 1 year, 6 months ago said:
What a cool idea! We do a lot of camping in Wisconsin and we are always trying to impress each other with new and different meal ideas. I can't wait to pull this one out of my hat...;-)~~ High 5 for this one... Jim

mystic_river1 1 year, 4 months ago said:
Give you a great big 5!. Fantastic recipe and thanks for sharing.

tcpr 1 year, 2 months ago said:
You'r my kind of cook, inventive!

Add a Comment