Turkey Too Big!

[Wazu Wazu]

The booklet that came with the Costco Trailhead Traeger states to use a 18 to 20-pound turkey.

I bought a 19-pound turkey and I cannot close the lid. I have a gap of almost 3"

Had I known this would happen I would have bought a smaller turkey. I really think a 12-pound bird would be a better fit. Fortunately, I'm finding this out the day before Thanksgiving and not on the day of.

I'm going to try spatchcocking the bird and see if that helps, although I fear it may overwhelm the grill area.

This is our first pellet grill as we weren't sure if we'd like this type of thing, or not.

Thus far the documentation hasn't been the best.

 

[Shedd]

I have a 780 Pro which is big enough for two birds but I spatchcock my turkeys and chickens. Hopefully it’ll work out for you.

 

[Phyllis]

Spatchcocking the turkey is a great idea, it’ll not only help it fit better but also cook more evenly and faster! Just remove the backbone and flatten the bird it should solve the lid issue and still leave you enough grill space. You can also try tucking the wings in tightly to save space. If the grill still feels cramped, consider using a smaller roasting pan or even cooking the legs separately. For future reference, a 12 15 pound turkey does seem like a better fit for that model.