Cook a Turkey Outdoors with Charcoal while it dangles from a tripod like a trapeze artist. An aluminum foil reflector oven, coals and a tripod are all that are needed to cook a delicious, moist, Thanksgiving feast outdoors. (no dangerous oil flare-ups here!)
Materials Needed:
- 44"x18" Wire mesh
- (4) metal tent stakes
- 18" wide roll of Aluminum Foil
- (4) metal binder clips (office supplies)
- Metal tripod (the one shown is a camp cooking tripod that comes with a round metal grill that adjusts up and down. The grill and 3 side chains have been removed.
- 3 feet of Sisal rope (be sure to use natural fiber rope). Wrap the bird to provide an anchor point for hanging from tripod chain. (A barrel not is recommended for securing bird to tripod, you may also use a hook with rope tied on one end having the hook attached to the chain of tripod.
- 2 feet of wire to tie the legs for securing bird to body
- (2) Plastic oven bags (these bags are designed for use in household ovens and will handle regular cooking temperatures)
- (1) Turkey (thawed)
Make the 4 Coal Towers ahead of time (they are reusable)
1. Cut a piece of wire mesh about 11" by 18" for the Coal Towers
2. Roll the mesh into a 3 1/2" diameter x 18" tall cylinder
3. Secure the seam on the cylinder by "sewing" it together with a length of thin gauge wire or by cutting a few of the squares along the edge of the mesh and fold them back on themselves "hooking" the other edge of the seam.
1. Lay two to three sheet of aluminum foil on the ground shiny side up. Over lap the the edges. (He may perform without a net but this turkey needs something on the ground. Not to catch his fall but to reflect heat.)
2. Place the Coal Towers at the four corners of the foil. The distance between the towers should be 18" apart. (use the 18" roll of aluminum foil as a measuring gage)
3. For the high wire act, place the tripod scafolding over the foil as shown.
Add the sides to the reflector oven.
1. Wrap aluminum foil around the towers (shiny side inward)
2. Secure the foil at the top of the towers with the metal binder clips
The oven is done.
Light the Burning ring of fire
1. Start the Charcoal Briquettes.
A Chimney Starter is the method of choice. No need for flammable petrochemical liquids, and the coals are easy to dole out from the starter with tongs.
After the coals are glowing in the starter, divide them equally amongst the four towers using tongs.
2. Top-off the towers with additional un-lit briquettes. They will gradually self-start from the hot coals below.
Ready to start cooking
The turkey should be about 3-4" off the ground and centered between the 4 coal towers.
Cook just like you would in a 350 F degree oven.
Our 26lb turkey took 4 1/2 hours to cook. (160 degree F internal temperature)
Occasionally throughout the cooking process, add additional briquettes to the top of the towers as the lower coals burn down.
Thanksgiving is a great time to enjoy a great meal, family & friends.
