Trash Can Turkey

Total Time: 6 hrs Preparation Time: 4 hrs Cook Time: 2 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 2 tablespoons poultry seasoning
• 2 tablespoons coarse salt (kosher or sea)
• 1 tablespoon dry mustard
• 1 tablespoon black pepper
• 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 (12 lb) turkey, thawed if frozen
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Recipe

• 1 also requires: 1 wood or metal stake (at least 1" thick and 20" long), heavy duty aluminum foil, 1 clean 30 gallon metal trash can.
• 2 20 lbs. charcoal.
• 3 mix poultry seasoning, salt, mustard, pepper and garlic powder in a small bowl and stir to mix.
• 4 remove giblets from neck or body cavity of the turkey and set aside for use another time (or gravy).
• 5 remove and discard the fat just inside the cavities of the turkey.
• 6 rinse turkey inside and out under cold running water and blot dry with paper towels.
• 7 season the bird with the rub, placing 1 tbs into the neck cavity and 2 tbs int0 the body cavity.
• 8 brush or rub the outside of the turkey all over with the olive oil and sprinkle it with the remaining rub.
• 9 put covered into refrigerator and let cure for 4 hours or overnight.
• 10 clear a 4 foot circle on the ground, using a shovel (do this on dirt, not your grass).
• 11 cover the circle with heavy duty aluminum foil.
• 12 drive the stake into the ground in the center of the circle, so it sticks up about 16" above the ground.
• 13 light the charcoal in a grill.
• 14 holding the turkey with the neck end at the top, lower it onto the stake.
• 15 the tail end of the bird should be about 6" above the ground.
• 16 place the trash can over the turkey, keeping the bird in the center and resting the trash can on the ground.
• 17 shovel 1/3 of the coals on top of the trash can and the remainder around the outside; these should come 3 to 4" up the sides of the can.
• 18 cook the turkey until cooked through (1 1/2- 2 hours).
• 19 using a shovel, remove the coals and ash from the sides and top of the can.
• 20 lift the can off the turkey- careful- the can will be hot!
• 21 transfer the turkey to a platter and cover loosely with aluminum foil.
• 22 let it rest for 10- 15 minutes, then carve and serve.