Injecting vs brining a turkey?

[OldBaldHippie]

I've been reading in BBQ forums that some people prefer injecting a turkey before smoking it...anybody done that?

[radial]

I'm afraid of needles .  But I can testify that brining works pretty well to tenderize, plump up, and season a bird. 

[witchypoo]

i dry brine my turkey (no 'injecting').

[Magic Microbe]

Last year a coworker took a needle and big syringe home from work in order to do this.

[omega lambda]

i dry brine my turkey (no 'injecting').

What is dry brining?  Salt/spice rub?

I've been brining my bird for years now and always get great results.  I also like that the act of brining requires that I have my bird thawed at least the night before, so I haven't had any more "ooops, bird is still frozen!" on Thanksgiving morning.

[witchypoo]

this guy gives a good explanation: http://bbq.about.com/od/turkey/a/Dry-Brining-Turkey.htm

keep in mind that i butterfly and then grill turkeys - i don't roast them.  so any issues with moisture in a big ol', baking-forever-turkey aren't a consideration in the 'poo household.

[Natasha]

I watched a TV show that compared the two. I can't remember what it was. But the brining was deemed much better than the injection method.

[moroccangirl]

Alton brown spatchcocked a turkey on his show today. He put a dry rub on it and said to leave it in the fridge for 4 days. I thought he was going to grill it but he roasted it in the oven.

[OldBaldHippie]

Well, someone else is cooking a turkey so I guess I won't get to try it this time...

[diablita]

I always use Alton Brown's (wet) brine method and it always turns out fantastic.  This year someone else is bringing a special-ordered smoked turkey and I'm not crying about not having to stick my hand in the carcass of a turkey.