Grilled Whole Turkey

This is best done on a large gas grill fitted with a thermometer — it's more labor-intensive to keep a charcoal grill at a constant high heat. You'll need a disposable roasting pan large enough to fit the turkey on a V-rack.

Yields: 8 to 10 servings
Active Time: 20 min
Total Time: 3 hrs

Ingredients

• 1 (14-16 lb.) turkey w/ giblets (excluding liver) reserved for stock
• 2 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper
• 1 small metal skewer
• kitchen string
• 1 flat metal rack
• 1 instant-read thermometer

Directions

1. Remove any feathers and quills with pliers (kosher turkeys tend to require this more than others).
2. Rinse turkey inside and out and pat dry. Mix salt and pepper in a small bowl and sprinkle it evenly in turkey cavities and all over skin. Fold neck skin under body and, if desired, secure with metal skewer, then tuck wing tips under breast and tie drumsticks together with kitchen string.
3. Preheat burners on high, covered, 10 minutes, then turn off 1 burner (middle one if there are 3). Put turkey on oiled rack in roasting pan and add 2 cups water to pan. Set pan over turned-off burner and close lid immediately (temperature drops quickly when lid is lifted). Grill, adjusting burner or burners to maintain 450°F and rotating pan 180 degrees halfway through grilling, until thermometer inserted in fleshy part of each thigh registers 170°F, 1 3/4 to 2 1/2 hours. Time could be longer in cold weather. Avoid opening lid often because of rapid heat loss.