Things You'll Need:
- 1 three foot section of rebar
- 1 ten gallon steel trash can, new
- 1 bag of charcoal
- 1 ten pound turkey (thawed)
- Aluminum foil
- Any seasonings or rubs you like
- A yard
- A shovel
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Step 1
The day before you want to roast your turkey, take the 10 gal. trash can and start a wood fire in it to burn off the galvanized zinc coating. It takes a little time, but it burns off pretty easy. Let cool and you're ready to start.
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Step 2
Find a clear space in your yard where you can burn charcoal on the ground. In the center of this area, drive the rebar into the ground about a foot or so (you can use shorter rebar so you don't have to hammer it in as far, but I've never found a piece under 3ft and I'm too lazy to cut it). Adjust the rebar so that it will have at least a 4 to 6 inch clearance from the bottom of the trash can when placed upside down over the rebar.
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Step 3
Now, lay the aluminum foil around the rebar in a 4ft square, this will help with cleanup later. On the top of your rebar spike, place a ball of foil about the size of a tennis ball, this is to keep the turkey from sliding all the way to the ground.
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Step 4
Off to the side, start the charcoal burning. I use all of a ten pound bag for this. While the charcoal gets burning, prepare the turkey with any rubs or seasonings you like.
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Step 5
Once the turkey is ready to roast and the charcoal is burning good, place the turkey butt end first down over the rebar. The ball of foil should stop in the neck of the turkey and keep it from falling all the way to the ground.
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Step 6
With the turkey on the rebar, place the trash can upside down over it. Make sure there is at least an inch between the bottom of the can and the turkey. Shovel half the coals around the opening of the trash can and the other half on to the bottom. Now sit back and wait about an hour.
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Step 7
After about an hour, scrape off the coals and carefully lift the trash can up and off the turkey. The skin should be dark brown and crispy.
