A whole turkey is simply one of the best meats to smoke. And while most of us might think of it as meat best served at Thanksgiving and Christmas as well as in standard cuisine, the truth is that a beautifully smoked bird can be served all year round.
Turkeys are sold sliced and ground, as well as 'whole' in a manner similar to chicken with the head, feet, and feathers removed. Frozen whole turkeys remain popular. Sliced turkey is frequently used as a sandwich meat or served as cold cuts; in some cases where recipes call for chicken, it can be used as a substitute. Ground turkey is sold, and frequently marketed as a healthy alternative to ground beef. Without careful preparation, smoked turkey is usually considered to end up less moist than other poultry meats.
A large amount of turkey meat is processed. It can be smoked, and as such, is sometimes sold as turkey ham or turkey bacon, which is considered to be far healthier than pork bacon. Twisted helices of deep-fried turkey meat, sold as 'turkey twizzlers', came to prominence in the UK in 2004, when chef Jamie Oliver campaigned to have them and similar foods removed from school dinners.