A flavorful wet turkey brine.
Simple Turkey Brine
The season of food holidays is among us! Bring effortless flavor to your table by following this simple recipe with ingredients that are probably already in your pantry. This turkey brine is easy to prepare and results in a juicy bird.
I brine because it just works. Seriously, the outcome is always well received, and I couldn’t imagine skipping this step.
Frying turkey is by far my favorite method of preparation. Grilling/smoking is a close second. Traditional oven roasting works with this recipe as well. However you decide to prepare your turkey, you will be pleased with the flavor.
Recommendation: This indoor fryer is a great tool to use without the hassle of propane and cold weather.
Brining Suggestions + Tips:
- Be sure to use a turkey that isn’t already basted (pre-treated with a salt and/or flavoring solution). Fresh turkeys are your best bet but frozen will work just as well. Be sure to confirm no salt was added.
- Thaw frozen turkeys before proceeding.
- Clean your turkey thoroughly before brining. Remove all innards, holsters, and/or pop-up timers.
- Truss the legs together to keep the turkey more compact.
- Use a large stock pot with a lid or a Ziploc XL bag for brine time. Using a food grade container is key.
- Adjust water levels as needed, adding more water to make sure turkey is submerged.
- Keep an eye on the temperature if the container isn’t being stored in the fridge (cooler, garage, etc). Make sure it remains at 40° F or below.
- If you are oven roasting the turkey and plan to make gravy from the drippings, use ingredients with no salt added.
Pair with:
Simple Turkey Brine
Bring effortless flavor to your table by following this simple turkey brine recipe with ingredients that are probably already in your pantry.
Ingredients
- 12-16 lb turkey thawed
- 1 cup kosher salt
- 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
- 1/4 cup black peppercorns
- 2 tbsp granulated garlic
- 1 tbsp molasses
- 4 bay leaves
- 2 sprigs of rosemary
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 gallon water
- Ice
Instructions
- Combine water, kosher salt, brown sugar, peppercorns, garlic, molasses, bay leaves, rosemary, and cinnamon stick in a large pot. Bring to a boil and stir until salt and sugar are dissolved.
- Remove brine from heat and allow to cool.
- Place clean uncooked turkey into food grade container. Pour cooled brine and ice over the turkey. Seal the container and allow to rest for 16-24 hours at 40°F (or below).
- Discard brine solution and rinse turkey with water. Pat dry and allow to air dry before cooking.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!