Who wouldn’t want to eat a tender, moist, and flavorful turkey for their Thanksgiving feast? Brining is a salt marinade which causes the meat tissues to absorb water and flavorings by breaking down the proteins. This is why brining is a popular method of preparing a Thanksgiving turkey because any moisture loss while roasting still produces a juicy and flavorful turkey.
It’s important to note that you do not want to brine a kosher or self-basting bird. Otherwise the turkey will be too salty.
Most brining recipes call for a gallon of water or stock and a cup of salt and sugar each. From there, people often add apple juice, vinegar, whiskey, and other aromatics. I like to keep things simple by using ingredients I have in the pantry.
A few weeks ago I brined a turkey for two days for my father’s birthday. Everyone commented on how juicy and tender the turkey was. Dad was happy, I was happy, and I decided brining is the only way I’ll ever prepare turkey again.
I thought I would share with you how I brined the turkey.
Using a thawed turkey, I removed the giblets and neck from the inside. Next, I rinsed the outside and inside of the bird thoroughly. Then, I set the turkey in a rimmed roasting pan and pat it dry with paper towels.
I placed an oven roasting bag in a large soup pot with the opening of the bag over lapping the rim of the pot, carefully placing the turkey in the bag.
***Many people will tell you to brine your turkey in heavy duty garbage bags, Home Depot style pails, and XXL size ziplock bags. I’ve read that garbage bags shouldn’t be used because they are not made from food-grade plastic. Unless you have a second refrigerator, I don’t see how a large pail can fit in a family refrigerator. I also had a hard time finding the XXL ziplock bags. So what I decided the most practical thing to to do was buy poultry oven roasting bags I knew would fit my turkey. I also emptied out, washed, and sanitized the bottom meat drawer of the refrigerator. I found this was a good way to brine my turkey with the least amount of hassle, taking up the least amount of space, and kept the turkey nice and cold.
I slowly poured the brine into the bag and tied a loose knot.
I carefully transferred the turkey to the (cleaned and sanitized) meat drawer from the refrigerator with the knot facing upwards. I marinated the turkey for 1 day before turning the turkey over so the top side was bottom, and the bottom was top. This way both halves of the turkey had ample time to marinate. I basted the upper side of the turkey once during the process.
When it was time to roast the bird, I rinsed the turkey again, including the inner cavity. I patted the turkey dry before lathering with seasoned butter before cooking. This is how I brined the bird and highly recommend you do the same for moist, flavorful turkey!
*Notes:
-Someone suggested in the comments that you should brine your bird for 1 hour for every pound. I think this is a good rule of thumb but I have brined for longer with good results too.
-I’m getting asked a lot if a person can brine a pre-seasoned turkey. Technically speaking, experts say not to. However, I have and I cut the brine time down in half with no problems of excess salt. I am not recommending you do this but just sharing my own experience. Your mileage may vary (YMMV).
-The “things” floating in the picture are not anchovies or sardines as people have mistaken them for in the comments. They’re ice cubes. 🙂
Here’s my guide on how to roast a turkey.
- 12 cups water, divided
- 1 cup kosher salt
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons sage
- 2 tablespoons thyme
- 2 tablespoons rosemary
- 1 tablespoon pepper
- 4 cups ice
- Bring 4 cups of water to a simmering boil. Add salt and sugar. Stir until the sugar has completely dissolved. Turn off the heat. Stir in 8 cups cold water, apple cider vinegar, sage, thyme, rosemary, pepper, and ice. The brine is ready to be used.
- Remove giblets and neck from the cavity. Rinse the outside and inside of a thawed turkey. Using paper towels, pat the turkey dry. Complete submerge the turkey in a large soup pot bigger than the bird and cover with a lid. Allow the turkey to marinate for 12 hours for a small turkey (8-10 lbs) and up to a full day for a bigger bird. (Update: 11/27/13 - You may need to flip your bird half way through the brine process) Rinse turkey and pat dry before adding additional seasoning, butter, or oil in preparation for roasting.
Here’s my guide on How to Roast a Turkey. Click here for the recipe.
Alice Currah says
Hi Dianna,
People have stated that you shouldn’t brine a self basted turkey, but I have the last couple times I’ve roasted them and have never had an issue. The brine doesn’t make the turkey salty, per se, more than it enhances the turkey flavor. I’m brining a self-basted turkey today and have no problems with it.
Alice Currah says
Hi Linda,
I recommend brining all turkeys. Happy Thanksgiving!
Linda says
Do you recommend brining fresh turkeys that have not been frozen?
Dianna says
Sorry, I just noticed you included self-basting turkeys in your do not brine list. I guess that means there is no way seasoning the bird other than a rub on and under the skin or an injector (don’t have)?
Dianna says
I have a Jennie O self basting turkey…does that mean it is already a brined bird?
Amy says
Did the turkey marinate in the oven roasting bag or in the refridgerato drawer?
Toni says
Best idea by far! I’d never even heard of brining a turkey until a friend suggested it. I actually had bought a turkey after Thanksgiving last year and decided to experiment…..well I must say that the directions were clear and easy to follow and the turkey turned out fabulous! I had everyone that I invited over telling me how moist and tender the bird was therefore, I’m completely satisfied with the idea of brining <3 Thank you so much for your easy step recipe Alice!
Ashley says
Can I also use the garlic butter injectable with the brine?
Alice Currah says
Welcome back Brenda!
Brenda says
I’m so glad I was able to find this particular recipe again. I used this brine recipe in 2012, and it was the best turkey I’d ever tasted. Unfortunately, I lost the recipe and couldn’t remember the appropriate proportions of the ingredients, so I tried an already prepared brine mixtures. None of them compared favorably to Alice’s recipe.
Now, I have bookmarked this recipe so not to lose it again.
lisa lornie says
I have been brining my turkey for years now. I use salt, sugar ,rosemary and liquid smoke. The turkey turns out so juicy and sweet with a hint of the smoke. I also brine my turkey for 6 -7 days.
Alice Currah says
Hi, Yes you can brine a turkey breast. Only 8 hours.
Thanks,
Alice
Mike says
Hi,
I am researching in brining a turkey and was wondering if the same thing can be done with a turkey breast? If it can does brining also help when you want to smoke the turkey instead of cooking it?
Preston W. says
Will try this brining method on a 15 lb turkey which we plan to smoke ( mesquite wood) for the upcoming Super Bowl eats. Will start thawing the turkey in the refrigerator on Tuesday Jan. 28 and will brine the turkey for 2 days on Jan. 30 and Jan 31. Will smoke the brined turkey on Feb 1 for about 4-5 hours at 295 F and will then finish in the oven at 190 F until internal temp of breast meat is at 165 F. Will cover tips of legs with foil to prevent excessive dryness. Will report back on this.
george says
Thanks for the recipes for brining without the requirement to download the site. hackers do all kinds of crazy stuff. I plan on using the cajun injection liquid creole butter and rub and deep fry the turkey. has anybody done this yet. hope its not too salty. thanks again, G.
bubba says
I found a 32 qt Rubbermaid container with the lid at walmart….it’s 10 1/2″ tall 19″ long and 13″ wide turkey will fit right in and it fits great in the bottom of the fridge…I am guess I should still use the bag for the turkey not sure with all the vinegar and such
stella zankova says
What is the cooking time please?
Alice says
Hi John,
Glad to hear it! How long did you end up brining for?
John Shanagher says
Turkey was delicious, thanks for the help!
Paul says
My turkey bag also broke while turning the turkey in the frig to make sure all sides were properly marinated. I then doubled the brine recipe to make enough liquid and submerged it in a clambake style pot. Hope it works! I’ll let you know tomorrow.
Chris says
I did… Hope it works out! I also subbed oregano and bay leaves for the sage
Chris says
I had to add a lot of water for the bird to be submerged… Did I miss a step or do something wrong???
Teresa says
I have no Koshered salt…can I use regular salt?
Alice Currah says
Hi Chris,
I use dry herbs for the brine and fresh herbs when roasting. There is a link above in the post on how to roast a turkey and I use fresh herbs inside the cavity of the turkey when roasting as well as for garnishing.
Chris tine says
The herbs that are called for, do you use fresh or dry??