How to Brine a Turkey - Turkey Brine Recipe

Name: How to Brine a Turkey - Turkey Brine Recipe
Prep time: 12 min
Cook time: 3 min
Total time: 1 d 15 min
Yield: 28 serving
Ingredients: 2 cups apple cider; 2 gallons cold water; 1 1/2 cups kosher salt; 1 cup light brown sugar; 8 cloves garlic; 2 tablespoons peppercorns; 2 oranges; 5 rosemary sprigs; 3 bay leaves; 4 sage sprigs

User Reviews

5.0

39 reviews

Excellent

Prep Time
12 mins
Cook Time
12 mins
Additional Time
1 d
Total Time
1 d 15 mins
Servings
28
Calories
43 kcal
Course
Main Course
Cuisine
American

How to Brine a Turkey - Turkey Brine Recipe

Benson Pickett

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This is a complete guide on how to brine a turkey to get the most tender and flavorful bird each and every time. No holiday is complete without a turkey, and brining is the best method to ensure rave reviews!

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Ingredients

Servings

2 cups apple cider the juice, not apple cider vinegar
2 gallons cold water
1 1/2 cups kosher salt
1 cup light brown sugar
8 cloves garlic smashed
2 tablespoons peppercorns
2 oranges thinly sliced
5 rosemary sprigs
3 bay leaves
4 sage sprigs

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Instructions

Place all the ingredients in a large pot over medium heat, then bring to a simmer.
Cook for 2-3 minutes or until salt and sugar have dissolved, stirring occasionally.
Turn off the heat. Let the brine mixture cool completely.
Pour the brine into a large container or a brining bag.
Place a whole turkey in the brine solution to fully submerge it, then refrigerate for 18-24 hours.
When you're ready to cook your turkey, remove it from the brine and rinse with cool water, then pat dry with paper towels.
Proceed with your normal turkey roasting method.

Notes

It’s crucial that you let the liquid cool before you add the turkey so that your raw turkey does not come to an unsafe temperature sitting in warm brine. Sometimes when I need to speed up the process, I add a handful of ice cubes to the brine to cool it off quickly.
I find that it can be difficult to find a container large enough to hold a turkey for brining. The easiest way to contain a turkey and brine is to buy brining bags. You can find these bags online or in kitchen stores. The bags seal shut and there is minimal cleanup because they are disposable.

Nutrition Information

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Calories 43kcal (2%) Carbohydrates 11g (4%) Sodium 461mg (19%) Potassium 62mg (2%) Sugar 10g (20%) Vitamin A 25IU (1%) Vitamin C 8.7mg (10%) Calcium 20mg (2%) Iron 0.3mg (2%)