Sharing is caring!

If you’ve ever wondered How to Brine a Turkey, look no further.  A brined turkey adds flavor and will stay juicy during the entire cooking process!  No more dried out tough turkey!  Plus a brined turkey cooks faster for a quick and delicious Holiday meal!

 

 

Roasted turkey is not only a delicious Thanksgiving tradition, but also makes for a delightful Sunday dinner or a crowd-pleasing crowd-feeder. Nothing says “togetherness” quite like a sumptuous turkey dinner.

However, if you’re like me, you might be a bit picky about your turkey’s tenderness and — let’s face it — dryness. Enter the brine! 

Brining your turkey will help it retain moisture while cooking. It also breaks down some of those tough muscle proteins and infuses extra flavor — much like a marinade, but on a whole-bird scale. The result is the tender, moist turkey of your Thanksgiving dreams! 

If you’re interested in how to brine a turkey, read on for step-by-step instructions, tips, and answers to many of your frequently asked questions below! Happy brining! 

 

 

What does “brine a turkey” mean?

A brine is basically a salt water bath for your turkey. This serve three main purposes:

1. A brine tenderizes the meat by unraveling and breaking down some protein chains
2. The brine moisturizes the turkey because the water used in the brine fills in the spaces between the salt-elongated protein chains
3. Brining enhances the flavor of the turkey due to the herbs and other seasonings typically included in a brine. Most brines require a 12 – 24 hours.

What you will need to brine a turkey:

• Water – you’ll want at least a gallon. If this is not enough to cover your turkey, you’ll add more, 4 tablespoons of salt per additional quart (4 cups). 
• Salt – and lots of it. Salt is the backbone of your brine!
• Brown sugar – most brines include sugar. Though it doesn’t affect the tenderness of the meat, it does add flavor and helps the skin of the turkey brown. 
• Bay leaves – these flavorful leaves are a great seasoning for turkey and other poultries.
• Black peppercorns – whole peppercorns have a great, spicy aroma and add a lot of flavor to your brine. 
• Rosemary, Thyme, & Oregano – this trio of herbs go great with all poultry seasonings, and especially with turkey. 
• Garlic – pungent and spicy, garlic adds loads of flavor 
• A large pot, 5 gallon bucket, sanitized cooler, or a brining bag or large zipper bag for brining the turkey in. 

 

 

How do you brine a turkey?

If you’re wondering how to brine a turkey, or where to brine a turkey, or how and where to fit a brining turkey, read on! There are 4 different methods you can use for brining a turkey: large pot method, cooler method, 5 gallon bucket method, and the bag method. 

1. How to brine a turkey in a large pot:  Cook brine mixture in an extra large pot and then soak the turkey in the pot used to cook the brine (once the brine is chilled). 
2. How to brine a turkey in a 5 gallon bucket: Depending on the size of your turkey, this might be a great option. Just make sure you have enough room in your fridge to fit the bucket. I’ve also used a 5 gallon storage tub. 
3. How to brine a turkey in a cooler: yep, a cooler that holds drinks is insulated and will also work great for brining a turkey. Simply make sure it’s disinfected and cleaned well. Then place the turkey breast side down and add an extra half cup of salt to your brine for this method. Add enough ice to cover the turkey — about 5 – 10 pounds depending on the size of your cooler — and place the cooler in the coolest place in the house. Before you go to bed, make sure it still has plenty of ice to keep it chilled. Once you’re done brining your turkey, make sure to REALLY clean that cooler!
4. How to brine a turkey in a bag (the brining bag or extra large zipper bag method): If you’re wondering how to brine a turkey in a bag, you’ll just need a bag suitable to the task! You can purchase brining bags or you can use an extra large zipper bag. Brining bags are great for squeezing your turkey into a smaller spot, so if you don’t have a ton a room in your refrigerator for a giant pot or tub, a turkey bag or extra large zipper bag might be the option for you! Just make sure the bag is sealed tight and ensure brine covers the entire turkey.
5. If you’re wanting to brine a chicken, try this Chicken Brine Recipe.

How long to brine a turkey: 

How long should you brine a turkey? With this recipe, we recommend 12-24 hours. You want to give the brine enough time to unravel all those protein chains and really tenderize and moisturize your turkey. 

 

 

When to brine a turkey?

Because your turkey will need to soak in the brine for 12-24 hours, the best time is the day before you plan to roast it. This means you need to thaw your frozen turkey about 4 days ahead of time you wish to cook it.

Can you brine a frozen turkey?

You CAN brine a frozen turkey! But it’s still going to need to defrost before you roast it. It’s also a bit more difficult to prepare, as the gizzards and neck are hard to remove from a frozen bird. If you need to brine your bird from frozen, plan on at least two days in the fridge to allow it to thaw properly. 

Does a brined turkey cook faster?

A brined turkey will cook slightly faster than an unbrined turkey. As always, be sure to check the internal temperature periodically while cooking. I’ve had great experiences with an in-oven cooking thermometer when I have roasted turkeys.

In my experience, cooking times fluctuate greatly between ovens and turkeys, and monitoring the internal temperature of the bird is the best way to ensure you don’t overcook and dry out your turkey. 

Generally speaking, you should expect your turkey to cook 30 minutes to 1 hour faster than a traditional thawed, unbrined turkey.

 

 

Can you over brine a turkey?

Yes, you can over brine a turkey! If you leave the turkey in the salt bath beyond the recommended time, your bird may end up too salty and the texture may be adversely affected. 

Do you have to brine a turkey?

Brining is NOT a requirement for cooking a turkey. While it does enhance flavor, texture, and moistness, some people don’t notice the difference enough for it to be worth their effort. For this series of recipes, we suggest you begin by brining your turkey. 

Can you stuff a brined turkey?

It’s not recommended that you stuff your brined turkey. The drippings from the brined turkey can cause the stuffing to be too salty, not to mention a stuffed turkey takes longer to cook.

In this case, we recommend you prepare your stuffing separately. Check out this Sausage Apple Cranberry Stuffing for one of our favorite recipes!

 

 

Roasting a brined turkey:

Once your turkey has finished soaking in the brine, rinse and prepare for roasting as usual. Stuff the turkey with your favorite aromatics and season as desired. Cooking a brined turkey is no different than cooking an unbrined turkey, though a brined turkey SHOULD cook slightly faster.

Be sure to check the internal temperature of the turkey periodically! And make sure you thoroughly rinse the bird before roasting so that your pan drippings are not overwhelmingly salty.

Delicious ways to cook a Brined Turkey:

• How to Smoke a Turkey
• Honey Brined Turkey

Our Favorite Side Dishes for Thanksgiving:

• Cranberry Jello Salad
• Creamed Corn Casserole
• Mac and Cheese with Ritz Crackers
• Broccoli Casserole
• Crockpot Mashed Potatoes
• Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows
• Green Bean Casserole with Bacon
• Pistachio Fruit Salad
• Brown Sugar Green Beans
• Candied Carrots
• Cranberry Fluff

Brining your turkey is the first step to a delicious, moist, flavorful, and tender Thanksgiving feast. Did I mention enough mouthwatering adjectives there? Seriously though, give brining your turkey a try!

I, personally, have never had a more tasty roasted turkey than when I’ve put in the extra (totally worth it) effort to brine the bird first. If you’ve ever wondered How to Brine a Turkey, we’ve got the recipe for you!

 

Sharing is caring!