Best 3 Brined Whole Turkey Recipes

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Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends, and food. And what's a Thanksgiving dinner without a perfectly roasted turkey? If you're looking for a delicious and juicy turkey, brining is the way to go.

Brining is a process of soaking the turkey in a saltwater solution for several hours or overnight. This helps to keep the turkey moist and flavorful during roasting. There are many different brining recipes out there, so you can find one that suits your taste.

Some popular brining recipes include:

* **Classic Brine:** This simple brine is made with water, salt, sugar, and spices.
* **Herb Brine:** This brine is made with water, salt, sugar, herbs, and citrus.
* **Sweet Brine:** This brine is made with water, salt, sugar, maple syrup, and spices.
* **Buttermilk Brine:** This brine is made with buttermilk, salt, sugar, and spices.

Once you've chosen a brining recipe, simply follow the instructions. Be sure to brine the turkey for the recommended amount of time, and then roast it according to your recipe. You'll end up with a delicious and juicy turkey that everyone will love.

Here are our top 3 tried and tested recipes!

BRINED AND ROASTED WHOLE TURKEY



Brined and Roasted Whole Turkey image

No dish has more riding on its success than the holiday turkey. Brining locks in a turkey's natural juices, so it won't dry out during the roasting process, ensuring the perfect centerpiece for a flavorful feast.

Provided by Morton

Categories     Trusted Brands: Recipes and Tips

Time 13h20m

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 cup Morton® Coarse Kosher Salt
1 cup sugar
2 gallons cool water
1 (12 pound) fresh, whole, bone-in skin-on turkey, rinsed and patted dry
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 cup white wine, chicken broth or water

Steps:

  • Overnight Brine: Combine Morton®Kosher Salt and sugar in cool water in a large, clean stockpot until completely dissolved. Place the whole turkey in the brine until completely submerged. Cover and refrigerate overnight, up to 14 hours. Remove the turkey from the brine, rinse inside and out under cool running water for several minutes to remove all traces of salt; pat dry with paper towel.
  • 4-5 hour Brine: To brine your turkey in less time (4-5 hours), use 2 cups of Morton®Coarse Kosher Salt and two cups of sugar. Cover and refrigerate for 4 to 5 hours.
  • To Roast: Mix the softened butter with the pepper. Place turkey on rack in roasting pan. Rub the seasoned butter under the skin. Brush the skin with the melted butter. Pour the 1 cup liquid (wine, broth or water) over the pan bottom to prevent drippings from burning. Roast turkey at 450 degrees F for 25 minutes, baste and then rotate the roasting pan. Continue roasting until the skin turns golden brown, an additional 25 minutes; baste again. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees F; continue to roast, basting and rotating the pan once about halfway through cooking, until the minimum internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. Remove the turkey from the oven. Let stand 20 minutes before carving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 984.6 calories, Carbohydrate 20.7 g, Cholesterol 341.8 mg, Fat 46.9 g, Protein 108.9 g, SaturatedFat 16.8 g, Sodium 9504.4 mg, Sugar 20.2 g

BRINED AND ROASTED WHOLE TURKEY



Brined and Roasted Whole Turkey image

Make and share this Brined and Roasted Whole Turkey recipe from Food.com.

Provided by Joanie Grow

Categories     Whole Turkey

Time 9h

Yield 12-15 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 7

2 cups kosher salt
2 cups sugar
2 -3 gallons of cool water
12 -15 lbs fresh whole bone-in skin-on turkey, rinsed and patted dry
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided (5 TB softened; 3 TB melted)
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 cup chicken broth or 1 cup water

Steps:

  • To Brine: Combine Kosher Salt and sugar in cool water in a large, clean stockpot until completely dissolved.
  • Place the whole turkey in the brine until completely submerged.
  • Cover and refrigerate for 4 to 5 hours.
  • Remove the turkey from the brine, rinse inside and out under cool running water for several minutes to remove all traces of salt; pat dry with paper towel.
  • To Roast: Mix the softened butter with the pepper.
  • Place turkey on rack in roasting pan.
  • Rub the seasoned butter under the skin.
  • Brush the skin with the melted butter.
  • Pour the 1 cup liquid (wine, broth or water) over the pan bottom to prevent drippings from burning.
  • Roast turkey at 450° F.
  • ,for 25 minutes, baste and then rotate the roasting pan.
  • Continue roasting until the skin turns golden brown, an additional 25 minutes; baste again.
  • Reduce oven temperature to 325° F; continue to roast, basting and rotating the pan once about halfway through cooking, until the*internal temperature reaches 170° F.
  • ,for turkey breast meat and 180° F.
  • ,for turkey thigh meat.
  • Remove the turkey from the oven.
  • Let stand 20 minutes before carving.
  • Tips:*Internal temperature guidelines courtesy of USDA Food Safety Facts.
  • Do NOT brine turkey if it includes?
  • basting?
  • liquids that contain salt.
  • If pressed for time, use twice as much salt and sugar in the brine and cut soaking time to just 2 hours.
  • If you purchase a turkey with a pop-up timer, leave it in place and ignore it.
  • If removed, the timer will leave a gaping hole for juices to escape.
  • Serves: 10 to 12.
  • Preparation Time: 5 hours.
  • Recipe by Morton Salt.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 939.8, Fat 44.1, SaturatedFat 15.1, Cholesterol 329.1, Sodium 19171.8, Carbohydrate 33.9, Sugar 33.5, Protein 92.8

BRINED WHOLE TURKEY



Brined Whole Turkey image

When was the last time you truly enjoyed your holiday turkey? If it's been a while, we suggest you give your regular recipe a rest and try out this whole turkey instead. As you might have noticed (from its 100-plus, five-star ratings), it's been helping home cooks master succulent and tender-to-the-bone turkeys for decades now. And its success is nearly guaranteed-a bold promise, yes, but we'll stand behind it. The reason this recipe turns out time after time is because it uses the brining technique. Brining, in this case, wet brining, involves soaking the bird in a simple solution of salt and water for an extended period of time (8 to 12 hours) prior to roasting. The soak breaks down tough muscle tissue and infuses the meat with flavor. So when we say you don't have to suffer lackluster turkey again, it's not a false promise, all you have to do is make this fan-favorite recipe. Our guess is that you'll never go back to your old standard.

Provided by Betty Crocker Kitchens

Categories     Entree

Time 12h30m

Yield 14

Number Of Ingredients 8

2 gallons cold water
2 cups kosher salt or 1 cup table salt
1 whole turkey, not prebasted (12 to 14 pounds), thawed if frozen
1 medium onion, cut into fourths
1 medium carrot, coarsely chopped
1 medium celery stalk, coarsely chopped
1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Steps:

  • Mix cold water and salt in a large clean bucket or stockpot (noncorrosive); stir until salt is dissolved. Add turkey. Cover and refrigerate 8 to 12 hours.
  • Heat oven to 325°F. Remove turkey from brine; discard brine. Thoroughly rinse turkey under cool running water, gently rubbing outside and inside of turkey to release salt. Pat skin and both interior cavities dry with paper towels.
  • Fasten neck skin to back of turkey with skewer. Fold wings across back of turkey so tips are touching. Toss onion, carrot, celery and thyme with 1 tablespoon of the melted butter; place in turkey cavity.
  • Place turkey, breast side down, on rack in large shallow roasting pan. Brush entire back side of turkey with 1 tablespoon melted butter. Turn turkey over. Brush entire breast side of turkey with remaining 1 tablespoon melted butter. Insert ovenproof meat thermometer so tip is in thickest part of inside thigh and does not touch bone. (Do not add water or cover turkey.)
  • Roast uncovered 3 hours 30 minutes to 4 hours, brushing twice with pan drippings during last 30 minutes of roasting.
  • Turkey is done when thermometer reads 165°F and drumsticks move easily when lifted or twisted. If a meat thermometer is not used, begin testing for doneness after about 3 hours. When turkey is done, place on warm platter and cover with aluminum foil to keep warm. Let stand about 15 minutes for easiest carving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 325, Carbohydrate 0 g, Cholesterol 145 mg, Fiber 0 g, Protein 47 g, SaturatedFat 5 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 620 mg

Tips:

  • Brining the turkey is key: Soaking the turkey in a brine solution helps to keep it moist and flavorful throughout the cooking process. Make sure the brine is cool before adding the turkey, and brine for at least 12 hours, or up to 24 hours for a larger turkey.
  • Use a large roasting pan: You'll need a roasting pan that is large enough to hold the turkey comfortably, with some space around it for the juices to circulate. A roasting pan with a lid is ideal, as it will help to keep the turkey moist.
  • Roast the turkey at a high temperature initially: This will help to brown the skin and seal in the juices. Then, reduce the temperature to finish cooking the turkey through.
  • Baste the turkey regularly: This will help to keep the skin moist and prevent it from drying out. Use the juices from the roasting pan to baste the turkey, or make a basting liquid with melted butter, olive oil, and herbs.
  • Let the turkey rest before carving: Once the turkey is cooked through, let it rest for at least 15 minutes before carving. This will help the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, making it more tender and flavorful.

Conclusion:

Brined whole turkey is a classic Thanksgiving dish that is sure to impress your family and friends. By following these tips, you can ensure that your turkey is cooked to perfection and is moist, flavorful, and delicious. So, gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and get ready to enjoy a delicious and memorable Thanksgiving meal.

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