Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends, and delicious food. And what's more delicious than a perfectly cooked turkey? Brining a turkey is a great way to ensure that your bird is moist, flavorful, and juicy. In this article, you'll find three different brining recipes that will help you create the perfect Thanksgiving turkey.
The first recipe is for a simple brine made with salt, sugar, and water. This is a great option if you're short on time or if you don't want to use any special ingredients. The second recipe is for a more flavorful brine that includes herbs, spices, and citrus fruits. This brine will give your turkey a delicious, savory flavor. The third recipe is for a buttermilk brine. Buttermilk is a natural tenderizer, so this brine will help to make your turkey extra moist and tender.
No matter which brine recipe you choose, you're sure to end up with a delicious Thanksgiving turkey. So gather your ingredients and get started!
ULTIMATE TURKEY BRINE
Simple overnight brine that will make any turkey moist and tasty. You can use this recipe for turkeys in the 15 to 20-pound range. Brining works best for fresh turkeys; you should definitely not brine any turkey that is already injected with a 'solution.'
Provided by Eric
Categories Side Dish Sauces and Condiments Recipes
Time 2h25m
Yield 30
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Bring water to a boil in a large stockpot. Stir salt and sugar into the water until dissolved; bring water again to a boil. Add cloves, bay leaves, peppercorns, rosemary, and thyme to the water, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook mixture at a simmer for about 20 minutes.
- Refrigerate brine until completely cooled.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 44.1 calories, Carbohydrate 11.3 g, Fat 0.1 g, Fiber 0.3 g, Protein 0.1 g, Sodium 6080.8 mg, Sugar 10.7 g
BEST BRINED TURKEY BREAST
Interested in trying something different for your Thanksgiving turkey? We'll talk you through how to brine a turkey breast so you can set a flavorful, moist and delicious centerpiece on the table! Brined turkey breast needs some extra prep time, but it's so worth it for the juicy results.
Provided by By Betty Crocker Kitchens
Categories Entree
Time 14h40m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- In 6-quart container or stockpot, mix water, salt and sugar; stir until sugar and salt are dissolved. Add turkey. Cover; refrigerate at least 12 hours but no longer than 24 hours.
- Heat oven to 325°F. Remove turkey from brine, rinse thoroughly under cool running water and pat dry.
- Place onion on center of rack in large shallow roasting pan; top with rosemary, thyme and bay leaves. Place turkey, skin side up, over onion and herbs.
- In small bowl, mix butter and wine. Soak 16-inch square of cheesecloth in butter mixture until completely saturated; cover turkey completely with cheesecloth. Roast 1 hour 30 minutes.
- Remove cheesecloth. Place onion and herbs in pan with drippings if using drippings to make gravy (or discard). Insert ovenproof meat thermometer so tip is in thickest part of turkey and does not touch bone. Turn turkey skin side down. Roast 30 to 60 minutes longer or until thermometer reads 165°F.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 360, Carbohydrate 1 g, Cholesterol 140 mg, Fat 1, Fiber 0 g, Protein 43 g, SaturatedFat 9 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 600 mg
TURKEY BRINE
This is a tasty brine for any poultry. It will make your bird very juicy, and gravy to die for!! This is enough brine for a 10 to 18 pound turkey.
Provided by SHERI GAILEY
Categories Side Dish Sauces and Condiments Recipes
Time 8h20m
Yield 15
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- In a large stock pot, combine the vegetable broth, sea salt, rosemary, sage, thyme, and savory. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently to be sure salt is dissolved. Remove from heat, and let cool to room temperature.
- When the broth mixture is cool, pour it into a clean 5 gallon bucket. Stir in the ice water.
- Wash and dry your turkey. Make sure you have removed the innards. Place the turkey, breast down, into the brine. Make sure that the cavity gets filled. Place the bucket in the refrigerator overnight.
- Remove the turkey carefully draining off the excess brine and pat dry. Discard excess brine.
- Cook the turkey as desired reserving the drippings for gravy. Keep in mind that brined turkeys cook 20 to 30 minutes faster so watch the temperature gauge.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 2.8 calories, Carbohydrate 0.6 g, Cholesterol 0 mg, Fat 0.1 g, Fiber 0.4 g, Protein 0.1 g, SaturatedFat 0 g, Sodium 5640.3 mg, Sugar 0 g
Tips:
- Use a large container: Make sure you have a container large enough to hold the turkey and the brine. A plastic bucket or a large stockpot works well.
- Dissolve the salt completely: Bring the water to a boil and then remove it from the heat. Stir in the salt until it is completely dissolved. This will help to ensure that the turkey is evenly seasoned.
- Use a variety of seasonings: In addition to salt, you can add other seasonings to the brine, such as garlic, peppercorns, bay leaves, and thyme. This will help to give the turkey a more flavorful taste.
- Brine the turkey for at least 12 hours: The longer you brine the turkey, the more flavorful it will be. However, you can brine the turkey for up to 24 hours if you want a really intense flavor.
- Rinse the turkey thoroughly before cooking: After you have brined the turkey, rinse it thoroughly with cold water. This will help to remove any excess salt. You need to rinse the turkey inside and outside.
Conclusion:
Brining a turkey is a great way to ensure that it is moist and flavorful. By following the tips above, you can brine a turkey that will be the star of your Thanksgiving dinner. Brining a turkey can seem like a daunting task, but it is actually quite simple. Just follow the steps in this article and you will be rewarded with a delicious turkey that your family and friends will love. So, what are you waiting for? Get started brining your turkey today!
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