22 Nov Should You Brine Your Turkey…and Turkey T-Shirts

Thanksgiving is coming. Here’s how to brine that bird instead of baking it dry! And, wear a turkey tee while you work.

For years I would just throw the turkey in the oven every Thanksgiving…I mean really I got enough to do without making a big thing out of it. But, one year I got some great advice from a turkey connoisseur about how to brine a bird before cooking it. So I gave it a try and was sold from the first try. The turkey turned out so tender and juicy I don’t cook a turkey without it.

Helps ensure moist and flavorful meat: 

• Retains moisture: Brining helps the turkey retain moisture
• Seasons: Brining seasons the turkey more deeply before cooking 
• Helps avoid overcooking: Brining can help you avoid overcooking the turkey, especially when smoking

What is brining?

Brining involves soaking a turkey in salty water for a certain length of time, long enough for the salt to be drawn into the turkey and actually alter the molecular structure of the meat. There is no dramatic effect really. It just results in a juicy, fantastic turkey. If you’ve never brined a turkey, you’ll just have to trust me on this. It really makes all the difference in the world and adds so much wonderful flavor.

You can buy ready-made brining solutions. You can also buy a turkey that is in a brine solution. But it’s so easy why bother. You basically need salt, apple cider, orange peel, and a mix of other seasoning ingredients. You just need to start the brine in advance (up to 2 days) and not try to throw it together last minute. The turkey generally needs 8+ hours to soak in the brine before baking. The turkey also needs time to thaw if frozen.

Is brining a turkey worth it?

Yes! Brined turkeys are so much more flavorful and juicy than non-brined birds. Brining a turkey isn’t difficult, but it does take a little time, so plan ahead and you’ll be set. Once you brine a bird, you’ll never go back. Just keep the following points in mind:

Can I brine a frozen bird?

You can brine a frozen, thawed bird, but it’s best to brine fresh turkeys. Brining a frozen turkey isn’t always necessary, because frozen turkeys are typically already injected with a sodium solution. Also, once you’ve finished brining your bird be sure to wash it thoroughly to remove the salt on the skin. If you plan on making gravy from the turkey drippings it will be too salty if not washed thoroughly afterward.

What’s the best way to cook a brined turkey?

You can cook a brined turkey any way you want. The only exception is if you’re cooking it in a deep fryer. In that case take the bird out of the brine several hours before putting in the fryer so it will have time to dry. Too much water in and on the bird will cause the oil to splatter. Also, if you’re planning to spatchcock – brine, then spatchcock. Doing the spatchcock prior to brining may make it too salty.

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Can you stuff a brined turkey?

This is a point of controversy. If you brine then stuff, be sure to actually soak the bird in the sink with fresh water. You’ll want to make sure to get all the salt out of the inside to avoid salty stuffing. But, some feel it’s a futile effort and that brining will always make the stuffing salty. Still others feel it’s best practice to cook the stuffing outside the bird regardless of how you cook it. That’s because it’s more difficult to cook a stuffed turkey and the stuffing doesn’t get a chance to have a crunchy toping. Myself I like the texture when the stuffing is actually stuffed. And, it tastes better because it absorbs flavor from the bird. It’s called “stuffing” for a reason!

Does a turkey have to be fully submerged – what should I put it in?

Yes—you want every inch of that bird in brine so that it absorbs as much flavor as possible.

To brine a smaller bird I have a 5 gallon, food-grade, bucket – not the type from Home Depot. And, for larger birds I use a typical cooler you’d use for camping. Some folks use a brining bag, which is very convenient. But, I would also put the bag inside the cooler to keep the bird cold. The turkey needs to stay cool so adding ice is essential.

How long should you brine a turkey?

I put mine in the brine for about 12 hours. Some folks go for a full day, but I would caution about any longer. If 12 hours is good that doesn’t mean 3 days is better. Leaving it in the brine too long will make it salty.

Do you rinse a turkey after brining?

Yes, you’ll need to carefully rinse the turkey (inside and out!) to remove some of the saltiness from the brine. I actually like to soak mine in cold water for about 15 minutes. This is the only time you should ever soak a turkey like that. If you don’t brine your turkey, you don’t need to rinse it.

Ingredients:

• 3 c. apple juice or apple cider
• 2 gallons cold water
• 4 Tbsp. fresh rosemary leaves
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 1/2 c. kosher salt
• 1 c. brown sugar
• 3 Tbsp. peppercorns
• 5 whole bay leaves
• 3 large oranges

Directions