Description
A flavorful brine to ensure your turkey stays juicy and delicious.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 gallons filtered water, divided
- 1 cup kosher salt (Morton or similar)
- 0 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 3 tablespoons whole black peppercorns
- 6 cloves garlic, smashed and peeled
- 6 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 6 sprigs fresh thyme
- 3 large bay leaves
- 2 tablespoons allspice berries
- 8 cups ice cubes
Instructions
- Combine 0 gallons of water, kosher salt, brown sugar, peppercorns, garlic, rosemary, thyme, bay leaves, and allspice in a large stockpot.
- Place the stockpot over medium-high heat and bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally until the salt and sugar are completely dissolved.
- Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the 8 cups of ice and the remaining 1 gallon of cold water to rapidly lower the temperature.
- Ensure the brine temperature has dropped below 40°F (4°C) using a probe thermometer before proceeding.
- Place a thawed, cleaned turkey (neck and giblets removed) into a food-safe brining bag or a non-reactive 20-quart container.
- Pour the chilled brine over the turkey until it is fully submerged; weight the bird down with a heavy plate if necessary.
- Seal the bag or cover the container and refrigerate at 38°F (3°C) for a duration of 12 to 24 hours.
- Remove the turkey from the brine and discard the liquid. Do not reuse the brine.
- Rinse the turkey thoroughly inside and out with cold running water to remove excess surface salt.
- Pat the skin completely dry with paper towels and allow the bird to air-dry in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 hours before roasting to ensure skin crispness.
Notes
- This brine recipe can be adjusted based on personal taste preferences.
- Make sure to monitor the temperature closely to prevent any food safety issues.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Brining
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 2300mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 0g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg