Best 7 The Best Turkey Brine Recipes

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Are you looking for the best turkey brine recipe to make your Thanksgiving or Christmas turkey extra juicy and flavorful? Look no further! We've compiled a collection of the best brine recipes that will take your turkey to the next level. Whether you prefer a simple brine with just salt and water or a more complex brine with herbs, spices, and aromatics, we have a recipe for every taste. So gather your ingredients, prepare your brine, and get ready to enjoy the most delicious turkey you've ever had!

Let's cook with our recipes!

ULTIMATE TURKEY BRINE



Ultimate Turkey Brine image

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

1 gallon water
2 cups kosher salt
1 ½ cups dark brown sugar
12 whole cloves
3 bay leaves
1 tablespoon whole black peppercorns
2 ½ teaspoons dried rosemary
2 ½ teaspoons dried thyme

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

MY FAVORITE TURKEY BRINE



My Favorite Turkey Brine image

Provided by Ree Drummond : Food Network

Time P1DT25m

Yield 18 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

3 cups apple cider
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup kosher salt
3 tablespoons tricolor peppercorns
5 whole bay leaves
5 cloves garlic, minced
4 sprigs rosemary, leaves stripped off
Peel of three large oranges, removed in large strips
1 turkey

Steps:

  • Combine 2 gallons cold water with the apple cider, brown sugar, salt, peppercorns, bay leaves, garlic, rosemary and orange peels in a large pot. Stir until the salt and sugar dissolve. Bring to a boil, then turn off the heat and cover.
  • Allow to cool completely, then place into the fridge to chill. Place uncooked turkey in the chilled brine solution, then refrigerate for 16 to 24 hours.
  • When ready to roast the turkey, remove from the brine. Submerge the turkey in a pot or sink of fresh, cold water. Allow to sit in clean water for 15 minutes to remove excess salt from the outside.
  • Discard the brine. Remove the turkey from the clean water, pat dry, and cook according to your normal roasting method.

THE BEST BRINED TURKEY



The Best Brined Turkey image

You'll roast the perfect, succulent Thanksgiving Day turkey thanks to our homemade brine made with salt, sugar, cloves and bay leaves.

Categories     Entree

Time 21h

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 7

20 cups water (5 quarts)
1 cup sugar
1 cup salt (preferably kosher)
1 turkey (10-12 lb), defrosted if frozen
4 cloves
4 bay leaves
1 tablespoon vegetable or canola oil

Steps:

  • In a large stockpot, heat 4 cups of water; sdd sugar and salt. Stir until dissolved. Add 16 cups cold water, cloves and bay leaves (2 cups of ice can be added to make sure water is cold). Stir to combine.
  • Urwrap turkey; wash the turkey inside and out. Place breast side down in the stockpot with brine; water will just cover the turkey. Refrigerate 18-24 hours.
  • Preheat the oven to 450°F. Take the turkey out of the stock pot; rinse the inside and out with cold water discarding brine. Place the turkey on a roasting rack inside a wide low pan, blotting the turkey with a paper towel. Tuck back the wings and rub the skin of the turkey with the oil. Place a piece of foil just over the breast of the turkey to cover for even roasting. Roast on the lowest rack of the oven for 30 minutes.
  • Reduce oven temperature to 350°F. Pour 1 cup of water into the pan and continue to roast for an additional hour.
  • Remove the foil from the breast and cook another 15-30 minutes. Insert ovenproof meat thermometer so tip is iin thickest part of inside thigh and does not touch bone. Roast until thermometer reads 165°F and drumsticks move easily when lifted or twisted.
  • Let the turkey rest for 20-30 minutes (this is an essential step to allow the juices to redistribute and settle). Serve.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 490, Carbohydrate 6 g, Cholesterol 275 mg, Fat 1 1/2, Fiber 0 g, Protein 84 g, SaturatedFat 4 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 3760 mg, Sugar 6 g, TransFat 0 g

THE BEST TURKEY BRINE



The Best Turkey Brine image

This is our go-to brine for turkey. It's simple, flavorful and most importantly leaves you with a succulent, juicy, perfectly-seasoned bird. It's also perfect for chicken, pork chops, Cornish game hens - you name it. While we like the combination of thyme and sage, you can also use other hearty herbs such as rosemary, oregano or marjoram.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories     condiment

Time 10m

Yield 12 to 14 servings

Number Of Ingredients 7

Kosher salt
1/4 cup sugar
One 12- to 14-pound turkey
3 tablespoons whole black peppercorns
5 thyme branches
3 sage sprigs
1 lemon, zest peeled into strips with a vegetable peeler

Steps:

  • Combine 1/2 cup salt, the sugar and 1 quart water in a medium pot and bring to a boil over high heat. Stir until the salt and sugar are fully dissolved, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat and add the peppercorns, thyme, sage and lemon strips. Let steep and cool to room temperature.
  • Pour the brine into a large stockpot or bucket and add 3 quarts cold water. Remove the neck and giblets (reserve for gravy) from the turkey and put it into the brine, pushing it down to cover. Refrigerate for 24 hours.
  • Remove the turkey from the brine; rinse and pat dry. Cook according to your favorite method.

BEST TURKEY EVER!! (BRINED)



Best Turkey Ever!! (Brined) image

My dad has made this turkey for the past 3 years at Thanksgiving. This is my 1st Thanksgiving at home and I plan on doing it as well. The meat comes out completely juicy and its just amazing!!

Provided by Jenninjapan

Categories     Whole Turkey

Time 10h

Yield 22 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 11

15 lbs turkey (not self Basting or kosher)
2 cups table salt (do not substitute equal amounts of kosher salt)
2 gallons icy cold water (*)
4 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup dried rosemary leaves
1/2 cup dried thyme, leaves
1 small onion, peeled and quartered
1 carrot, peeled & cut into 1-inch chunks
1 stalk celery, cut into 1-inch chunks
4 -6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
as needed fresh fruit (to garnish)

Steps:

  • Rinse turkey in cool water.
  • In a very large clean container (non-corrosive pan or stockpot such as stainless steel or glass or a food-grade plastic container), mix salt and water together until salt dissolves. Stir in brown sugar and spices, mix well until sugar dissolves.
  • Totally submerge poultry in solution and store, covered, in refrigerator for at least 6 hours and up to 8 hours. Since brining does not preserve meat, the turkey must be kept below 40 degrees F throughout the entire brining process. Ice packs may also be used to keep turkey at a safe temperature of below 40°F.
  • Remove turkey from brine. Discard brine. Thoroughly rinse turkey under a slow stream of cool water, rubbing gently to release salt and sugar, both inside and out. Pat skin and both interior cavities dry.
  • * NOTE: The ratio of water to salt is appropriate for a 15-pound turkey. If a larger or smaller turkey is brined, please calculate accordingly.
  • * *NOTE: Other combinations of herbs may be added including 6-8 bay leaves, 3 cloves garlic and 2 teaspoons black peppercorns. Or a spicy flavor may be achieved by the addition of 1 cup small dried red chile peppers.
  • In the cavity of turkey, place onion, carrot and celery.
  • Brush turkey with melted butter.
  • Roast turkey, breast side down, in a preheated 325 degree F oven for 2 hours. During this time, baste legs and back twice with melted butter.
  • Remove turkey from oven and protecting your hands, grasp turkey with several layers of clean paper towels at both ends, and turn turkey, breast side up.
  • Return turkey to oven and continue to roast, basting twice with pan dripping. Continue to roast until internal temperature reaches 170°F in the breast and 180°F in the thigh. NOTE: A brined turkey cooks slightly faster than an unbrined turkey, so check the internal temperature frequently.
  • Remove turkey from the oven and allow to stand for 20 minutes before carving.
  • Transfer to a platter and garnish with fresh fruit.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 675.8, Fat 27.2, SaturatedFat 8.5, Cholesterol 216, Sodium 10528.7, Carbohydrate 41.4, Fiber 1.3, Sugar 38.8, Protein 63.5

THE BEST TURKEY BRINE



The Best Turkey Brine image

This is a recipe I have used over the years. The turkey always seems to come out moist, tender, and delicious. I think the original recipe may have came from Emeril, but I may have changed a couple things.

Provided by dannyboy22

Categories     Whole Turkey

Time 20m

Yield 2 gallons

Number Of Ingredients 6

1 cup salt
1 cup brown sugar
2 oranges (quartered)
2 lemons (quartered)
3/4 ounce fresh poultry herbs, Packaged (Fresh Sage, Thyme, and Rosemary)
2 gallons cold water

Steps:

  • To make the brining solution, dissolve the salt and sugar in 2 gallons of cold water in a non-reactive container (such as a clean bucket or large stockpot, or a clean, heavy-duty, plastic garbage bag.) Add the oranges, lemons, and poultry herbs. I like to squeeze out some of the juices from the oranges and lemons into the solution before I add them. (Note: If you have a big turkey and need more brine, use 1/2 cup salt and 1/2 cup brown sugar for every additional gallon of water.).
  • Remove the neck, giblets, and liver from the cavity of the turkey and reserve. Rinse the turkey inside and out under cold running water.
  • Soak the turkey in the brine, covered and refrigerated, for at least 4 hours and up to 24 hours.
  • Remove turkey from brine and rinse inside and out with cold water. Pat dry and prepare turkey according to your recipe.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 496.4, Fat 0.3, Sodium 56732.3, Carbohydrate 128.7, Fiber 4.8, Sugar 120.4, Protein 2

TURKEY BRINE



Turkey brine image

Brine turkey before roasting for beautifully tender, flavourful meat. This easy recipe is infused with bay, thyme and orange, making it ideal for Thanksgiving or Christmas

Provided by Adam Bush

Time 15m

Number Of Ingredients 7

200g coarse sea salt
100g light brown soft sugar
2 bay leaves
handful of thyme sprigs
10 peppercorns
1 orange, zest pared into strips
2 tbsp coriander seeds, toasted

Steps:

  • Fill a large container or stock pot with 1.5 litres cold water and set aside. The pot should be large enough to hold your turkey plus 3 litres water. Pour another 1.5 litres cold water into a large pan over a low-medium heat. Tip in the salt, sugar, bay, thyme, peppercorns, orange zest and coriander seeds, and whisk until the salt and sugar have completely dissolved. Remove from the heat, then pour into the container or stock pot and leave to cool completely.
  • Weigh the turkey and carefully add it to the container, ensuring it's completely submerged in the brine. Leave to brine for roughly 1 hr per 500g to ensure succulent meat and a flavourful bird, then drain well (discarding the aromatics), pat dry and roast.

Tips:

  • Choose the right turkey: A fresh or thawed turkey is best for brining. Frozen turkeys can be brined, but they will need to be thawed completely before doing so.
  • Use a large container: The turkey and brine should be completely submerged, so use a container that is large enough to accommodate both.
  • Make the brine ahead of time: The brine needs time to infuse the turkey with flavor, so make it at least 12 hours before you plan to cook the turkey.
  • Use a variety of seasonings in the brine: This will help to create a flavorful turkey. Common seasonings include salt, pepper, garlic, onion, herbs, and spices.
  • Brine the turkey for the right amount of time: The general rule is to brine the turkey for 1 hour per pound. However, you can brine the turkey for up to 24 hours if you want a more flavorful bird.
  • Rinse the turkey thoroughly before cooking: This will remove any excess salt or seasonings from the brine.

Conclusion:

Brining a turkey is a great way to ensure that your Thanksgiving or Christmas turkey is moist, flavorful, and delicious. By following the tips in this article, you can brine a turkey like a pro. So, what are you waiting for? Get started on your brining today!

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