Best 10 Turkey Brine With Brown Sugar Recipes

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Turkey brine with brown sugar is a delicious way to prepare your turkey for the holidays or a special occasion. This simple yet flavorful brine will help keep your turkey moist and tender, while the brown sugar adds a touch of sweetness and caramelization. If you're looking for a recipe that will make your turkey the star of the show, then you've come to the right place. With just a few easy steps, you can create a mouth-watering turkey brine that will wow your guests and leave them craving more.

Here are our top 10 tried and tested recipes!

BROWN SUGAR-BRINED TURKEY



Brown Sugar-Brined Turkey image

A simple brown-sugar brine gives this turkey deep, rich flavor and beautifully burnished skin. You can make a simple gravy with the pan drippings, but remember that brining increases the saltiness of drippings, so use salt-free or low-sodium broth in your gravy and taste it before adding additional salt.

Time 9h30m

Yield Serves 10 with leftovers

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 cup coarse sea salt
4 bay leaves
4 cloves garlic, smashed
8 cups ice cubes
1 (13- to 14-pound) turkey, neck and giblets removed and reserved for another use
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Steps:

  • Combine brown sugar, salt, bay leaves, garlic and 8 cups water in a large pot. Place over high heat and bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar and salt.
  • Remove from heat, stir in ice and cool completely. Very early on the day of cooking (or late the night before), pour brine into a 4- to 5-gallon pot or other clean container.
  • Add turkey and any additional cold water needed to just submerge it. Turn turkey a few times and then leave it breast-side down. Refrigerate for at least 5 hours and up to 8 hours.
  • Preheat oven to 475°F and adjust racks to fit the turkey.
  • Remove turkey from brine, pat dry and place on a rack in a large roasting pan. Brush with butter and sprinkle with pepper. Tie legs together with kitchen string, tuck wings under body and roast for 20 minutes.
  • Lower the oven temperature to 350°F and tent breast loosely with foil.
  • Roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh, without touching bone, registers 165°F or juices run clear (not pink) when you poke thigh with a paring knife, 2 to 2 1/2 hours more.
  • Transfer turkey to a carving board, tent with foil and let rest for 30 minutes before carving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 290 calories, Fat 15 grams, SaturatedFat 5 grams, Cholesterol 110 milligrams, Sodium 780 milligrams, Carbohydrate 2 grams, Protein 36 grams

TURKEY BRINE WITH BROWN SUGAR



Turkey Brine with Brown Sugar image

Brown sugar and two types of salt join a bevy of spices and fresh herbs in this flavorful brine for your Thanksgiving turkey.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Ingredients     Meat & Poultry     Turkey Recipes

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 tablespoon mustard seeds
1 tablespoon fennel seeds
1 tablespoon coriander seeds
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
2 bay leaves
1/2 pound kosher salt (1 1/2 cups, plus 2 tablespoons)
2 tablespoons sea salt
1/2 cup light-brown sugar
3 cloves garlic
4 sprigs thyme
4 sprigs parsley
1 fresh turkey (14 pounds), giblets removed and reserved

Steps:

  • Wrap seeds, peppercorns, and bay leaves in a square of cheesecloth; tie with kitchen twine. Bring 2 gallons water, both salts, and brown sugar to a boil in a very large pot, stirring to dissolve. Add bundle, garlic, thyme, and parsley. Let cool completely. Fully submerge turkey, weighting it down with a plate topped with cans if necessary. (In lieu of a large pot, you can use a brining bag.) Refrigerate turkey overnight.

BRINED BROWN-SUGAR TURKEY



Brined Brown-Sugar Turkey image

Provided by Butterball

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 9

3 packed brown sugar
1-1/2 Dijon-style mustard
1/4 salt
2 ground red pepper
2 ice-cold water
1 fresh thyme
1 head garlic
1 (10- to 12-pound) BUTTERBALL® Fresh or Frozen Whole Turkey, thawed if frozen
undefined Nonstick cooking spray

Steps:

  • Combine brown sugar, mustard, salt and ground red pepper in large nonmetallic container. Gradually whisk in ice water, thyme and garlic; stir until sugar is dissolved.
  • Remove neck and giblets from body and neck cavities of turkey. Refrigerate for another use or discard. Place turkey, breast side down, in brine mixture. Cover; refrigerate overnight.
  • Preheat oven to 325°F. Remove turkey from brine; pat dry with paper towels. Turn wings back to hold neck skin against back of turkey.
  • Return legs to the tucked position, if untucked. Place turkey, breast side up, on flat rack in shallow roasting pan; coat with cooking spray.
  • Roast turkey 2 hours. Then, cover breast and top of drumsticks loosely with foil to prevent overcooking. Continue roasting turkey 1½ to 1¾ hours* or until meat thermometer reaches 180°F when inserted into deepest part of thigh not touching bone. *Follow cooking times according to package directions; times vary with size of turkey.
  • Transfer turkey to cutting board; loosely tent with foil. Let stand 15 minutes before carving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 260, Fat 10 g, Cholesterol 70 mg, Sodium 920 mg, Protein 22 mg, ServingSize 10

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.

HERB-BRINED TURKEY



Herb-Brined Turkey image

For an impressive main course, look here. The moist, flavorful bird will have guests counting the minutes until carving time. - Scott Rugh, Portland, Oregon

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 4h20m

Yield 14 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 19

2 cups kosher salt
1 cup packed brown sugar
5 fresh sage leaves
1 fresh thyme sprig
1 fresh rosemary sprig
2 quarts water
2 quarts cold water
2 turkey-size oven roasting bags
1 turkey (14 to 16 pounds)
HERB BUTTER:
2 cups butter, softened
1/2 cup olive oil
1 cup packed fresh parsley sprigs
1/3 cup fresh sage leaves
1/3 cup fresh rosemary leaves
1/4 cup fresh thyme leaves
2 garlic cloves
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper

Steps:

  • In a stockpot, combine the salt, brown sugar, sage, thyme, rosemary and 2 quarts water. Bring to a boil. Cook and stir until salt and sugar are dissolved. Remove from the heat. Add the cold water to cool the brine to room temperature., Place a turkey-size oven roasting bag inside a second roasting bag; add turkey. Carefully pour cooled brine into bag. Squeeze out as much air as possible; seal bags and turn to coat. Place in a roasting pan. Refrigerate for 12-24 hours, turning occasionally., Drain and discard brine; rinse turkey and pat dry. Tie drumsticks together. Place the remaining ingredients in a food processor; cover and process until smooth. With fingers, carefully loosen skin from turkey breast; rub half of the butter mixture under skin. Secure skin to underside of breast with toothpicks. Rub remaining butter mixture over skin., Place turkey, breast side up, on a rack in a roasting pan. Bake at 450° for 30 minutes. Reduce heat to 325°; bake 3-1/4 to 3-3/4 hours longer or until thermometer reads 180°, basting twice during the last 30 minutes of cooking. Cover loosely with foil if turkey browns too quickly., Remove turkey to a serving platter; cover and let stand for 20 minutes before carving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 834 calories, Fat 58g fat (25g saturated fat), Cholesterol 314mg cholesterol, Sodium 658mg sodium, Carbohydrate 1g carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 73g protein.

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

KITTENCAL'S BEST BROWN SUGAR TURKEY BRINE



Kittencal's Best Brown Sugar Turkey Brine image

This brine is enough for up to a 20-pound whole turkey and will produce the most juiciest and delicious bird you will ever have, with this brine you will taste only the turkey not any extra herbs or flavorings that are added in to some brines --- I use my food-safe picnic cooler to brine my turkey in it works quite well, you might want to purchase one if you plan on brining your turkey on a regular basis, and you will once you have tried this method just make certain to purchase one that is food-safe --- you may omit the garlic but I strongly suggest to add it --- you must use only kosher salt not regular table salt --- if desired after brining continue with my recipe#199612

Provided by Kittencalrecipezazz

Categories     Whole Turkey

Time P1D

Yield 32 cups (approx)

Number Of Ingredients 7

32 cups warm water (2 gallons)
1 cup kosher salt (must use kosher salt ONLY)
1 1/2 cups light brown sugar (well-packed)
2 tablespoons black peppercorns (can use 1 tablespoon coarse ground black pepper)
3 -4 tablespoons fresh coarsely chopped garlic (or slice the cloves into thirds)
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce (optional)
1 whole turkey (up to 20 pounds)

Steps:

  • In a large bucket or container mix together the warm water with brown sugar and salt; stir until NO kosher salt and sugar granules remain in the water (make certain to use very warm water so that the salt and suagr will dissolve easily and completely).
  • Add in Worcestershire sauce, peppercorns, and garlic; stir until the Worcestershire sauce is combined.
  • Cool the water until almost room temperature.
  • Wash the turkey inside and out with cold water, then place in the brine (if the brine does not quite cover the turkey, then place it breast-side up to start, then turn it over after a couple of hours later).
  • Place in refrigerator for 24 hours,.
  • Remove the turkey from the brine and rinse the turkey THOROUGHLY under cold running water.
  • Pat dry with paper towels then cover and refrigerate if not preparing right away or continue with my turkey recipe (#199612).

Nutrition Facts : Calories 298.2, Fat 12.9, SaturatedFat 3.6, Cholesterol 109, Sodium 3651.1, Carbohydrate 10.7, Fiber 0.1, Sugar 10, Protein 32.9

INCREDIBLE TURKEY BRINE



Incredible Turkey Brine image

This turkey brine will impart incredible flavor to your bird and keep it moist no matter how long you cook it. The allspice berries give this recipe a unique and wonderful flavor, so depending on how much of this flavor you want, you can add more or less berries. Kosher salt is the best option for any brine, but if you don't have any on hand, substitute the 1 1/4 cup of kosher salt for 1 cup of table salt. I once used this to brine a turkey that took 7 hours to cook, and it was still one of the most moist and juicy turkeys I ever made. This recipe will make enough to cover up to a 17 pound turkey.

Provided by Patrick

Categories     Side Dish     Sauces and Condiments Recipes

Time 1h10m

Yield 1

Number Of Ingredients 10

2 gallons water
1 ¼ cups kosher salt
⅓ cup light brown sugar
¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
6 cloves garlic, chopped
4 sprigs fresh thyme
1 sprig fresh rosemary
1 tablespoon whole black peppercorns
1 ½ teaspoons whole allspice berries
1 bay leaf

Steps:

  • Stir water, salt, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, thyme, rosemary, peppercorns, allspice berries, and bay leaf together in a large pot; bring to a boil. Set aside to cool completely before brining turkey.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 382.2 calories, Carbohydrate 97.2 g, Fat 0.6 g, Fiber 2.7 g, Protein 2.1 g, SaturatedFat 0.2 g, Sodium 114785.2 mg, Sugar 78.2 g

FRIED TURKEY BRINED IN CAYENNE AND BROWN SUGAR



Fried Turkey Brined in Cayenne and Brown Sugar image

Deep-frying a turkey is not as hard as it sounds and it yields an exquisitely moist and crispy bird much quicker then roasting. Use a deep fryer that is made for a turkey that comes with a thermostat and a metal basket for lowering and removing the turkey. Heating the oil can take up to an hour, so plan accordingly. A 12-pound turkey cooks in just 36 minutes (3 minutes per pound). Recipe by Allison Vines-Rushing and Slade Rushing from Rushing Home for Thanksgiving. 36 hours for brining. WINE: A medium-light Gewürztraminer is ideally suited to the spicy brine and the deep fried turkey. Try a Lynskeys Gewürztraminer Marlborough Wairau Peaks Vineyard 2002 or the German, Machmer Bechtheimer Stein Gewürztraminer Spätlese 2003.

Provided by NcMysteryShopper

Categories     Whole Turkey

Time P1DT13h

Yield 10 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 10

3 cups packed light brown sugar
1 1/2 cups Dijon mustard
1/4 cup kosher salt, plus
2 tablespoons kosher salt
2 tablespoons cayenne pepper
2 gallons cold water
1 bunch thyme
1 head garlic, separated into cloves and crushed
1 (12 lb) whole turkey
peanut oil (about 4-5 gallons depending on your fryer) or vegetable oil (about 4-5 gallons depending on your fryer)

Steps:

  • In a whole-turkey-size stockpot, whisk brown sugar, mustard, salt and cayenne.
  • Gradually whisk in water, and then add thyme and garlic.
  • Add turkey, cover and brine in refrigerator for 35 hours.
  • If you cannot fit the pot in your refrigerator, you can place it in an ice chest or other container (keep an eye on your ice).
  • Bring the oil to 375° in your turkey fryer - this can take up to an hour.
  • Remove turkey from brine and pat it dry inside and out with paper towels.
  • If your family or guests are salt-sensitive wash the turkey thoroughly then pat until it is dry as you can get it with paper towels.
  • Transfer the turkey to a frying basket, breast side up.
  • Lower into oil and fry for 3 minutes per pound, 36 minutes.
  • Lift the basket out of the fryer and drain the turkey on a rack set over a rimmed baking sheet or pan for about 15 minutes.
  • Carve and serve.
  • Take extra care with the hot oil - Any hotter than 375F and you risk it catching fire.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 925.6, Fat 33.7, SaturatedFat 9.1, Cholesterol 270.9, Sodium 4950.1, Carbohydrate 69.3, Fiber 1.6, Sugar 64.5, Protein 83.6

ALTON BROWN TURKEY BRINE AND GOOD EATS ROAST TURKEY



Alton Brown Turkey Brine and Good Eats Roast Turkey image

Alton Brown's turkey brine recipe from Good Eats will give you a flavorful Thanksgiving turkey with juicy white and dark meat.

Provided by Alton Brown

Categories     Thanksgiving     Turkey     Poultry     Christmas     Fall     Christmas Eve     Winter

Yield At least 10-12 servings

Number Of Ingredients 17

For Turkey Brine
One 14-16-pound frozen natural, young turkey
1 gallon vegetable broth (homemade or canned)
1 cup kosher salt
½ cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
1½ teaspoons allspice berries
1½ tablespoons candied ginger, chopped
1 gallon H2O, iced
For Roasting
1 red apple, quartered
½ onion, quartered
1 stick cinnamon
1 cup H20
4 sprigs rosemary
6 sage leaves
Canola oil

Steps:

  • Two to three days before roasting, thaw the turkey in the refrigerator or in a cooler kept at 38° F, tops.
  • To make the turkey brine: Combine the broth, salt, sugar, peppercorns, allspice, and finger in a large stockpot and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Stir until the salt and sugar dissolve. Remove from the heat. Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate the brine.
  • The eve before roasting, combine the brine and the iced water in a cooler. Place the thawed turkey (guts, neck, and whatnot removed) breast side down in the brine. Seal up the cooler and use it as an ottoman. Target bring time: 12 hours; flip the bird once about halfway through.
  • On roasting day: Heat the oven to 500°F. Remove the bird from the brine and rinse inside and out. Discard brine.
  • Place the bird on a roasting rack and place inside a roasting pan. Pat the bird dry (inside and out) with paper towels.
  • Combine the apple, onion, cinnamon, and water in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 5 minutes. Add to the turkey's cavity, along with the rosemary and sage. Truss, if you like.
  • Lightly coat the bird with canola oil. Roast the bird on the lowest rack of the oven for 30 minutes.
  • Insert a probe thermometer into the thickest part of the breast and reduce the oven temperature to 350°F.
  • Roast until the thermometer registers 155°F, about 2½ hours.
  • Remove from the oven, cover closely with aluminum foil, and let rest for a least 15 minutes before carving.

Tips:

  • Select a fresh or thawed turkey: A fresh turkey will yield the best flavor, but a thawed turkey can also be used. Make sure the turkey is completely thawed before brining.
  • Use a large container for brining: The turkey should be completely submerged in the brine, so make sure you have a container that is large enough.
  • Keep the turkey cold while brining: The turkey should be kept in the refrigerator or in a cooler filled with ice during the brining process. This will help to prevent bacterial growth.
  • Brine the turkey for at least 12 hours: The longer the turkey is brined, the more flavorful it will be. However, you can brine the turkey for up to 24 hours if desired.
  • Rinse the turkey thoroughly before cooking: After brining, rinse the turkey thoroughly with cold water to remove any excess salt.
  • Pat the turkey dry before cooking: Patting the turkey dry will help to ensure that the skin gets crispy during cooking.

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 perfectly every time. Brown sugar is a great addition to a turkey brine, as it helps to caramelize the skin and give it a delicious flavor. If you are looking for a delicious and easy way to cook a turkey, try brining it with brown sugar.

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