Leaving politics aside, the most contentious conversation at your Thanksgiving table may be about whether or not to brine your turkey.
During previous Thanksgivings, I’ve experimented with both oven-roasted turkeys that were brined and those that weren’t. I’m not able to identify any particular year’s bird as being better than another, but that’s probably because I eat gravy with every meal, including Thanksgiving.
You won’t be able to detect the minute variations in texture and flavor if your turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and veggies are all covered in gravy.
Since I’m just a passionate home cook, I went to the experts, J. Christopher Kimball, Kenji Lopez-Alt and Alton Brown — for answers. Each brings a scientific approach to cooking. Two of my favorite cookbooks, The Cooks Bible and The Food Lab, were written by Kimball and Lopez-Alt, and Brown has always been a favorite since he was on Good Eats, which is my all-time favorite cooking show (which was recently rebooted, er, Reloaded).
I read both books cover to cover and located an Alton Brown blog post to see what they thought about brining
Thanksgiving is a time for family friends, and of course, delicious food. The centerpiece of the Thanksgiving feast is often the turkey and there are many different ways to prepare it. One popular method is brining, which involves soaking the turkey in a salt-water solution before cooking. But what if your turkey is frozen? Can you brine a frozen turkey?
The answer is yes you can brine a frozen turkey. In fact, brining a frozen turkey can be a great way to ensure that your turkey is juicy and flavorful. However, there are a few things you need to keep in mind when brining a frozen turkey.
How to Brine a Frozen Turkey:
1. Thaw the turkey partially. You don’t need to thaw the turkey completely, but you do need to thaw it enough so that you can remove the giblets from the cavity. This will allow the brine to penetrate the turkey more evenly.
2. Prepare the brine. There are many different brine recipes available, but most of them include salt, water, and spices. You can also add other ingredients to your brine, such as herbs, vegetables, or fruit.
3. Submerge the turkey in the brine. Make sure that the turkey is completely submerged in the brine. You may need to use a weight to keep the turkey submerged.
4. Refrigerate the turkey. Brine the turkey in the refrigerator for 12-24 hours. The longer you brine the turkey, the more flavorful it will be.
5. Rinse the turkey After brining, rinse the turkey thoroughly with cold water This will remove any excess salt from the brine.
6. Cook the turkey. You can cook the turkey using any method you like, such as roasting, grilling, or smoking.
Benefits of Brining a Frozen Turkey:
- Juicier turkey: Brining helps to keep the turkey moist during cooking, resulting in a juicier bird.
- More flavorful turkey: The brine infuses the turkey with flavor, making it more delicious.
- More tender turkey: Brining helps to break down the muscle fibers in the turkey, making it more tender.
Tips for Brining a Frozen Turkey:
- Use a large container. You will need a large container to hold the turkey and the brine. A cooler or a large stockpot works well.
- Use ice to keep the brine cold. If you are not able to refrigerate the turkey while it is brining, you can add ice to the brine to keep it cold.
- Don’t overcook the turkey. Brined turkeys cook faster than unbrined turkeys, so be sure to check the turkey’s temperature frequently to avoid overcooking it.
Alternatives to Brining a Frozen Turkey:
If you don’t have time to brine your frozen turkey, there are a few other things you can do to ensure that your turkey is juicy and flavorful.
- Dry brine the turkey. Dry brining involves rubbing the turkey with salt and other spices and then letting it sit in the refrigerator for 12-24 hours.
- Baste the turkey with butter or oil. Basting the turkey while it cooks will help to keep it moist.
- Use a meat thermometer. A meat thermometer is the best way to ensure that your turkey is cooked to the proper temperature.
Brining a frozen turkey is a great way to ensure that your Thanksgiving turkey is juicy, flavorful, and tender. However, if you don’t have time to brine your turkey, there are a few other things you can do to achieve the same results. No matter how you prepare your turkey, be sure to cook it to the proper temperature to ensure that it is safe to eat.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Can I brine a turkey that is already thawed?
A: Yes, you can brine a turkey that is already thawed. However, you will need to adjust the brining time accordingly. For a thawed turkey, brine for 12-18 hours.
Q: How long should I cook a brined turkey?
A: The cooking time for a brined turkey will vary depending on the size of the turkey and the cooking method you are using. However, as a general rule of thumb, you should cook a brined turkey for about 15-20 minutes per pound.
Q: What is the best way to cook a brined turkey?
A: There is no one “best” way to cook a brined turkey. However, some popular methods include roasting, grilling, and smoking.
Q: Can I brine a turkey in a cooler?
A: Yes, you can brine a turkey in a cooler. Just make sure that the cooler is large enough to hold the turkey and the brine.
Q: Can I brine a turkey in a plastic bag?
A: Yes, you can brine a turkey in a plastic bag. However, make sure that the bag is food-grade and that it is large enough to hold the turkey and the brine.
Q: Can I brine a turkey in the oven?
A: No, you should not brine a turkey in the oven. The oven is too hot for the brine to properly penetrate the turkey.
Q: Can I brine a turkey in the microwave?
A: No, you should not brine a turkey in the microwave. The microwave is not a safe environment for brining a turkey.
Q: Can I brine a turkey in the dishwasher?
A: No, you should not brine a turkey in the dishwasher. The dishwasher is not a safe environment for brining a turkey.
Q: Can I brine a turkey in the washing machine?
A: No, you should not brine a turkey in the washing machine. The washing machine is not a safe environment for brining a turkey.
Q: Can I brine a turkey in the bathtub?
A: No, you should not brine a turkey in the bathtub. The bathtub is not a safe environment for brining a turkey.
Q: Can I brine a turkey in the sink?
A: Yes, you can brine a turkey in the sink. However, make sure that the sink is clean and that the water is cold.
Q: Can I brine a turkey in the refrigerator?
A: Yes, you can brine a turkey in the refrigerator. This is the most common method for brining a turkey.
Q: Can I brine a turkey in the garage?
A: Yes, you can brine a turkey in the garage. However, make sure that the garage is clean and that the temperature is cool.
Q: Can I brine a turkey in the basement?
A: Yes, you can brine a turkey in the basement. However, make sure that the basement is clean and that the temperature is cool.
Q: Can I brine a turkey in the attic?
A: No, you should not brine a turkey in the attic. The attic is not a safe environment for brining a turkey.
Q: Can I brine a turkey in the car?
A: No, you should not brine a turkey in the car. The car is not a safe environment for brining a turkey.
Q: Can I brine a turkey in the shed?
A: Yes, you can brine a turkey in the shed. However, make sure that the shed is clean and that the temperature is cool.
Q: Can I brine a turkey in the laundry room?
A: Yes, you can brine a turkey in the laundry room. However, make sure that the laundry room is clean and that the temperature is cool.
Q: Can I brine a turkey in the living room?
A: No, you should not brine a turkey in the living room. The living room is not a safe environment for brining a turkey.
Q: Can I brine a turkey in the bedroom?
A: No, you should not brine a turkey in the bedroom. The bedroom is not a safe environment for brining a turkey.
Q: Can I brine a turkey in the kitchen?
A: Yes, you can brine a turkey in the kitchen. However, make sure that the kitchen is clean and that the temperature is cool.
Q: Can I brine a turkey in the dining room?
A: No, you should not brine a turkey in the dining room. The dining room is not a safe environment for brining a turkey.
Q: Can I brine a turkey in the office?
A: No, you should not brine a turkey in the office. The office is not a safe environment for brining a turkey.
Q: Can I brine a turkey in the hotel room?
A: No, you should not brine a turkey in the hotel room. The hotel room is not a safe environment for brining a turkey.
Q: Can I brine a turkey in the RV?
A: Yes, you can brine a turkey in the RV. However, make sure that the RV is clean and that the temperature is cool.
Q: Can I brine a turkey in the boat?
A: No, you should not brine a turkey in the boat. The boat is not a safe environment for brining a turkey.
Q: Can I brine a turkey in the airplane?
A: No, you should not brine a turkey in the airplane. The airplane is not a safe environment for brining a turkey.
**Q:
What do the experts say?
It surprised me to discover that Kimball and Lopez-Alt are adamantly opposed to brine. Both claim that brining a large turkey is difficult and has some unfavorable effects.
Kimball says that “brined turkey lacked a bit of tooth. It was flavorful and moist, but it kind of tasted like the boneless turkey breast they sell at the delicatessen. I like turkey with real chew. He claims that his mother’s slow-roasting technique is simpler and produces equally succulent results.
Lopez-Alt states plainly, “I dont brine my turkey. Ever. ” He points to two problems with brining. It’s a pain in the first place because you have to use a large container to keep your bird warm, which requires using ice bags or taking up space inside your refrigerator. Second, he claims that because you made the bird absorb water, the extra juiciness comes at the expense of flavor, saying, “It’s juicy, but the juice is watery.” To sum up, Lopez-Alt states, “I prefer my birds to taste like birds, not like watered-down birds, so I don’t brine them.” “.
Brown prefers to spatchcock his bird before roasting it and uses a dry brine. But for those like me who struggle with planning ahead, he recommends combining the brining and thawing process and highlights the superiority of brined birds for leftovers “It’s not quite as intense in flavor as the dry cure method, but I’d still give it an 8 out of 10.” 7. And I don’t think a brined bird can be topped for leftovers (can you say “sandwich”). “After all, isn’t the main purpose of a Thanksgiving turkey to have turkey sandwiches on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday?
Continue reading: Three methods to defrost your turkey for Thanksgiving
Back up — what is brining?
Brining is soaking your turkey in salted water for many hours or overnight. The turkey absorbs some of the water while soaking in your brining liquid, and the salt dissolves some muscle proteins, which results in the meat contracting less while its in the oven and losing less moisture as it cooks.