If you’ve ever wondered How to Brine a Turkey, look no further. No more tough, dry turkey—a brined turkey cooks more quickly, making for a tasty and easy holiday meal! Plus, a brined turkey adds flavor and will stay juicy throughout the cooking process!
In addition to being a tasty Thanksgiving custom, roasted turkey also works well for a fun Sunday supper or a crowd-pleasing crowd-feeder. Nothing says “togetherness” quite like a sumptuous turkey dinner.
But if you’re anything like me, you may have a few preferences when it comes to the dryness and, let’s be honest, tenderness of your turkey. Enter the brine!.
Brining your turkey will help it retain moisture while cooking. It also adds additional flavor and breaks down some of those tough muscle proteins, kind of like a marinade but for the entire bird. The result is the tender, moist turkey of your Thanksgiving dreams!.
Happy brining! If you’re curious about how to brine a turkey, keep reading for detailed instructions, advice, and responses to many of your commonly asked questions!
If youve ever wondered how to brine a turkey, then this is the recipe for you. You won’t be able to eat a turkey without brining again once you try this juicy, tender turkey that tastes like roast chicken thanks to a quick brine!
1. Large Pot. Cook brine mixture in an extra large pot and then brine tureky in the chilled brine.
2. 5 Gallon Bucket – Depending on the size of your turkey, this might be a great option. Just make sure you have enough room in your fridge for this.
3. Cooler. Yep a cooler that holds drinks is also insulated and will work great. Simply make sure its disinfected and cleaned well. Next, add the turkey, breast side down, to your brine, along with an additional half cup of salt. Place the cooler in the coolest area of the house and add enough ice (about 5 to 10 pounds, depending on the size of your cooker) to cover the turkey. Before you go to bed make sure it still has plenty of ice to keep it chilled. Once youre done brining your turkey, make sure to REALLY clean that cooler!.
4. A brining bag or extra large zipper bag. These are great for squeezing your turkey into a smaller spot. No big pot to deal with. Just make sure its sealed tight and ensure brine covers entire turkey.
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Can you brine a frozen turkey?
You CAN brine a frozen turkey! But it’s still going to need to defrost before you roast it. Additionally, because it’s challenging to remove the neck and gizzards from a frozen bird, preparation is a little more involved. If you must brine your bird from frozen, give it at least two days to properly thaw in the refrigerator.
What does “brine a turkey” mean?
A brine is basically a salt water bath for your turkey. This serve three main purposes:
- By unraveling and dissolving certain protein chains, a brine softens and tenderizes meat.
- Because the water in the brine fills in the gaps between the salt-elongated protein chains, the brine keeps the turkey moist.
- Because a brine usually contains herbs and other seasonings, it improves the flavor of the turkey. Most brines require a 12 – 24 hours.
How to BRINE a TURKEY IN A BUCKET | BEST turkey brine | EASY TURKEY BRINE
FAQ
How many gallons of water does it take to brine a turkey?
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Turkey Size
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Water
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Salt (Kosher)
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8 to 12 pounds (3.6 to 5.4 kilograms)
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2 gallons (7.6 liters)
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2 1/2 cups (450 grams)
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13 to 17 pounds (5.9 to 7.7 kilograms)
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2 1/2 gallons (9.5 liters)
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3 1/4 cups (570 grams)
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18 to 22 pounds (8.2 to 10 kilograms)
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3 gallons (11.4 liters)
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3 3/4 cups (675 grams)
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Can You brine a Turkey in a 5 gallon bucket?
There are two ways of using food-grade plastic when brining a turkey in a 5-gallon home depot bucket. Let’s take a look. The best way is to use Bucket Liner Bags for Marinating and Brining. Alternatively, you can use Large Turkey Brine Bags and place the entire thing in the bucket. The bag needs to be both sealed and leak-proof.
How many gallons of brine do you need for a Turkey?
A 5-gallon home depot bucket is large enough to fit a turkey and the 1.5 to 2.5 gallons of brine you need. First, however, ensure the bucket is food grade. Also, it would be best if you first lined the bucket with food-safe plastic. Preparing and cooking a turkey is a pretty intense task.
Can you put a Turkey in a 5 gallon bucket?
A 5-gallon home depot bucket can fit a turkey in. whether you have a 16 lb bird or a massive 30-pounder, don’t worry about the size. You can still add a few gallons of brine to the turkey.
Can you use a non food grade bucket to brine a Turkey?
It would be best if you got a food-grade bucket. However, I still recommend lining the bucket with food-grade plastic. Alternatively, you can use a turkey brining bag and fill it with brine and the turkey before placing everything into the 5-gallon home depot bucket. Non-food-grade buckets might seem harmless, but they are not.