Turkeys that are brined can have juicy, tender meat that is bursting with flavor. We conducted a side-by-side comparison to find out, though, whether unbrined, dry brined, or salt water brined turkey tastes better. Read on for the results.
I’ve been brining my turkey in salt water for years before roasting it. However, lately, it’s becoming more and more common for cooks and recipe creators to suggest a dry brine, where you rub the meat with salt and then let it rest so the salt can infuse the meat. Many of the more popular food-focused websites, such as Serious Eats and the New York Times Cooking Section, suggest brining food without water.
I decided to test three different approaches to roasting a turkey in my kitchen. I roasted three 14-pound organic turkeys using my Simple Roasted Turkey method: 1) without a brine, 2) with a dry brine, and 3) with a brine of salt water. My brine recipes, both with salt water and without, are at the bottom of the page.
I gathered some taste testers and compared the three turkeys side by side. Results below!.
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How long to defrost a turkey
Make sure the turkey is completely defrosted before roasting to ensure even cooking. The turkey stays at a safe temperature when it is refrozen in the refrigerator. To fully defrost a 4 lb turkey in the fridge, allow about 1 day. For example, for a 16-pound turkey, allow 4 days.
If you are using a fresh (as opposed to frozen) turkey, you can omit this step.
Sugar and other Sweeteners in Brine
When sugars caramelize in a brine, they can contribute a light sweetness and aid in the skin’s browning. Although a roast turkey will brown nicely without sugar added, any brine recipe can benefit from the addition of brown sugar or maple syrup. (Add about ¾ as much sugar as salt. ).
Can you brine a pre-brined turkey?
FAQ
What is a pre-brined turkey?
Do you need to rinse a pre-brined turkey?
Are Butterball turkeys already pre-brined?
Are all frozen turkeys pre-brined?
Should you brine a Turkey?
This can include a variety of spices, flavorings, and, of course, salt which is the main ingredient, other than water, when you brine a turkey. Keep in mind that when a turkey is pre-brined, the company typically does this to extend the shelf life of the product.
What happens if you accidentally brine a Turkey?
If you do accidentally brine a turkey that was purchase already brined without noticing it, it will be just fine. One thing you will notice though is that if you make gravy out of the juices then you will notice an excess amount of salt flavor in the gravy (in which salt is sodium and also not good for you).
What is a pre basted Turkey?
A pre basted turkey is a delicious juicy turkey. Pre basted turkey is a turkey that has been injected with some type of liquid which most likely includes some seasoning, even if it is just salt (there are several out there). Broth and sugar are also commonly used in injecting turkeys to make them pre basted.