Ree's Turkey Brine Recipe Is the Key to Your Best Thanksgiving Bird Yet (2024)

Table of Contents
Ingredients Directions FAQs

I brine a Thanksgiving turkey every year because it's the right thing to do. Brining involves soaking a turkey in a very salty solution for a certain length of time, long enough for the salt to infiltrate the turkey and actually alter the molecular structure of the meat. It doesn't turn it into a salty mess, either. It just results in a juicy, fantastic turkey. If you've never brined a turkey, you'll just have to trust me on this. It really makes all the difference and adds so much flavor.

You can buy ready-made brining solutions. I used to buy one at Williams-Sonoma. But making one is a cinch, too. You basically need salt and a mix ofother seasoning ingredients. I like to balance the saltiness with the mild sweetness of apple cider (and, okay, the not-so-mild sweetness of brown sugar). It's the easiest way toseason a turkey!

There's a couple important things to remember, though:

Though you can brine a frozen, thawed bird, it's best to brinefresh turkeys. Brining a frozen turkey isn't always necessary, because frozen turkeys are typically alreadyinjected with a sodium solution. Putting this into a well-salted brinecould lead to over-seasoning.There are, however,some organic frozen turkeys that have a much lower concentration of the sodium solution. That said, it's best to stick to a fresh turkey for optimal brining results and flavor!

Making homemade turkey gravy from the drippings of a brined turkey can result in a really salty gravy if you're not careful. Don't worry, I'll show you a few steps that will prevent this from happening.

What's the best way to cook a brined turkey?

I think roasting the bird is the way to go because it requires no special equipment (well, other than a good meat thermometer so you don't overcook it!). You could also smoke this brined turkey if you wanted. If you want to fry it, though, take the turkey out of the brine 24 hours before frying. Let it sit uncovered in your refrigerator during that time so the outside has a chance to dry. You never want to take a turkey from abrine straight tohot oil as the excess liquid can cause lots of dangerous splattering!

Do you spatchco*ck a turkey before or after brining it?

Brine, then spatchco*ck.Spatchco*cking a turkeyis a technique that essentially butterflies the bird. Youremove the backbone so the turkey lies flat and cooks quicker than a whole bird. That said,a spatchco*cked turkey also absorbs salt and seasoning quicker than a whole bird. So, to avoid a too-salty turkey, brine your bird first, then, do the spatchco*cking.

Can you make the brine ahead of time?

Yes, you can make it several days in advance and store it in the fridge until you're ready to submerge your bird!

How long should you brine a turkey?

Shoot for atleast 16 hours butno longer than 24 hours. If you brine it any longer than 24 hours the turkey will be too salty.

Do you have to refrigerate a turkey while brining it?

Yes! Do not leave aturkey brining on the counter or it'll spoil. Treat it just like you would a raw turkey, because that's what it is—always refrigerate it!

Do you rinse a turkey after brining?

Yes, you'll need to carefully rinse the turkey (inside and out!) to remove some of the saltiness from the brine. I actually like to soak mine in cold water for about 15 minutes.This is the only time you should ever rinse a turkey! If you don't brine your turkey, you don't need to rinse it. But you should definitely brine it, just so I'm clear.

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Yields:
18 serving(s)
Prep Time:
10 mins
Cook Time:
15 mins
Total Time:
25 mins

Ingredients

Directions

    1. Step1Combine all of the ingredients in a large pot and bring to a boil, stirring until the salt and sugar dissolve. Turn off theheat, cover,and allow the brine to cool completely.
    2. Step2Place the uncooked turkey in a large brining bag or pot, pour in the brine solution to cover the turkey, and refrigerate for 16 to 24 hours.
    3. Step3Before roasting, remove the turkey from the brine (discard the brine) and submerge the turkey in a pot or sink filled with fresh, cold water for 15 minutes. This removes excess salt from the outside.
    4. Step4Remove the turkey from the water, pat verydry, and cook according to your normal roasting method.

It's time. It's time for Thanksgiving recipes.

I don't care that it's not even Halloween yet!

Oh, I know how it goes. Every year around this time, I think I have all this time to post Thanksgiving recipes on this little food blog of mine. I think, "It's not even Halloween yet. I've got all the time in the world!" Then it happens. It's the same every year. We dress up our children in Iron Man and Richard Nixon costumes, go trick-or-treating in our quaint little town, then by the time they're on their last piece of candy—which is actually like twenty hours later—it's suddenly Christmas. And I’m looking around my kitchen and my little food blog like, "Okay… what just happened?"

And then I ask my children if they have any candy left because I'm having a wicked sugar craving. And they tell me to go bake a pie or something. Smart aleck little varmints. Anyway, today I'm sharing my step-by-step method for brining a turkey. I brine a turkey every year.

Ree's Turkey Brine Recipe Is the Key to Your Best Thanksgiving Bird Yet (2)

Here's what you need:

Ree's Turkey Brine Recipe Is the Key to Your Best Thanksgiving Bird Yet (4)

Cut off the top and bottom of each orange.

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Carefully slice off the peel in sections.

Ree's Turkey Brine Recipe Is the Key to Your Best Thanksgiving Bird Yet (8)

Mmm. Fragrant to the max.

Strip the leaves off the rosemary sprigs, measure the salt, sugar, bay leaves, and peppercorns. Inhale. Exhale. Thank the Lord above for the aromas that spring forth from the earth.

At least that's what I do every time I make this turkey brine.

(Oh, and you'll need some minced garlic. I just forgot that step. Happens.)

Ree's Turkey Brine Recipe Is the Key to Your Best Thanksgiving Bird Yet (12)

Pour three cups of apple cider into a stock pot.

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Add two gallons of water…

Ree's Turkey Brine Recipe Is the Key to Your Best Thanksgiving Bird Yet (16)

A cup and a half of salt…

Ree's Turkey Brine Recipe Is the Key to Your Best Thanksgiving Bird Yet (18)

Two cups of brown sugar…

Ree's Turkey Brine Recipe Is the Key to Your Best Thanksgiving Bird Yet (20)

Bay leaves…

Ree's Turkey Brine Recipe Is the Key to Your Best Thanksgiving Bird Yet (22)

Rosemary…

Ree's Turkey Brine Recipe Is the Key to Your Best Thanksgiving Bird Yet (24)

Peppercorns…

Ree's Turkey Brine Recipe Is the Key to Your Best Thanksgiving Bird Yet (26)

And orange peel.

And the forgotten garlic.

Ree's Turkey Brine Recipe Is the Key to Your Best Thanksgiving Bird Yet (28)

Loveliness!

Ree's Turkey Brine Recipe Is the Key to Your Best Thanksgiving Bird Yet (30)

Now, bring the mixture to a boil, then immediately turn off the heat and cover the pot. Allow the mixture to cool to room temperature; feel free to stick it in the fridge or freezer halfway through the cooling down process

Ree's Turkey Brine Recipe Is the Key to Your Best Thanksgiving Bird Yet (32)

This is an alien hand (left) and a brining bag.

I'm obsessed with brining bags. Obsessed!

It's all I think about anymore.

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Here’s the turkey inside the brining bag.

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Once the brine solution is cooled, pour it over the turkey.

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Now you’ll just need to seal up the bag and refrigerate it for at least sixteen hours. Twenty-four hours is better, though, especially for a large turkey. Place the turkey, breast side down, in the bag, but 2/3 of the way through the brining, flip the turkey in the bag to make sure it brines evenly. Just pretend you’re an obstetrician and you’re trying to get a breach baby to flip!

Note: This is enough brine for a 20-pound turkey. If you feel as though the turkey needs even more liquid, just top it off with more water and it'll be fine. If you're using a much smaller turkey or a turkey breast, just halve the recipe.

Next up: Roasting this dang thing. (Here are the turkey roasting instructions!)

The fun has only just begun.

Ree's Turkey Brine Recipe Is the Key to Your Best Thanksgiving Bird Yet (2024)

FAQs

How to make the juiciest tastiest Thanksgiving turkey according to science? ›

Sharma explains that normally during cooking, some of the proteins in meat fibers tighten up so that they end up squeezing the juices out of the turkey — like how water gets squeezed out of a sponge. But when you add salt, it loosens up the meat proteins so they hold on to more moisture and your bird stays juicier.

When should I start brining my turkey for Thanksgiving? ›

The process may take a little time (start at least 2 days ahead of the feast), but properly brining a turkey yields the juiciest, most succulent meat—no dryness here.

How does Butterball brine their turkeys? ›

We pre-brine directly in the breast meat ensuring you can take the turkey from the packaging to your pan without a lot of additional preparation before cooking and enjoy the most tender and juicy turkey possible.

What is the secret to a moist turkey? ›

HOW TO COOK A PERFECTLY MOIST AND JUICY TURKEY. Start by “brining” the turkey. This means soaking it in salt water overnight in the fridge (generally using a brining bag). You can also add a few flavors to the brine if you so desire.

Why put baking soda on turkey? ›

Using an overnight dry brine and pairing it with ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda—applied directly to the turkey before roasting—is a good way to tenderize your turkey and create a crispy, brown exterior.

What is the formula for brine? ›

Basic Brine

Place that volume of water in a container large enough to hold the brine and the meat. Add 1 tablespoon of salt for every cup of water you used and mix until the salt is completely dissolved. For example, if you are using 1 gallon (16 cups) of water, add 16 tablespoons (1 cup) of salt.

How long should you brine a 20 lb turkey? ›

Soak meat in brine for 1 – 1.5 hrs per pound of turkey, turning turkey once. Rinse turkey after brining to remove excess salt, pat skin dry before cooking.

Can you brine turkey too long? ›

Brining for too long can result in meat that tastes overly-salty and has a spongy texture. If you're not ready to roast the bird after 18 hours, remove it from the brine, rinse it, pat it dry, and refrigerate for up to two days.

Is a 15 lb turkey enough for 10 people? ›

The general rule of thumb is 1–1½ pounds turkey per person. If that seems like a lot, remember that a whole turkey comes with a lot of parts that don't end up getting eaten.

Is there a difference between Butterball and regular turkey? ›

Though not exclusive to the Butterball brand, the birds the company sells are pre-brined. That means they have already been injected with a solution of water, salt, and other flavorings that render the meat juicy and seasoned throughout.

Should turkey float in brine? ›

If needed, prepare more brine solution at a ratio of 1/4 cup salt per quart of water to completely submerge the turkey. Cover and refrigerate. If the turkey floats, weigh it down with a dinner plate. Cover and place it in the refrigerator.

What is the scientifically best way to cook a turkey? ›

The recommended temperature for cooking a turkey is 325° F (163° C). A turkey is fully cooked when the meat is 180° F (82° C) and the stuffing 165° F (74° C). Use a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh without touching the bone.

How do you get the best flavor out of a turkey? ›

Baste the turkey with fresh beer, wine or juice every hour. The natural sugars will help caramelize the outside of your turkey, giving it a nice crispy and flavorful skin. Injecting with butter or apple juice will add flavor, moisture and help penetrate down into the meat, which will make the turkey more flavorful.

What temperature makes the juiciest turkey? ›

Our answer? Cook the breast meat to 157°F (69°C) for moist, juicy turkey. Bone dry turkey white meat is the reason so many people kind of hate turkey. It's also why turkey gravy and cranberry sauce are de rigueur on so many Thanksgiving dinner tables.

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