This turkey brine recipe is just what you need for your turkey to come out moist and delicious for Thanksgiving! This easy turkey brine is a must!
Ok, turkey day is fast approaching. Do you have your menu planned? Grocery list made? How about your table setting planned?
As you prep for the holiday, make sure you put this easy turkey brine recipe on your planning list. It will take your Thanksgiving turkey from good to great with just a few steps.
So, first, what does brining mean?
Brining is similar to marinating but doesn’t use the large amounts of acid (vinegar, citrus, etc) that marinating does. It involves soaking the meat in a salt water solution for somewhere between 30 minutes to several days.
How to brine a turkey?
Brining a turkey is actually really simple. On a basic level, it involves soaking the turkey in a salt solution for several hours.
How long to brine a turkey?
There is really no exact answer on this one. I typically brine my turkey overnight because that is what is easiest. The recommended amount of time is a minimum of 8 hours to be most effective.
Now, some people tend to shy away from brining because they think it is difficult or a big hassle. It really is neither!
Not to sure how to brine a turkey? All you need is some salt, brown sugar, vegetable broth, peppercorns, allspice, and ginger.
You will combine all of the items and bring them to a boil. Let the mixture cool completely before adding to the turkey. You can even refrigerate it overnight before adding to the turkey.
We use coarse kosher salt but sea salt would also work great.
When you’re ready to use the brine, take your turkey and place it in a bucket or a turkey brine bag and add in your broth mixture, water, and ice. Leave it overnight in the fridge to sit in the brine.
When you’re ready to cook your turkey, take it out of the brine and just wash it in cold water.
How do you cook a brined turkey?
After you use this turkey brine recipe, you simply cook your turkey the way your normally would. Using the best turkey brine recipe (this one!) you can find doesn’t really change how you ultimately prepare your turkey for the meal.
For us, cooking the turkey involves using a turkey brine recipe and then cooking the turkey in a roasting bag. We have friends who love their turkeys deep fried. You pick your favorite.
If you loved this Turkey Brining Recipe, check out these other great Thanksgiving recipes:
- The Best Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes
- 13 Ways to Use Thanksgiving Leftovers
- Quick and Easy Leftover Turkey Curry
Essential items for this recipe:
- Large pot
- Bucket
- Large plastic bag
- 14-16 lb thawed turkey
- 1 cup kosher salt
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 1 gallon vegetable broth
- 2 Tbsp whole black peppercorns
- 2 tsp whole allspice berries
- 1 1/2 tsp candied ginger chopped
- 1 gallon heavily iced water
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The day before plan to cook your turkey, combine the the salt, brown sugar, vegetable broth, peppercorns, allspice and ginger in a large pot. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring to dissolve the solids. Boil for 1 minute and then remove from heat. Let cool completely and refrigerate until ready to use {you can do this 1-2 days in advance of when you plan to use it}.
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The night before your are cooking your turkey, add your turkey to the bucket or bag. Add the ice, water and broth mixture from step one. Cover and refrigerate {or keep cold by adding more ice} overnight and until ready to cook the turkey.
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When ready to cook your bird, remove it from the brine and wash it with cold water. Season and cook as you usually would.
I have always wanted to brine a turkey… I havent yet because I am addicted to how I make mine… Forever ago I had an uncle that cooked a turkey with beer and onions once… and then never again. I thought it was the best turkey I had ever had. So when I was finally out on my own and did my own Thanksgiving I set about to re-create that turkey. 12 years later I have my version I consider better. I heat a bottle of beer with a stick of butter to melt…wait till it cools and then I inject the turkey all over with the beer and butter stuff it with onions and then salt pepper and butter the skin.. Put it in the fridge overnight and let her get good and soused… I call it drunken turkey..lol. I watched Trisha Yearwoods new show.. have you heard about the no bother turkey? You put it in the oven and cook for an hour and turn it off and let it sit in the oven for like 6 hours… I wonder if that really works.
We’ve been brining our turkeys for years now, using a similar recipe, and it’s fabulous!
Thanks for sharing at The Fun In Functional!
Thanks for sharing! I always wanted to try brining! will be pinning this for later!
We’ve tried brining a few times and loved the end result. My dh is the chef for Thanksgiving. I’m not sure if he’s doing it again this year, or just going the traditional route.
Yes! We brine ours too and it always turns out soooo good.
I’d love for you to come link up at my link party this week! http://www.gingerlymade.com/2012/11/show-and-tell-2.html
I have never brine a turkey. After ready your recipe and instructions of how to do it, I think it would be worth trying it. Sounds so good. Thanks for sharing. Have a great Thanksgiving. Blessings, Jo-Ann
This looks so good! Yours is the first recipe I found to use broth and ginger…..
This looks so good! Yours is the first recipe I found to use broth and ginger…..
We just pulled ours out of the brine this morning. My husband actually does our turkey because he has a smoker and loves it done that way. He put a dry rub on it this morning & that will sit in the fridge until tomorrow when it goes into his smoker. It makes me drool just thinking about it! Yum! I’m going to have to compare your brine to what he did because now I’m curious! Hopped over from SNAP! 🙂 Happy Thanksgiving & hope your turkey is fabulous!
I’ve been hearing so much about brining. I’m featuring you today… you’re a STAR over at I Gotta Create! Thanks so much for linking up with the Wildly Original Crowd at the party.
<3 Christina
We are a bit un-traditional, being that my husbands mom is from El Salvador. Turkey is a BIG deal there, and delicious, and we start prep the night before, covering it in dijon mustard and garlic, and a half bottle of red wine. Meanwhile, preparing the sauce made with roasted veggies, pasilla chili peppers, capers, pumpkin and sesame seeds, and a hundred exotic spices. Next day, the turkey is cooked in this sauce until it is fall apart tender. It is served on crusty french bread with a couple of sprigs of watercress. Once I had this, I never went back. The sauce is to die for. Happy Thanksgiving!!
Were always with family for Thanksgiving, but if I ever get the chance to make my own Turkey I will have to remember this! I’ve seen it a lot of places this year. Thanks for sharing!
G’day! American born and bred, now an Aussie, true!
I have never brined a turkey, but it always intrigues me too!
Cheers! Joanne
Viewed as part of Cathy’s Bloggers Showcase: Thanksgiving (Fall) Recipe RoundUp
Definitely give brining a try next time you make a turkey {or chicken}
I have never brined a turkey before, but I’m not opposed! And for the record, I love Alton Brown!!!! 🙂
Oh, brining a turkey makes a huge difference in the end result. It is so so good.
We are totally brining our turkey again this year! It makes it so relish, and flavorful!
Brining makes such a huge difference! I don’t think we could go back.
I have never cooked a turkey in my life! Thankfully we go to my aunts she does the turkey we all bring the sides! I like to cook but this would intimidate me! Great job!
I had never done a turkey until a few years ago. Now, we host Thanksgiving so I do most of the cooking.
Great tips, thanks. Turkeys intimidate me.
we are a brine family too. and my mouth is watering in anticipation!
I love to brine my turkey! Thanks for the wonderful recipe! I might give this one a try!
I have never cooked a turkey in my life but I really need to learn how. Thanks for the great tips!
To be honest I usually just bake it with stuffing inside. I had never tried brining. Thanks for sharing how to do it!
My mom usually cooks the Turkey. She doesn’t brine heres though. I will have to share this with her
What a fun idea, I’ve never tried that before… or much with turkey. I am looking forward to giving this a try!
I have never ever brinded a turkey, but I just may have to do it, since you made it sound so easy and yummy!
I’ve never heard of brining a turkey… interesting. I might have the courage to try this soon.
I just cooked a turkey last week with a similar turkey brine recipe. Oh my goodness! It was the first time I had ever used a Turkey brine but it will definitely not be the last! I don’t think I can ever do a turkey without a brine again! It was just so much more moist and such a better flavor!
I have been told that once you brine, you’ll never roast without it again! I hear it’s wonderful!
Great tips! we are just doing a ham this year!
I’ve never done this before but I can 100% see the appeal in doing it. I might be on board with this next week!
I have never actually brined our turkey before. But it seems easy enough.
ooo this sounds like a yummy way to make one!
I think I’m going to try this recipe this year! Sound good
Seasoning.. a lot a special mix I make and in the oven I can’t stand fried turkey..
Sounds so yummy….. But I’m wondering if you still have to season it after you brine.
Love a brined turkey! Thanks for sharing at the Twirl & Take a Bow Party! Have a great day.
Leslie
Brining is the way to go — we can’t make turkey any other way. I’ll have to try your brine recipe next time!
This is a showstopping turkey! Looks so tender and juicy!
This would be great to try for Thanksgiving!