The Best Turkey Brine Recipe
If you’re wanting to learn how to make the most deliciously moist and flavorful turkey that is melt in your mouth wonderful, you’re going to want to learn how to make our best turkey brine kit recipe. We’ll teach you how to perfect it the first time. You can enjoy turkey every day or for that special occasion. It’s perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas or anytime.
It’s Brine Time!
Have you ever brined your turkey with either a wet or dry method before roasting it? If not, this is a great tutorial that will walk you through step-by-step instructions to accomplish the most flavorful turkey that is moist and delicious. It makes all the difference.
Should I Brine My Thanksgiving Turkey?
Yes, you should brine your Thanksgiving turkey or any turkey for that matter. It makes all the difference in the outcome of the flavor and presentation of your turkey.
What Does Brining Do To Turkey?
The purpose of brining turkey is to season the meat all the way through. It also locks in moisture for a very moist turkey. And it alters the skin quality making it brown and beautiful.
How Do You Make A Turkey Brine?
A basic homemade turkey brine consists mainly of salt and water. When making a turkey brine, you mix the warm water with salt and seasonings until the salt and sugar fully dissolve.
What’s the Easiest and Cleanest Way To Brine A Turkey?
If you have a cooler that is large enough to hold your turkey, using a cooler can be an easy way to do it. If you fill the cooler with ice, it can also get it out of the refrigerator and keep it cool while it soaks for several hours.
If you have a larger refrigerator, you can also brine your turkey in a bucket or storage tote, but they would need to be of the size that can fit back in the refrigerator to keep the turkey cool while it soaks.
How To Make The Best Turkey Brine Kit Recipe Ever
To make the best Turkey Brine Kit Recipe, you’ll want to follow these tips below:
1. Mix. Add warm water to the dry ingredients and mix them thoroughly until the sugar and salt have fully dissolved. Using warm water, helps the ingredients dissolve more rapidly. You can add more cold water and ice after the initial mixture has been mixed.
2. Dunk. Use a clean, well sanitized container such as a cooler, bucket or storage container to dunk your turkey. You’ll also want to sanitize whatever container you choose to use again after the raw turkey has been removed. Using a cooler and ice allows the turkey to remain outside your refrigerator while it brines. Other containers should be refrigerated while they brine.
3. Soak. The size of your turkey will determine how long you will want to soak it. Be careful not to soak it more than 3 days as it will potentially become over seasoned. For turkeys 15 pounds or less, soak them for up to 24 hours. For larger turkeys, soak them for up to 3 days.
4. Dry. Remove your turkey from the brine water and set it on a drying rack for a bit to allow it to dry thoroughly before roasting it. You can also pat it dry with paper towels to speed up the process.
5. Roast. Rub the skin of the turkey with butter to help it tenderize and turn a golden brown. Roast your turkey for 15 minutes per pound, using an oven temperature of 325F degrees. The internal temperature of the meat should be 165F degrees when the meat is done.
Frequently Asked Questions
Following are frequently asked questions that related to the best turkey brine kit recipe.
How Long Should I Brine A Turkey Before Cooking?
The size of your turkey should determine the amount of time it is brined. For a 15 pound or less turkey, you can brine it for 24 hours. Larger turkeys can be brined up to 3 days.
What Happens If You Brine A Turkey Too Long?
If you brine a turkey for too long, it can absorb too much salt, making it over seasoned. To compensate for this, you can add more water than recommended or decrease the amount of time it is soaked in the brine.
Does Turkey Need Any Seasoning After Brining?
No additional seasoning is needed after a turkey has been brined for 24 hours or more. Some folks might choose to stuff their turkey with herbs but those would be more for visual aesthetics at that point.
Can I Take The Turkey Straight Out of The Brine And Put It In The Oven?
Technically, yes you could take the turkey straight out of the brine and place it in the oven. But we recommend drying your turkey before roasting it for the best results and to achieve a golden skin.
What Are The Pros and Cons of a Brine?
As with anything, there are pros and cons to brining a turkey. We believe the pros are that the turkey has a significantly enhanced flavor, the meat is juicy, and the skin is crispy.
Having to plan ahead to brine the turkey before it’s roasted and having to clean out a cooler or bucket can be the cons. However, we believe the pros far outweigh the cons.
Turkey Brine Kit
Using our best homemade turkey brine kit can help you achieve delicious results the first time, in preparing your turkey for any occasion. The results can be incomparable.
Dry Brine vs Wet Brine
There are many dry brines on the market, as well our method for a wet brine. You might be wondering what the difference between the two methods is. Here’s our answer:
A dry brine is a brine that is rubbed on the outside of the turkey, under the skin if desired and perhaps stuffed inside the turkey. It flavors mainly the exterior of the turkey and seasons that portion.
The benefit of the wet brine is that it covers every nook and cranny of the turkey and gets all the way through the turkey from the skin to the bone. It makes the whole turkey delicious. That’s why we prefer a wet brine. It’s more effective.
Turkey Brine & Rub Kit
There’s really no need to use a rub on a turkey that’s been wet brined. It’s typically one or the other.
Ingredients
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup sea salt
3 shallots
5 cloves garlic
2 tbsp fresh rosemary
1 tbsp fresh thyme
1 gallon water (more as needed)
2 tbsp whole peppercorns
Instructions
1. In a sanitized container such as a cooler, bucket or storage tote, place a gallon of warm water.
2. Prepare the garlic by smashing the cloves and prepare the shallots by chopping them.
3. Mix together the dry ingredients, including the rosemary, thyme, smashed garlic, chopped shallots, salt and sugar.
4. Add the dry ingredients to the water and stir until the sugar and salt dissolve completely.
5. Add the turkey. Add more water until the liquid covers the turkey completely.
6. Store in the refrigerator for 1 to 3 days. Or if using a cooler, keep filled with ice for up to 3 days.
7. Before roasting, remove the turkey from the brine mixture and let it dry thoroughly before roasting. Pat dry with paper towels if needed.
8. Once dry, rub the turkey skin with butter and stuff with herbs if desired. Roast the turkey at 325F degrees for 15 minutes per pound. Tent with foil part way through to make sure the meat doesn’t over cook. The turkey meat should be 165F degrees at the thickest part, when it is done.
9. Allow the turkey to rest for 30 minutes before serving.
Notes:
The brine time will be determined by the size of the turkey. For a smaller turkey that is 15 pounds or under, brine for 24 hours. For a larger turkey, brine for up to 3 days.
If you plan to brine a large turkey for more than 24 hours, use 2-3 gallons of water for every 1 cup of salt, to make sure the turkey doesn’t over season.
For A Faster Method: Top 10 Best Turkey Brines That Are Already Prepared
We’re just going to tell you up front that we prefer our homemade brine, but perhaps you don’t want to make a homemade brine and you prefer to buy one that’s already put together. Here are some already prepared brines that can be purchased and range in price from $10 – $50 a pop.
1. Brine Some Turkey – All-Natural Brine Kit and Seasoning
This kit is advertised as helping to make your turkey moister during cooking.
2. Aromasong Turkey Brine, For Wet & Dry Brining, 100% Natural
This brine mixture is made for wet or dry brining and includes an herb mixture.
3. Fire & Flavor All-Natural Turkey Perfect Herb Brine Kit, Perfect for Roasting, Grilling, Smoking, Frying
A brine kit that is all natural, gluten-free, non-GMO and kosher. It includes brining bags for turkeys up to 25 pounds.
4. World Market Turkey Brine Mix
It’s made with sea salt, orange peel, cranberries, garlic, sage and juniper berry. It says it makes a masterful seasoning for turkey.
5. Kosmo’s Q Turkey Brine
This brine is intended to be a wet brine and is mixed with 2 gallons of warm water, dissolved and soaked.
6. Organic Turkey Brine Kit – Garlic & Organic Herb Blend by San Francisco Salt Company
This is an organic and kosher certified blend that does not contain any MSG, soy, dairy or gluten.
7. Turkey Brine Kit for up to 25 lbs Turkey – Includes Two Extra Large Double-Sealed Brining Bags, Brine Seasoning Mix and Instructions – Perfect For Thanksgiving and Christmas Dinner
This is a salt and sugar mixture that is intended for a wet brine.
8. Rodelle Turkey Brine Gourmet Spice Blend
This spice blend is intended as a dry brine that has claims of elevating your special occasion turkey.
9. World Market Turkey Brine Kit – Includes Turkey Brine Mix and Brine Bag For Up to 25 Pound Turkey
It includes instructions and everything you need for a savory blend turkey brine.
10. Spice Hunter Turkey Brine & Bag, Original
This one is a natural, kosher certified blend that helps ensure your turkey is moist and flavorful.
Other Already Prepared Turkey Brine Kits
Williams Sonoma Autumn Fruit & Spice Turkey Brine Kit
It has claims of providing an aromatic garlic, orange peel, salt, spices and chili pepper.
Fire & Flavor Turkey Perfect Herb Brine Kit
This brine kit infuses your turkey with flavors of rosemary, thyme, sage and marjoram.
Gourmet Gobbler Turkey Brine Kit
This blend is perfect for turkeys up to 25 pounds, includes a spice mixture and brine bag.
Traeger Orange Brine and Turkey Rub Kit
Traeger produces a dry rub that can be used to brine your turkey before it’s roasted.
Old Fashioned Turkey Brine Kit
Bill Baron’s Specialty Foods produces a turkey brine and herb kit that is old fashioned and naturally gluten free. It comes with a brining bag.
Urban Accents Turkey Brine and Rub Kit, Complete Kit
Includes a spice blend of sea salt, sugar, white peppercorns, black peppercorns, green peppercorns, sage, rosemary, thyme, bay leaves and orange peel.
Spice Islands Kit Turkey Brine Garlic & Herb
Soaking your turkey in this saltwater, herb and spice blend infuses the meat with moisture and flavor.
Pit Boss Turkey Brine Kit
This brine kit prides itself in helping to make your turkey moist, tender and flavorful.
Urban Accents Gourmet Gobbler Turkey Brine and Rub Kit
It includes a spiced brine blend along with a smoky peppercorn turkey rub and a brine bag.
Town & Country Turkey Brine Kit
A Town and Country Turkey Brine Kit is one that is a grocery store prepared version that includes salt, spices and a brine bag.
The Best Turkey Brine Kit Recipe
Equipment
- large container for brining (cooler, bucket or storage container)
Ingredients
- 2 cups brown sugar
- 1 cup sea salt
- 3 shallots
- 5 cloves garlic
- 2 tbsp fresh rosemary
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme
- 1 gallon water (more as needed)
- 2 tbsp whole peppercorns
Instructions
- In a sanitized container such as a cooler, bucket or storage tote, place a gallon of warm water.
- Prepare the garlic by smashing the cloves and prepare the shallots by chopping them.
- Mix together the dry ingredients, including the rosemary, thyme, smashed garlic, chopped shallots, salt and sugar.
- Add the dry ingredients to the water and stir until the sugar and salt dissolve completely.
- Add the turkey. Add more water until the liquid covers the turkey completely.
- Store in the refrigerator for 1 to 3 days. Or if using a cooler, keep filled with ice for up to 3 days.
- Before roasting, remove the turkey from the brine mixture and let it dry thoroughly before roasting. Pat dry with paper towels if needed.
- Once dry, rub the turkey skin with butter and stuff with herbs if desired. Roast the turkey at 325F degrees for 15 minutes per pound. Tent with foil part way through to make sure the meat doesn’t overcook. The turkey meat should be 165F degrees at the thickest part, when it is done.
- Allow the turkey to rest for 30 minutes before serving.
Notes
More Delicious Recipes to Try for the Holidays
Easy Brach’s Christmas Nougats With Peppermint Gumdrop
The Best Christmas Tea Recipe
Reese’s Peanut Butter Christmas Trees Copycat Recipe
Homemade Stauffer’s Christmas Cookies Recipe
The Best Christmas Flavors
Best Christmas Coffee Cake Recipe
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Expect you brine after the turkey is thawed? Everything else is very clear. Thanks, Gals!!
Great question. A DRY brine would be used after the turkey is fully thawed, prepared, and right before it goes in the oven. A WET brine can be used simultaneously as part of the thawing process.