Ultimate Turkey Brine

Rating: 4.71 stars
21 Ratings
  • 5 star values: 18
  • 4 star values: 2
  • 3 star values: 0
  • 2 star values: 0
  • 1 star values: 1

Simple overnight brine that will make any turkey moist and tasty. You can use this recipe for turkeys in the 15 to 20-pound range. Brining works best for fresh turkeys; you should definitely not brine any turkey that is already injected with a 'solution.'

By Eric

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Recipe Summary

prep:
5 mins
cook:
20 mins
additional:
2 hrs
total:
2 hrs 25 mins
Servings:
30
Yield:
30 servings
Nutrition Info
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Ingredients

30
Original recipe yields 30 servings
The ingredient list now reflects the servings specified

Directions

  • Bring water to a boil in a large stockpot. Stir salt and sugar into the water until dissolved; bring water again to a boil. Add cloves, bay leaves, peppercorns, rosemary, and thyme to the water, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook mixture at a simmer for about 20 minutes.

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  • Refrigerate brine until completely cooled.

Cook's Note:

Pour cooled brine into a non-reactive container large enough to hold your turkey. I keep a large plastic bucket just for brining. Add thawed turkey; add enough cool water to cover turkey with liquid. Refrigerate overnight to 12 hours. Remove from brine and let sit on counter about 2 hours before planning to start roasting (see 'Ultimate Roast Turkey' recipe).

Nutrition:

The nutrition data for this recipe includes the full amount of the brine ingredients. The actual amount of the brine consumed will vary.

Nutrition Facts

Per Serving:
44 calories; protein 0.1g; carbohydrates 11.3g; fat 0.1g; sodium 6080.8mg. Full Nutrition
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Reviews (15)

Read More Reviews

Most helpful positive review

Victoria
Rating: 5 stars
12/20/2013
This is my second attempt at brining. Once you get the hang of it(like most things)....it's so simple! My daughter doesn't usually like turkey because it's usually dry. But after the first turkey.....she was like "MoM! You have to make it like this FOREVER" it was so good. Can't wait to see how this one comes out. Thanks for the garlic idea too! Read More
Helpful
(14)
21 Ratings
  • 5 star values: 18
  • 4 star values: 2
  • 3 star values: 0
  • 2 star values: 0
  • 1 star values: 1
Reviews:
Most Helpful Most Positive Least Positive Newest
Victoria
Rating: 5 stars
12/20/2013
This is my second attempt at brining. Once you get the hang of it(like most things)....it's so simple! My daughter doesn't usually like turkey because it's usually dry. But after the first turkey.....she was like "MoM! You have to make it like this FOREVER" it was so good. Can't wait to see how this one comes out. Thanks for the garlic idea too! Read More
Helpful
(14)
plasmazombie
Rating: 4 stars
11/23/2012
I also included 1 tbs. oregano and 3 cloves of garlic. Perfect turkey. Read More
Helpful
(14)
stevemax
Rating: 5 stars
11/30/2014
Good stuff. We soaked our bird in this for about 24 hours. I rubbed olive oil on the turkey and put black pepper on it before I indirect grilled it on my Weber kettle grill. Absolutely fantastic! Read More
Helpful
(4)
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LSterritt
Rating: 5 stars
11/26/2016
THE BEST brine I've ever used. All of my guests said the turkey was the best one they'd ever had (8 guests)!! After brining I let the turkey sit for 2 hours put butter under the skin olive oil all over the top with salt and pepper. Took an apple and put 1/2 in the neck cavity and half inside the bird along with 1/2 an onion fresh sage rosemary and thyme and baked a 20 pound turkey for 4 1/2 hours. The additional thing I do is take.all the giblets and the neck and put them In a small saucepan with salt and pepper and water. I use that to baste the turkey every 30 minutes or so and continue to add water as I use it back to the cooking giblets and neck. This makes the best gravy juice as well. Read More
Helpful
(3)
slcartwright
Rating: 5 stars
02/17/2014
Love this! Nuff said! Read More
Helpful
(3)
Tony Gandy
Rating: 5 stars
11/25/2016
Everyone thought it was the best Turkey they had ever eaten. I also smoked the turkey after a 10 hour brine. Smoked at low heat (160F for 3 hours) then raised temp to 300F unit thermometer read 170F. Was perfect. Read More
Helpful
(1)
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Sharon Appich
Rating: 5 stars
11/27/2015
Made for great grilled turkey. Family loved it. Great flavor and moist. Read More
Helpful
(1)
Kurick Dumuzi
Rating: 5 stars
11/25/2015
I have used this on around 5 times and it is great I like to add two boxes of chicken broth and less water. So in all one gallon of liquid Read More
Helpful
(1)
cookn bob
Rating: 5 stars
11/25/2020
Awesome brine makes a awesome turkey. Worth the extra time. Read More
Helpful
(1)
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