You’ve found the best turkey brine recipe! This tasty brine not only makes your turkey taste better, but it also keeps it moist and juicy. Watch our video tutorial and try it out for yourself!.
Every year I test, and test and test recipes for Thanksgiving. But not my simple turkey brine recipe. It’s perfect, and I use the same one every single year regardless of how I make my bird.
Every time I roast a turkey or make a Thanksgiving turkey in a slow cooker, I use the same brine.
There’s nothing quite like a perfectly cooked turkey and that 100% starts with a turkey brine. You CANNOT skip it. Trust me, I’ve tested enough to know that it really is a game changer.
There are two specific things you need to brine a turkey, and the rest of the ingredients depend on your recipe.
As the holidays approach, it’s time to start planning that showstopping main course – the Thanksgiving turkey! For many families, turkey is a tradition, but let’s be honest – sometimes it can turn out a little dry. This year, I want to share my secret weapon for making the juiciest, most flavorful turkey you’ve ever tasted – an orange juice brine!
I first tried brining a turkey years ago when I was looking for ways to keep the meat moist. Simply put, brining involves soaking the raw turkey in a saltwater solution before cooking. The salt helps season the meat while also ensuring it stays incredibly tender and juicy. Brining makes a remarkable difference, but I found I could take it a step further by using orange juice as the base for my brine.
The tangy, bright citrus flavor perfectly complements the turkey. And the citric acid in the orange juice actually helps break down the muscle fibers in the meat so it stays deliciously succulent with every bite. Once I tried orange juice brining, there was no going back!
If you’ve never brined a turkey before, it’s surprisingly easy and adds minimal extra time to your Thanksgiving prep Here’s my simple step-by-step method for orange juice brined turkey
Ingredients:
- 1 gallon orange juice
- 1 cup kosher salt
- 1⁄2 cup brown sugar
- 2 oranges, sliced
- 2 lemons, sliced
- 8 sprigs fresh thyme
- 5 cloves garlic, smashed
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 Tbsp black peppercorns
- Water as needed
Directions:
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Combine all ingredients except the turkey in a very large stockpot or clean bucket. Add enough cold water so the brine fully covers the turkey later. Stir well until salt and sugar dissolve.
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Remove turkey from packaging and rinse well. Place turkey breast side down in brine. If needed, weigh down with a plate so turkey is fully submerged. Cover and refrigerate 8-12 hours.
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Remove turkey from brine and pat dry with paper towels. Discard brine. Cook turkey as desired, reducing cook time by 30 minutes since the meat is already partially cooked from brining.
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Let turkey rest at least 30 minutes before carving for exceptionally juicy results!
The orange juice brine ensures a super moist, flavorful turkey every time. The citrus notes perfectly accent the turkey without overpowering it. I like to rub the skin with a little olive oil and poultry seasoning before cooking for crisp, seasoned skin.
One thing I love about brines is you can double or triple the recipe and brine a few days in advance I’ll often brine two small turkeys, then cook one for Thanksgiving and keep the other in the fridge to roast later in the weekend. Talk about easy holiday meal prep!
This Thanksgiving, take your turkey to the next level of juicy, citrusy flavor with an orange juice brine. Your guests will be amazed at the tenderness and you’ll have a new go-to method for holidays to come. Try this simple trick and you may never cook an unbrined turkey again!
How to Brine a Turkey
Brining a turkey might sound fancy or hard, but all you have to do is put it in a salty liquid (with extra flavors if you want) and let it sit for a while. Easy peezy! The brine is used to lock flavor and moisture into the turkey.
A few simple ingredients is all you need for my best turkey brine recipe:
- Apple cider—if you can’t find cider, you can use apple juice instead.
- Water
- Brown Sugar
- Kosher Salt
- Bay Leaves
- Garlic Cloves
- Fresh Rosemary
- Orange Peel
- Lemon Peel
Grab a large stock pot and pour all the ingredients into the pot. You can also use a brining bar if you want. They are great! Stir everything together until the sugar and salt dissolve. Be careful when putting the turkey into the brine. Cover the pot and put it in the fridge for 24 hours.
TIP: If your stock pot doesn’t fit in your fridge, put it in a cooler with ice all around it. It will store great for 24 hours.
How to Make A Turkey Brine
Brining a turkey adds moisture and flavor to the final product. A basic brine recipe is salt and water. For a wet brine, all you need is salt and water. We like to add a few extra spices and flavors. The turkey absorbs all the delicious flavors to make for the most flavorful turkey after cooking.
Brining breaks down muscle fibers and tenderizes the meat. In other words, forget that dry bird, brining will change your life!.
Citrus Turkey Brine
FAQ
What do you put on turkey after brining?
Should a brined turkey be rinsed before roasting?
Is it better to wet brine or dry brine a turkey?
Do I need to brine a turkey if I don’t brine it?
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. Step 1 Combine all of the ingredients in a large pot and bring to a boil, stirring until the salt and sugar dissolve. Turn off the heat, cover, and allow the brine to cool completely.
What can I use instead of sugar in a turkey brine?
Sugar: White sugar or sugar substitute. Brine sounds scary but is easy to adapt. Variation tip: Adding ice to the brine will help keep the temperature of the brine, infuse more flavor and Help keep the bird submerged. This Citrus Turkey Brine is truly a game changer.
Do you brine kosher turkey?
Do not brine kosher turkey are self-basting turkeys like Butterball. With the wet brine, the whole turkey is submerged in a salt water solution. That salt solution gets into the cells of the meat, breaks down the muscle and is trapped. Once the turkey is cooking that seasoned solution can’t escape.
How do you brine a 20 pound 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.
How do you cook a Turkey with orange peel?
Remove the turkey from the water, pat dry and place breast-side up on a roasting rack set in a large roasting pan. Using a vegetable peeler, shave off thick pieces of orange peel and slice them very thin (reserve the orange). Combine with the butter, thyme leaves, salt and pepper in a bowl.
Can You brine a frozen turkey?
Just keep the following points in mind: Though you can brine a frozen, thawed bird, it’s best to brine fresh turkeys. Brining a frozen turkey isn’t always necessary, because frozen turkeys are typically already injected with a sodium solution. Putting this into a well-salted brine could lead to over-seasoning.