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There are a lot of opinions out in the world about how best to prep a turkey for Thanksgiving. Should you make a dry-brine turkey? Wet-brine? Skip brining altogether? We’ll just cut right to the chase: The official Epi opinion is that dry-brining is the only brine method you should consider when prepping a holiday bird. The process is literally just coating the raw turkey in salt (and maybe a few other flavorings) and letting it hang out in the fridge for a couple of days. It’s exponentially easier to pull off than a wet brine and it imbues the meat with so much flavor, your guests will never complain about dry, tasteless meat again. But let’s back up:
As Thanksgiving approaches, many home cooks are getting ready to cook a turkey for their holiday meal One important step in preparing a turkey is proper storage – especially deciding whether to leave it covered or uncovered in the refrigerator I’ll explain below why you should leave your turkey uncovered, as well as provide some tips on how long you can safely store it this way.
Why Leave a Turkey Uncovered?
Leaving your uncooked turkey uncovered in the fridge helps to dry out the skin. This results in crisper, crunchier skin when you cook it Here’s why
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Moisture is the enemy of crispy skin An uncovered turkey will lose moisture to the dry fridge air over time
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A covered turkey is sealed in with its own moisture, which will make the skin soft and flabby.
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Drying also concentrates flavors and seasonings on the skin surface.
So for the crispiest possible skin on your holiday bird, leave it uncovered in the fridge to dehydrate the skin.
How Long Can You Leave It Uncovered?
An uncooked turkey can safely be left uncovered in the refrigerator for 1-2 days. Here are a few guidelines:
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A fresh turkey can sit uncovered for up to 2 days after the sell-by or use-by date printed on the packaging.
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A thawed frozen turkey can be left uncovered for 1-2 days after it’s fully thawed.
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For maximum impact, uncover the turkey 24 hours before cooking for noticeably drier skin. Even just a few hours helps.
Tips for Uncovered Turkey Storage
Follow these tips to safely store your turkey uncovered and achieve the crispiest possible skin:
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Place the raw turkey on a rimmed baking sheet to catch any juices that may drip. This keeps the fridge clean.
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Make sure your fridge temperature is set to 40°F or below. Cold air helps dry the skin.
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Remove giblets from inside the turkey cavity and cook separately if desired.
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Avoid washing or rinsing the raw turkey, which can spread bacteria. Just pat the skin dry.
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Rub the skin with kosher salt and any other desired seasonings before refrigerating uncovered.
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Store turkey on the bottom shelf towards the back of the fridge, the coldest area.
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If brining the turkey, do a dry brine by rubbing it with salt and seasoning. A wet brine makes the skin soggy.
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Dry out turkeys that have been brined or spatchcocked using the same uncovered fridge method.
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Never leave a turkey at room temperature for more than 2 hours after cooking.
The Benefits of Uncovered Refrigeration
Leaving your turkey uncovered in the fridge may seem counterintuitive. But as you can see, it offers some major benefits:
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The fridge air pulls moisture from the skin, resulting in super crispy skin after cooking. No more soft, rubbery skin!
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Seasonings and salt applied to the skin get concentrated as it dries out, boosting flavor.
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Short 1-2 day timeframe prevents bacterial growth that uncovered meat at room temp would cause.
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Allows you to prep the turkey early and achieve amazing skin without last minute rush.
So go ahead – leave that turkey uncovered as you prep it for your upcoming holiday meal. Just follow safe fridge storage guidelines, and you’ll be rewarded with the crispiest, crunchiest turkey skin possible. Your guests will definitely thank you!
Why dry-brining results in the best turkey:
The wet-brining method involves some complex maneuvers. For one, you’ll need to source a giant bucket or a big bag to let the turkey bathe in. It’s a process prone to nightmarish outcomes (#throwback to when former Epi food editor Rhoda Boone ended up with a fridge flooded with turkey water). You’re far less likely to encounter such problems when making a dry-brined turkey. Sure, you’ll have to make a little room in the fridge, but that’s the nature of Thanksgiving turkey, no matter which route you take.
Dry-brining has more going for it than mere user-friendliness. It also renders the turkey skin extra crispy: As the turkey rests uncovered in the fridge, the skin dries out, allowing it to crisp beautifully in the oven. Additionally, dry-brining ensures the turkey meat is penetrated with seasoning throughout.
When you dry-brine a bird, the salt draws out moisture from the turkey, causing the salt to dissolve. Once dissolved, the salt combines with those turkey juices and gets reabsorbed into the meat. Along the way, the process breaks down muscle proteins, giving way to the most tender, moist, well-seasoned turkey you’ll ever taste, no basting or buckets required.
Dry brining vs. wet brining:
There are two ways to brine your Thanksgiving turkey: a wet brine or a dry brine. Dry brining simply involves rubbing a turkey in a salt-and-herb mixture and letting it sit in the refrigerator for many hours (usually about one hour per pound). Wet brining is slightly more involved: it requires soaking a turkey in a salt-water solution (herbs, spices, and aromatics can be incorporated, and sometimes other liquids like beer or molasses are added to the water) for several hours or overnight.
How long can I keep a brined turkey in the fridge?
FAQ
How long can you leave turkey uncovered in the fridge?
Refrigerate the turkey.
Place the turkey on a wire rack set inside a rimmed baking sheet, and refrigerate uncovered for 1 to 3 days.
Is it safe to leave meat uncovered in the fridge?
Leaving uncovered meat in the fridge can lead to bacteria growth but that’s only after an excessive amount of time. It’s alright to leave meat uncovered in the fridge for upwards of 36 hours.
Should I cover my turkey or leave it uncovered?
We’ve found that covering a turkey in foil yields much moister results than roasting it without foil, and we favor simply covering up the breast to even out …Nov 13, 2024
Can you unwrap a turkey the night before?
The night before Thanksgiving, completely unwrap the turkey. Then remove the neck and the giblets. These will be in the cavity of the turkey. The giblets will likely be in a small bag and the turkey neck is big and you will find it easily.