How Much Liquid Do You Need to Brine a Turkey?

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Brining a turkey before roasting is a great way to help ensure moist, flavorful meat. But to brine properly, you need to use the right amount of brine liquid to fully submerge the turkey. So how much brine liquid do you really need?

The amount of brine liquid needed depends on the size of the turkey. Here are some standard brine formulas to follow:

Brine Liquid Amounts by Turkey Size

  • 8 to 12 pounds (3.6 to 5.4 kg) turkey: Use 2 gallons (7.6 liters) of brine
  • 13 to 17 pounds (5.9 to 7.7 kg) turkey: Use 2 1/2 gallons (9.5 liters) of brine
  • 18 to 22 pounds (8.2 to 10 kg) turkey: Use 3 gallons (11.4 liters) of brine

As a general rule of thumb, plan on using 1 gallon of brine per 8 to 10 pounds of turkey.

For larger birds, you may need to mix up extra brine if the turkey isn’t fully submerged. It’s important that the entire turkey is covered in the brine liquid.

Other Tips for Turkey Brining

  • Use a container large enough to fully submerge the turkey. Coolers and stockpots work well.

  • Weigh down the turkey with a plate if it floats It should stay completely immersed

  • Chill the brine before adding the turkey. The brine must be cool to properly brine.

  • Rinse the turkey and pat it dry before roasting This removes excess salt from the skin

  • Adjust roasting time for a brined turkey, Brined birds cook faster than unbrined

  • Brining bags simplify cleanup. Line your container with a brining bag before adding the turkey and brine.

  • Avoid overbrining. Stick to 12-24 hours or the turkey will get too salty.

  • Don’t reuse a brine after brining raw poultry. Make a fresh batch each time.

Brine Ingredient Ratios

The basic brine consists of water and kosher salt. Here are standard brine formulas for different turkey sizes:

  • 8 to 12 pound turkey brine:

    • 2 gallons water
    • 2 1/2 cups kosher salt

  • 13 to 17 pound turkey brine:

    • 2 1/2 gallons water
    • 3 1/4 cups kosher salt

  • 18 to 22 pound turkey brine:

    • 3 gallons water
    • 3 3/4 cups kosher salt

Table salt can be used instead of kosher salt. Reduce the amount to 3/4 of the kosher salt amount called for.

For flavor, you can add aromatics like citrus fruits, herbs, spices, onions, and garlic. Just be sure the brine liquid fully covers the turkey.

Brining Benefits

There are a few key benefits to brining a turkey:

  • Moist meat: Brining allows the turkey to absorb extra moisture, ensuring juicy meat.

  • Seasoned flavor: Brining provides the opportunity to infuse flavor into the turkey with aromatics.

  • Forgiving cooking: Brined turkey stays moist even if you overcook it slightly.

  • Golden crisp skin: A brined turkey often roasts up with shatteringly crispy skin.

So if you want the juiciest, most flavorful roast turkey, brining is highly recommended. Just be sure to use enough brine liquid to fully submerge the turkey during the process. Follow the guidelines above based on turkey size to guarantee brining success!

how much liquid do you need to brine a turkey

How to Cook a Brined Turkey

Once brined, cook the turkey as usual—just pat it dry and carry on with your recipe! Two notes:

  • Turkeys that have been brined tend to cook a little faster than regular turkeys. Check the temperature of the breast and thigh meat halfway through the time you think it will take to cook.
  • Putting stuffing inside a brined turkey: You can do this if you want to, but it will take longer to cook over all. Before taking the turkey out of the oven, make sure the stuffing is still warm on the inside, at 165°F.

how much liquid do you need to brine a turkey

What Is Brining?

Brining means making a salt water solution and submerging the turkey for about 24 hours before roasting. This spa treatment helps the turkey retain more moisture during roasting and prevents it from drying out.

A brine also lets me season the turkey with spices and herbs, especially the skin. One of my favorite pairs is sage and citrus. Its so festive and makes the house smell amazing.

  • This technique is called wet brining. But you can also dry-brine your turkey. For this method, you don’t put the turkey in a brine solution; instead, you just salt the outside and let it sit for a day or so.

how much liquid do you need to brine a turkey

How to Brine a Turkey

FAQ

How much water to brine a turkey?

The basic ratio for a wet turkey brine is to use 2 cups of kosher salt or coarse sea salt for every 2 gallons of water. The benefit of a wet brine is that it can work slightly quicker than a dry brine because it infuses the entire turkey in a salty solution.

How much liquid do you use for brine?

Basic Brine Place that volume of water in a container large enough to hold the brine and the meat. Add 1 tablespoon of salt for every cup of water you used and mix until the salt is completely dissolved. For example, if you are using 1 gallon (16 cups) of water, add 16 tablespoons (1 cup) of salt.

Should a turkey be fully submerged in brine?

Once your brine is ready to go, just make sure that your turkey is lying with the breast down, so that it is fully submerged. Depending on the size of your container, the back of the turkey might be a little out of the water, but that’s fine, as there isn’t much meat on that anyway.

What is the measurement for brine solution?

What Is the Brine Ratio? The basic ratio of salt to water for a brine is 4 tablespoons of kosher salt per 1 quart (4 cups) of water. If you are using fine table salt, reduce the amount to 3 tablespoons. Keep in mind, also, that different kosher salt brands vary in how salty they actually are.

How much water do you add to a turkey brine?

For a turkey under 16 pounds, add 2 cups of water to your measurement. For a turkey over 16 pounds add 3 cups. Once you have measured how much water you need, write it down for future reference. Now you can figure out how much salt and sugar to add to the brine.

How long does it take to brine a Turkey?

Wet brines take no longer than 24 hours, whereas dry brines can be effective for up to 72 hours. Remove giblets and neck from turkey and add to prepared container. Dissolve 2 cups of kosher salt into 2 cups of hot water. Allow to cool. Pour salt solution over turkey. Add remaining water.

How do you brine a 18 lb Turkey?

This recipe takes only a few minutes to assemble and makes enough to brine a 18-20 lb turkey. In a large pot, add the cold water, apple juice, kosher salt, brown sugar, herbs, spices, and citrus. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and stir until sugar and salt have dissolved. Remove from the heat and allow to cool to room temperature.

How do you brine a Turkey before roasting?

Step 2 Place the uncooked turkey in a large brining bag or pot, pour in the brine solution to cover the turkey, and refrigerate for 16 to 24 hours. Step 3 Before roasting, remove the turkey from the brine (discard the brine) and submerge the turkey in a pot or sink filled with fresh, cold water for 15 minutes.

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.

Do you need a bag to brine a Turkey?

If you are using a bag for your brining project, seal it, making sure to remove as much air as possible. This helps to keep the turkey completely immersed in the liquid. Whether or not you are using a bag, it is a good idea to put something heavy on top of the turkey to hold it down in the brine.

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