Brining Your Turkey

I want to pass on my grandmothers’ preparation for the family Thanksgiving family feast. Right now, 24-hours prior to the big day, let’s talk about brining your family turkey.

Brining a turkey has been popular for about 20-years now for foodies however, my grandmother and I did this back when I use to have to stand on a kitchen chair to help her. I have been over to friends’ houses for Thanksgiving and I could always tell if the host had brined the turkey before cooking. Brining makes that bird so much better in flavor and moistness.

The process started with my grandmother going to the local butcher about a week prior to pick up a 21 to 22-pound turkey. Once she brought it home, she would have my grandfather hang the turkey in her root cellar.

A day before Thanksgiving she would mix her brining solution together early in the morning and then put the brine outside to cool down to at least 60-degrees. She thought that adding a turkey to a hot or warm brine was not healthy.

This is grandma’s Kurz’s turkey brining recipe,

3 – Cups Kosher or brining salt

2 – Cups Light Brown Sugar

3 – Tbsps. of Dried Tarragon

3 – Tbsps. Of dried Black Pepper

3 – Tbsps. Of dried Parsley

3 – Tbsps. of dried Sage

6 – Bay Leaves

1 – Orange, zest, and juice

In your biggest pot, fill 80% full of water and put on the stove and bring to a simmer. Once there add the salt & sugar and stir to they are dissolved. Once dissolved add the other ingredients and remove from the heat. Place the brine outside or in the fridge to cool to below 60-degrees.

Brining solution cooling

In preparation for the turkey and brining solution, get ready a big pot or what I use is a 5-gallon Home Depot bucket lined with kitchen trash bag. You do not need the bag as Home Depot buckets are food grade. I just use the kitchen bag for easier cleanup.

When the brine solution is close to 60-degrees, I pull the turkey from the refrigerator, rinse it out and salt & pepper well the inside and outside. Once that is done, I place the turkey into the lined bucket and then pour in the brining solution. Typically, I must add a weight (Pack of Frozen veggies works) to keep the turkey submerged in the solution. Add a bit more  water if need so the brining solution covers the turkey.

Then place the turkey is a cold location, under 48-degrees temp or better. My wife who is a retired chef would prefer a colder spot under 42-degrees. I use our extra refrigerator in our cellar.

Turkey covered with brining solution. Ready for a weight and then the refrigerator.

In the past when we did not have a basement, I covered the turkey with ice and set it outside. When we lived in Florida, we used a small cooler and kept adding ice.

Soak the turkey for a minimum of 12-hours however, more is better. Typically, I brine for 20 to 24-hours.

Pull the turkey from the brining solution and allow to drain for about an hour before you put in the oven to cook which is another story that I will cover if I have time later today.

I owe everything I know about cooking to my grandmother. Enjoy!

Freedom Through Self-Reliance 

By Published On: November 25, 2020Categories: Recipes, Uncategorized15 Comments on Brining Your Turkey

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15 Comments

  1. wwes November 25, 2020 at 11:17

    I had never eaten a brined turkey until a couple of years ago, and it was definitely a game changer. Thanks for the post and the recipe!

    • johnyMac November 25, 2020 at 11:46

      wwes, you are welcome.

      73 & God Bless

  2. James November 25, 2020 at 11:24

    Sounds tasty,alas,no turkey for me this year as running solo,that said,a few extra Blue Moons will be stashed in the fridge!

    Happy Thanksgiving to all hear and all the other citizens in this country,even those disagree with!

  3. DVM November 25, 2020 at 11:24

    So delicious looking friend. What a great, ahem, traditional American meal!

  4. Anonymous November 25, 2020 at 12:20

    5

  5. Brad November 25, 2020 at 13:05

    I use a very similar brine with the exception of a gallon of apple cider. Pretty tasty

  6. a different james November 25, 2020 at 14:11

    Nice. I’ve been using ‘The Fat Mans Brine’ recipe for just as long for smoking all poultry and turkey frying. Yum.

  7. JD November 25, 2020 at 14:52

    My mistake. I thought this was an article on what to do about Beijing’s bitch:)

    • Johnny Paratrooper November 25, 2020 at 17:36

      Do you see Corn Pops in the recipe?
      Also, it ain’t just China building the Belt and Road and taking control of American interests and Corporations.

  8. having a bad day November 25, 2020 at 15:06

    Sounds like a great recipe. I would just use caution on the trash bag. Some trash bags have insecticide mixed into the plastic formulation to keep down on bugs in the trash.

    • johnyMac November 25, 2020 at 15:47

      Great point having a bad day!

      73 & God Bless

  9. Scurvy November 25, 2020 at 17:52

    Thanks for the brine formula. Now, did she have one for the rub before cooking?

    I stumbled on the brine/rub method ten years ago and kick myself for not figuring it out sooner. ZipLoc makes some XL bags for storing clothing that are about five gallons in size that should work well. The sealed bags allows for periodic agitation of the brine.

    Happy Thanksgiving to ALL!

    • johnyMac November 26, 2020 at 12:46

      Thanks Scurvy on the XL plastic bag trick.

      Just before I put the turkey in the oven, after stuffing it of course, I just salt, pepper, and poultry season the outside.

      73 & God Bless

  10. Pk47 November 26, 2020 at 08:18

    I’ve never had a brined turkey before. Does this process impart a strong salt flavor to the meat? My spouse doesn’t like strong salty foods.

    • johnyMac November 26, 2020 at 12:44

      No it doesn’t. The salt just helps the moisture to penetrate the skin into the meat. The meat has a very faint savory flavor. Faint because turkey is a bit stronger than a chicken lets say.

      Try it and don’t tell her or look for another recipe on the interwize as this one was my grandmothers.

      73 & God Bless

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