Recreate this Alton Brown turkey brine recipe for a mouthwatering and crowd-pleasing main dish on Thanksgiving. This foolproof recipe isn't just good, it's certainly the juiciest turkey you'll ever have!
Alton Brown’s turkey brine At-a-Glance:
- A wet-brine mixture for a 14-16 lb turkey: vegetable stock + kosher salt + light brown sugar + whole black peppercorns + allspice berries + chopped candied ginger. Food Network+2Epicurious+2
- Cooler method: thaw/two-day prep in a large cooler (or suitably large container), immerse the turkey in the chilled brine + iced water for 8-16 hours (≈12 hours is ideal), turning halfway through. Epicurious+1
- Rinse the bird after brining, pat dry thoroughly (to promote crispy skin), then roast at 500 °F for ~30 minutes, reduce to 350 °F, and continue until done, no basting required. Food Network+1
- Key benefit: this brining method changes the turkey’s protein structure so it retains more moisture and absorbs seasoning deeply, yielding juicy white and dark meat.
The Alton Brown Turkey Brine Recipe You Shouldn't Miss
No Thanksgiving celebration is complete without a delicious turkey recipe. Luckily, we've found an amazing way to make sure your whole turkey is tasty and sensational. Thanks to Alton Brown, we've learned that brining is the best way to start our annual turkey dish. The secret behind a successful Thanksgiving dinner is making sure the turkey doesn't turn out dry, and it's all in the preparation. Follow these simple steps and have a wonderful turkey dish come Thanksgiving. You'll never go back to your traditional turkey recipe ever again!
This is a simple meal of rice, ground turkey, and green beans. https://t.co/9X9hgW4dRh #TurkeyRecipes pic.twitter.com/Fnb0HqFkFN
— Homemade Recipes (@BestHomeRecipes) August 16, 2017
Ingredients:
- 1 gallon of vegetable stock
- 1/2 cup of light brown sugar
- 1 cup of Kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp of black peppercorn
- 1/2 tsp of allspice berries
- 1/2 tsp of candied ginger
- ice cubes
- 1/2 apple
- 1/2 onion
- cinnamon sticks
- sprigs of rosemary
- sprigs of sage
- canola oil
Step 1: Prepare The Brine
Prepare the brine the night before you cook your turkey. Get a large saucepan and pour in 1 gallon of vegetable stock.
Step 2: Add The Seasonings
Add the sugar, Kosher salt, black peppercorn, allspice berries, and candied ginger. Stir the mixture well and bring it to a boil.
Step 3: Add The Ice
Remove the mixture from the heat and pour it all over a huge bucket of ice cubes while it is still hot.
Step 4: Add The Chicken
Soak the turkey in the brine and leave it in a cool place overnight.
Step 5: Prepare The Turkey
Preheat the oven to 500 degrees before preparing the turkey. Remove the turkey from the brine and pat it dry with a paper towel or a clean cloth.
Step 6: Tie The Turkey
Tie up the legs of the turkey.
Step 7: Stuff The Turkey
Put two sprigs of rosemary, a sprig of sage, onions, and apple slices.
Step 8: Brush With Oil
Brush the turkey with some canola oil.
Step 9: Use A Temperature Probe
Stab a temperature probe into the deepest part of the breast meat. This will tell you later on if the turkey when the turkey is ready.
Step 10: Plug In The Temperature Probe
Plug in the temperature probe and set the alarm to 161.
Step 12: Put Aluminum Foil
After the first 30 minutes, pull the turkey out of the oven and cover the breast with aluminum foil to prevent overcooking. Lower the temperature to 350 degrees and roast the turkey again for another two and a half hours.
Step 12: Serve Alton Brown Turkey Brine And Enjoy!
Get the turkey out of the oven, let it cool slightly, and serve it with all the trimmings so everyone will enjoy the juiciest and most flavorful turkey ever!
You can also watch the video tutorial for this turkey recipe from SAM THE COOKING GUY below:
Now that you've learned the most effective way to make a juicy and tasty turkey, there's no room for stressful food preparation. This Alton Brown turkey brine recipe is going to guarantee zero leftovers! We wish you a happy and successful Thanksgiving feast!
What do you think of this Alton Brown turkey brine recipe? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below!
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