Best Best Brine Ever For Turkey Or Chicken Recipes

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THE BEST TURKEY BRINE



The Best Turkey Brine image

This is our go-to brine for turkey. It's simple, flavorful and most importantly leaves you with a succulent, juicy, perfectly-seasoned bird. It's also perfect for chicken, pork chops, Cornish game hens - you name it. While we like the combination of thyme and sage, you can also use other hearty herbs such as rosemary, oregano or marjoram.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories     condiment

Time 10m

Yield 12 to 14 servings

Number Of Ingredients 7

Kosher salt
1/4 cup sugar
One 12- to 14-pound turkey
3 tablespoons whole black peppercorns
5 thyme branches
3 sage sprigs
1 lemon, zest peeled into strips with a vegetable peeler

Steps:

  • Combine 1/2 cup salt, the sugar and 1 quart water in a medium pot and bring to a boil over high heat. Stir until the salt and sugar are fully dissolved, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat and add the peppercorns, thyme, sage and lemon strips. Let steep and cool to room temperature.
  • Pour the brine into a large stockpot or bucket and add 3 quarts cold water. Remove the neck and giblets (reserve for gravy) from the turkey and put it into the brine, pushing it down to cover. Refrigerate for 24 hours.
  • Remove the turkey from the brine; rinse and pat dry. Cook according to your favorite method.

ULTIMATE TURKEY BRINE



Ultimate Turkey Brine image

Simple overnight brine that will make any turkey moist and tasty. You can use this recipe for turkeys in the 15 to 20-pound range. Brining works best for fresh turkeys; you should definitely not brine any turkey that is already injected with a 'solution.'

Provided by Eric

Categories     Side Dish     Sauces and Condiments Recipes

Time 2h25m

Yield 30

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 gallon water
2 cups kosher salt
1 ½ cups dark brown sugar
12 whole cloves
3 bay leaves
1 tablespoon whole black peppercorns
2 ½ teaspoons dried rosemary
2 ½ teaspoons dried thyme

Steps:

  • Bring water to a boil in a large stockpot. Stir salt and sugar into the water until dissolved; bring water again to a boil. Add cloves, bay leaves, peppercorns, rosemary, and thyme to the water, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook mixture at a simmer for about 20 minutes.
  • Refrigerate brine until completely cooled.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 44.1 calories, Carbohydrate 11.3 g, Fat 0.1 g, Fiber 0.3 g, Protein 0.1 g, Sodium 6080.8 mg, Sugar 10.7 g

BASIC ALL PURPOSE BRINE FOR MEATS, CHICKEN, AND TURKEY



Basic All Purpose Brine for Meats, Chicken, and Turkey image

Make and share this Basic All Purpose Brine for Meats, Chicken, and Turkey recipe from Food.com.

Provided by PalatablePastime

Categories     Christmas

Time 3h15m

Yield 1 quart

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 tablespoon black peppercorns
2 sprigs fresh thyme
3 bay leaves
4 -6 cloves garlic, sliced
4 cups water
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup kosher salt

Steps:

  • Makes 1 quart- make up additional amounts of brine if needed until meat is submerged.
  • Stir ingredients together in a saucepan and bring to a boil.
  • Continue stirring until sugar is dissolved.
  • Allow to cool.
  • Place meat or poultry in a food safe plastic bag inside another container for support and leakage control (oven roasting bags are a fine choice- NOT garbage bags).
  • Pour cooled brine into bag, and squeeze out as much air as possible and seal with a twistie tie.
  • Refrigerate for 3-4 hours for 3 pounds meat (such as pork ribs), 5-6 hours for a nice roasting hen, or 12-24 hours for a turkey, 12 hours being for a small one and the longer time for those turkeys around 20+ pounds.
  • Discard brine before using and pat meat dry.
  • If using poultry, you may want to add citrus fruit such as oranges or lemons, additional fresh herbs, or cloves of garlic into the cavity.
  • Prepare meat as desired- roast, bbq, etc.

BASIC BRINE FOR JUICY, TENDER CHICKEN OR TURKEY



Basic Brine for Juicy, Tender Chicken or Turkey image

I never make any sort of chicken/turkey without brining it first. Once you try this recipe, you won't either. This is my standard brine that I use most often. This allows me to add any flavoring, dry rub, or sauce to my chicken without competing with the brine flavors. The brining process forces water into the muscle tissues of the meat by a process known as diffusion and osmosis. This additional moisture causes the muscle tissues to swell and hold more water. The resulting water in the muscle tissues will make the meat more moist and tender. Any spices herbs or other flavorings you add to the brine solution will get taken deep into the meat with the water.

Provided by Brandess

Categories     Chicken Breast

Time 5m

Yield 1 gallon

Number Of Ingredients 3

1 gallon cold water
1/2 cup kosher salt (reduce to 1/4 cup if using regular table salt.)
2/3 cup light brown sugar

Steps:

  • Mix brine together well with a whisk.
  • Place 1 whole chicken (thawed or frozen- you may also use chicken parts.) in brine for 2 hours up to over night. Cover and store in the refrigerator.
  • Remove chicken from brine and rinse chicken well. You are now ready to make a tender juicy chicken dish of your choosing.
  • NOTES: You can do this with turkey, as well. Also, you will notice that your leftovers, even after refrigerated overnight, are so tender and juicy whether eaten cold or reheated. The moisture retention really helps to make a chicken meal morph into a second meal when it holds its moisture. If doing a whole turkey, use the recipe servings changer to up the servings to 6-10. Put your turkey in an insulated cooler with enough water to cover and add in a 5 pound bag of ice. Brine overnight.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 557.6, Sodium 56741.4, Carbohydrate 143.9, Sugar 142.4, Protein 0.2

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