foolproof roast turkey recipe + brining strategies - Improvised Life (2024)

I know of very few people who don’t get anxious at the prospect of roasting a turkey. Because the breast cooks more quickly than the dark meat thigh, it is often dry and overcooked by the time the bird comes out of the oven. Nobody seems to be certain of what, exactly, the best roasting method is, whether high heat or low, tented with foil, or roasted breast down.

Brining, submerging the bird in a salt-and-sugar solution before roasting it, is one of the most foolproof ways I know of to insure a succulent, flavorful roasted turkey. And the best brine I know of for turkey was created by Alice Waters, the inspired, inspiring founder and guiding light of Chez Panisse in Berkeley California, from whom this recipe was adapted (and published in A New Way to Cookfoolproof roast turkey recipe + brining strategies - Improvised Life (2).) The seasonings in the brine bring out the turkey’s natural flavor, and make it taste more like a farm bird with subtle herbal overtones.

The only problem with brining are the logistics: where to get a vessel big enough to hold a turkey in brine for 24 to 72 hours…and then where to store it to keep it cold enough so the bird doesn’t spoil?

If you don’t have a large (at least 16-quart) stockpot, you can use a large plastic storage container, a scrupulously cleaned garbage can or a large foodsafe orbrining bagfoolproof roast turkey recipe + brining strategies - Improvised Life (3), available at housewares stores, many supermarkets and at Amazon. The brining bag is useful because it allows you to set it into a shallow vessel rather than a large upright pot which takes more space in the fridge (But you absolutely HAVE to make sure it’s sealed tightly.) You’ll probably need to make space in the fridge by removing some items whose storage temperature is not critical like condiments, root vegetables and many fruits, and possibly a couple of the shelves. We sometimes have a cooler at the ready (with gel packs or ice)to store these items if we con’t have a cool place to keep them.

We’ve been known to stash the brining turkey in a neighbor’s fridge – fine if you know they’re going elsewhere or if you want to invite them to your dinner

If you live in a cold climate and the temperature is a stable 40′ F or or below, you can leave the bird in it’s brine outdoors in a covered container. If fridge space is a problem, another alternative is to use a camping cooler to hold the bird itself. Seal the bird and brine in a brining bag and place in a cooler, then pack in ice (you can get big bags cheap at a market) OR enough gel packs to keep the temperature just under 40′. Have back-up frozen gel packs and /or ice to replace ones that have cooled down or melted.

Please let us know if you’ve devised your own brining strategies.

If you absolutely don’t want to deal with brining a turkey, here’s an option: Season the bird with salt inside and out at least 24 hours before roasting. Place on a platter and leave uncovered in the fridge. This will allow the skin to dry out and produce a crisper skin when roasted. Salting 24 hours ahead insures that the bird will be well seasoned all the way through and tenderizes it as well – kind of like a quick brine. Figure about 3/4 teaspoon of kosher salt per pound, less if you’re using sea or table salt. Before roasting or stuffing, rinse the bird and pat dry.

Foolproof Roast Turkey Recipe
You may make the brine up to 2 days ahead; cover and refrigerate. If you wish, you can stuff the bird before roasting it; tie the legs together and roast the bird about 20 minutes longer.

Note: water, salt and sugar are the essentials of a brine…you can improvise the flavorings at will

Aromatic Brine
2 gallons water
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons kosher salt
3/4 cup sugar
2 medium onions, peeled and coarsely chopped
1 carrot, peeled and coarsely chopped
1 celery branch, peeled and coarsely chopped
1 leek, white and light green parts only, cleaned and coarsely chopped
3 to 4 sprigs fresh thyme
2 bay leaves
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
1 tablespoon coriander seeds
1/4 teaspoon fennel seeds
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 star anise (optional)

One 12 to 14 pound organic, free-range turkey, giblets, liver and neck reserved for broth*
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
6 large rosemary branches tied together and the cut end to make a brush for basting(optional)

To make the brine: In a large stockpot, bring 1 gallon of water to a boil. Stir in the salt and sugar until completely dissolved.Turn off the heat and add the onion, carrot celery, leek, thyme, bay leaves, peppercorns, coriander and fennel seeds, red pepper flakes, star anise and/or any other flavorings you wish. Stir in 1 gallon cold water. Let the brine cool completely, then refrigerate until cold.

Rinse the turkey inside and out with cold water. Carefully place the turkey in the brine. To keep the turkey submerged below the surface of the brine, place a weight on top of the bird such as a heavy plate or pot lid. Refrigerate 24 to 72 hours (longer is better).

Remove the turkey from the brine and pat dry. Place the turkey on a rack in a large roasting pan and rub all over with olive oil. Let sit 1 hour to come to room temperature.

Preheat the oven to 425’F. Roast until the turkey starts to brown, about 25 minutes. Turn the oven down to 350’F and roast about 10 minutes per pound, until the an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the thigh reads about 160 degrees about 2 to 2 1/2 hours. As the turkey roasts, use the rosemary branch brush to baste it frequently with the pan juices. If the bird begins to darken too much, cover loosely with foil.

Remove the turkey from the oven, transfer to a serving platter and let rest 20 minutes before carving.

*Because the roasted turkey juices will be quite salted from the brine, we recommend pouring them off, skimming off the fat and mixing them with unsalted turkey broth to make a pan sauce. To make a turkey broth, up to the two day’s before, simmer the turkey giblets and neck in about 2 cups unsalted chicken broth for 1/2 hour; then strain and refrigerate until needed.

To make a pan sauce, pour off the juices as directed above. Place the pan on a burner over medium heat until hot and splash in about 1/2 cup white wine. Boil down, stirring and scraping the caramelized bits on the bottom of the pan,until almost dry, and add some of the turkey broth. Continue stirring, scraping and simmering until you have a richly flavored turkey ‘jus’.

Related posts i.e. Thanksgiving sides and desserts:
rosemary apple tartspiced winter squash puree with roasted garlic
celery root and apple puree….
chestnut puree with fennel seed and bayleaf
an easy method for roasting chestnuts
roasted pears for sweet or savory improvisationscranberry walnut conserve (for turkey and midnight snack)

foolproof roast turkey recipe + brining strategies - Improvised Life (2024)

FAQs

How do you brine a turkey for roasting? ›

Directions. Stir cool water, salt, and sugar together in a large, clean stockpot until salt and sugar are completely dissolved. Submerge turkey in brine; cover and refrigerate for 8 to 14 hours. Remove turkey from brine; rinse inside and out under cool running water for several minutes to remove all traces of salt.

Do brined turkeys take longer to cook? ›

Whether you're roasting in a convection oven or on the smoker, brining locks moisture into the meat and even helps your turkey cook a little faster.

Can I use sea salt 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 salt per pound for dry brine turkey? ›

How Much Salt Do You Need to Dry Brine a Turkey? Some dry brining recipes call for salting the bird with 1 teaspoon of salt per pound, letting the turkey dry brine, then rinsing the salt off before roasting.

How long should you brine a turkey before roasting? ›

As a general rule of thumb, you'll want to let the turkey brine for at least 1 hour per pound of turkey. Here's a breakdown of how long to brine a turkey based on size:
  1. 12–14-lb. turkey: 16–18 hours.
  2. 14–16-lb. turkey: 18–20 hours.
  3. 16–18-lb. turkey: 20–22 hours.
  4. 18–20-lb. turkey: 22–24 hours.
Oct 23, 2023

What is the formula 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.

What happens if you don't rinse a turkey after brine? ›

But a brined turkey that is not rinsed would be too salty to eat. Brining slows down the growth of bacteria but does not kill it, said Linda Harris, a microbiologist at the University of California, Davis. She and other food scientists have been trying to get Americans to stop rinsing poultry since the late 1990's.

Is it better to cook a turkey at 325 or 350? ›

Oven-Roasted Turkey

We recommend starting the turkey in a 425 degree oven for 30-45 minutes before tenting the pan with foil and lowering the temperature to 350 degrees until a meat thermometer reads 165 degrees when inserted into the thickest part of the bird.

How long should I brine a 12 lb turkey? ›

For a 12-pound turkey, cover and marinate in the refrigerator 8 to 12 hours. For a turkey larger than 12 pounds, increase the brine so the turkey will be totally submerged when weighted down with the plates. Marinate for at least 12 hours.

Can I use pink Himalayan salt to dry brine turkey? ›

Tips and Tricks to Dry Brining

Most prefer Diamond Crystal; however, Windsor and Morton are both acceptable as well. If you do not have kosher salt, you can make do with coarse sea salt or Himalayan pink salt, just be careful because the finer/smaller the salt crystal, the more salty the food will be.

Can you add too much salt to a brine? ›

Can you put too much salt in a brine? Yes, you can definitely put too much salt in a brine. For starters, a certain amount of water is needed to dissolve salt (250 mL water per 100 grams salt, or about 6 tablespoons per 1 cup water). Our ratio calls for only 1 tablespoon per cup water, so you really don't need much!

What is the ratio of salt to water for brine? ›

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 many cups of salt do I need to brine a turkey? ›

Standard Turkey Brine Formulas
Turkey SizeWaterSalt (Kosher)
8 to 12 pounds (3.6 to 5.4 kilograms)2 gallons (7.6 liters)2 1/2 cups (450 grams)
13 to 17 pounds (5.9 to 7.7 kilograms)2 1/2 gallons (9.5 liters)3 1/4 cups (570 grams)
18 to 22 pounds (8.2 to 10 kilograms)3 gallons (11.4 liters)3 3/4 cups (675 grams)

Are Butterball turkeys brined? ›

Butterball Fresh Whole Turkey is all natural*, never frozen, gluten free, and raised without hormones on American farms. Every fresh turkey is pre-brined before packaging for meat that's always tender and juicy. *All natural means minimally processed and no artificial ingredients.

Can I use table salt to dry brine a turkey? ›

Kosher Salt.

Using kosher salt is non-negotiable, as table salt isn't coarse enough and will make your turkey taste metallic. If you use Diamond Crystal brand kosher salt, add an extra 1 ½ teaspoons per tablespoon of Morton's.

What is the proper way to brine a turkey? ›

How to Brine a Raw Turkey
  1. Make the brine. Using the ratio of one cup kosher salt to one cup sugar per gallon of water, combine all your brine ingredients in a large pot, and bring to a boil to dissolve the salt and sugar. ...
  2. Prepare and submerge the turkey. ...
  3. Keep the turkey cold. ...
  4. Prepare to roast.
Nov 13, 2022

Do you have to brine a turkey before roasting? ›

Brining a turkey is totally optional. If you're short on time or just want the most straight-forward method to roast a turkey, skip the brining step and just use the Simple Roasted Turkey method. Some people swear that brining yields the most tender, juicy meat, but it takes planning ahead.

Do I have to rinse turkey after brining? ›

❌ DON'T Rinse the turkey. This just spreads bacteria. Pat the turkey dry with paper towels and carry on! (Exception: if you do a wet brine, you will need to rinse).

What should I brine my turkey in? ›

In its most basic form, the brine is salt and water—but many cooks don't stop there. Aromatics will add flavor and dimension to the cooked turkey; classic vegetables, like carrots and celery, your favorite herbs, like fresh garlic, and citrus fruits, such as lemon and orange, are all good additions.

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