Kittencal's Best Brown Sugar Turkey Brine

"This brine is enough for up to a 20-pound whole turkey and will produce the most juiciest and delicious bird you will ever have, with this brine you will taste only the turkey not any extra herbs or flavorings that are added in to some brines --- I use my food-safe picnic cooler to brine my turkey in it works quite well, you might want to purchase one if you plan on brining your turkey on a regular basis, and you will once you have tried this method just make certain to purchase one that is food-safe --- you may omit the garlic but I strongly suggest to add it --- you must use only kosher salt not regular table salt --- if desired after brining continue with my recipe#199612"
 
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photo by Jonathan Melendez photo by Jonathan Melendez
photo by Jonathan Melendez
photo by Jonathan Melendez photo by Jonathan Melendez
photo by Jonathan Melendez photo by Jonathan Melendez
photo by Bonnie G #2 photo by Bonnie G #2
Ready In:
24hrs
Ingredients:
7
Yields:
32 cups (approx)
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ingredients

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directions

  • In a large bucket or container mix together the warm water with brown sugar and salt; stir until NO kosher salt and sugar granules remain in the water (make certain to use very warm water so that the salt and suagr will dissolve easily and completely).
  • Add in Worcestershire sauce, peppercorns, and garlic; stir until the Worcestershire sauce is combined.
  • Cool the water until almost room temperature.
  • Wash the turkey inside and out with cold water, then place in the brine (if the brine does not quite cover the turkey, then place it breast-side up to start, then turn it over after a couple of hours later).
  • Place in refrigerator for 24 hours,.
  • Remove the turkey from the brine and rinse the turkey THOROUGHLY under cold running water.
  • Pat dry with paper towels then cover and refrigerate if not preparing right away or continue with my turkey recipe (#199612).

Questions & Replies

  1. What temperature do you cook turkey at and how long to cook.
     
  2. I have a 12lb. Turkey want to fry the turkey help me with the ingredients
     
  3. Hi there. I'm making a turkey on my own for the first time this year. This brine recipe and Kittencal's Roasted Turkey recipe seem like a good way to go. My question is about gravy: I've noticed that some people don't make gravy from brined turkeys because the gravy is too salty. Is that an issue here? If so, how would folks suggest I make the gravy? Thank you in advance to anyone who can help!
     
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Reviews

  1. We used this brine on a 7 pound bone in turkey breast for Thanksgiving. We rubbed the turkey with butter, stuffed the cavity with fresh thyme, onion, and celery, and brushed it with pure maple syrup during the last hour.The skin cas crisp and golden, and the meat was moist and tender. The maple really highlighted the brown sugar in the brine. Thank you for such a delicious start for our holiday dinner!
     
  2. This turned out a juicy, moist, and flavorful turkey. I did use my large crisper drawer in the fridge to brine the turkey overnight, like another reviewer suggested. It worked great! Thanks for a great recipe. This recipe is a keeper.
     
  3. This worked out very well for us. I liked that I had all the brine ingredients in the house as I decided to brine at the last hour and didn't have such things as apple juice or maple in the house. I didn't have a large container, so I just used one of my crisper drawers and then flipped the turkey. Our turkey was moist and delicious, thanks for the recipe.
     
  4. This brine, plus Kittencal's roast turkey directions (#199612), has led to a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner for three years in a row. I brine a 20 - 22 pound bird in a 5 gallon Home Depot bucket for about 18 hours and it's always been tasty and moist after cooking. Highly recommended!
     
  5. This brine made the best turkey that I have ever made or eaten! 5 Stars all the way! I have been brining turkey for the last 4 Thanksgivings and I have always liked brined turkey better than a regular roasted turkey, but with this brine I LOVED the turkey. I used the recipe exactly as written and added a 24 pound turkey. There was enough brine to cover the whole thing. I then baked my turkey using your recipe for Recipe #199612. Thank you for both wonderful recipes! Both are winners in my book!
     
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Tweaks

  1. EXCELLENT recipe! I used this yesterday for Thanksgiving and everyone raved that it was the best turkey they had ever tasted. I used only 28 cups of liqud. I replaced 4 cups of the water with Southern Comfort (24 cups warm water and 4 cups of Southern Comfort). It gave the skin a slightly sweet, "wow" what is that taste. Thanks for the recipe!
     

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