Description
Ree Drummond’s pioneer woman turkey brine elevates holiday poultry with a perfect salt and herb blend. Fragrant rosemary, thyme, and peppercorns ensure juicy, flavorful meat that will delight your festive gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 gallons (7.6 litres) cold water
- 3 cups (710 ml) apple juice or apple cider
- 1 ½ cups (350 g) kosher salt
- 2 cups (450 g) brown sugar
- 4 tbsps (60 ml) fresh rosemary leaves
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tbsps (45 ml) peppercorns
- 5 whole bay leaves
- Peel of 3 large oranges
Instructions
- Prepare Brine Liquid: Combine apple juice, water, rosemary, garlic, kosher salt, brown sugar, peppercorns, bay leaves, and orange zest in a large cooking pot. Heat while stirring until salt and sugar completely dissolve.
- Cool Brine Mixture: Remove from heat, cover, and allow liquid to cool naturally to room temperature, enabling flavors to meld and intensify.
- Submerge Turkey: Transfer cooled aromatic liquid into a spacious brining container or heavy-duty bag, carefully immersing the entire turkey to ensure complete coverage.
- Refrigerate and Marinate: Position the brining turkey in the refrigerator, maintaining temperature below 40°F (4°C), and let it rest for 18-22 hours to allow deep flavor penetration and tenderization.
- Rinse and Dry: Remove turkey from brine, discard liquid, and thoroughly rinse under cold water for 10-15 minutes to eliminate excess salt. Use clean paper towels to meticulously dry the turkey’s entire surface, creating an ideal canvas for subsequent cooking preparations.
Notes
- Balance Brining Time: Strictly adhere to 18-22 hours to prevent over-salting and maintain optimal meat tenderness without compromising flavor profile.
- Temperature Control: Keep brining turkey consistently below 40°F (4°C) in refrigerator to prevent bacterial growth and ensure food safety during marination process.
- Thorough Rinsing: Carefully rinse turkey for 10-15 minutes under cold water to remove excess salt, preventing potential overseasoning and maintaining delicate meat texture.
- Drying Technique: Use multiple clean paper towels to completely dry turkey surface, ensuring better skin crispness and preparing meat for subsequent cooking methods.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 15
- Calories: 215
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 29100 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 53 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg