{"id":8373,"date":"2020-11-19T15:24:14","date_gmt":"2020-11-19T20:24:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.eatturkey.org\/?p=8373"},"modified":"2020-11-23T10:48:16","modified_gmt":"2020-11-23T15:48:16","slug":"time-to-brine-your-turkey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.eatturkey.org\/2020\/11\/19\/time-to-brine-your-turkey\/","title":{"rendered":"Time to Brine Your Turkey"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Whether you plan to roast, grill or smoke your turkey, you may be wondering whether taking time to brine your bird is a necessary step. While we love to be the authority on all things turkey, we asked grilling professional Robyn Lindars, a.k.a. GrillGirl<\/a>, for her expert opinion:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe answer is YES! Brining is your chance to take your bird to the spa and let it hang out in a saltwater bath, which will help retain moisture (and flavor!) during the cooking process.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Brining isn\u2019t a new technique. Dating back centuries, brining began as a method of preserving meat long before the days of perfectly climate-controlled meat cases. But we assume you\u2019re not here for a history lesson!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Rosemary
Rosemary Orange Turkey Brine by GrillGirl<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Today, brining really has one main goal: keeping the turkey tender and extra juicy while it cooks. In its simplest form, the salt mixture penetrates the turkey meat, helping it retain moisture while cooking. However, you can also add herbs and spices to the brine help to boost the turkey\u2019s flavor profile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are two types of brines: wet and dry. One uses liquid and, you guessed it, the other uses dry ingredients. We\u2019ve broken each brining type down to help you make the best choice for your turkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wet Brine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Making a wet brine at home is easy as 1, 2, 3, using just a few simple ingredients. The most basic brine recipe is just water and kosher salt at a ratio of one cup of salt to one gallon of water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Develop additional flavor for your turkey by adding fresh herbs, seasonings, citrus or even apple juice to the brine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"honey
Honey Glazed Smoke Turkey Breast by Salt Pepper Skillet<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Here are some of our favorite wet turkey brine recipes to get you started:<\/p>\n\n\n\n