Youll love the sweet and savory combination of apple cider, orange juice, onion, garlic, rosemary, thyme and bay leaves. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature (at least 40 to 60 minutes). Im making the turkey this year and want to know do I use one gallon of water and still 2 quarts of the apple cider? The rosemary and sage are specific but the thyme isnt & I want to make sure I do it correctly!! It's a convenient way to speed up the roasting time and it results in evenly browned, moist turkey. apple cider turkey brine, brined turkey, turkey brine. 1 (14.0-pound) turkey, neck and giblets removed. Why on earth would anyone air dry the bird in the fridge for 4-hours after it has been apple brined and patted dry? The total cooking time will vary depending on the size of your turkey, on how cold your turkey is when it goes into the oven, and on your individual oven. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. recipe for the turkey, which she smokes after brining. This versatile apple cider turkey brine works well with whole turkeys, turkey legs, turkey breasts, or even whole chickens. If you can boil water, then you can make a simple brine for turkey. If it is at room temp, it may take less time to cook. It infuses the meat with so much flavor from apple cider, celery, onion, oranges and fresh herbs. Unlike an oven bag (DONT use an oven bag its not thick enough and youll surely spring a leak!) Place turkey on rack in shallow pan, breast side up, and loosely cover with foil. He has written two cookbooks. The following cooking times are only estimates. I'm bringing the turkey this year and plan to brine it first. Brush outside of the turkey with melted butter. Thoroughly rinse all the brine from the turkey before cooking. (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=bd5526af-9c84-429a-baca-e1c4e1072ef9&cid=877050e7-52c9-4c33-a20b-d8301a08f96d'; cnxps.cmd.push(function () { cnxps({ playerId: "bd5526af-9c84-429a-baca-e1c4e1072ef9" }).render("7917806a0d7f4109a1cb2a4492c81a1a"); }); With your brine ready and cooled, you can bring out your turkey. What kind and how much? Step 1. Then made the gravy using the Perfect Turkey Gravy recipe by CenterCutCook on Pinterest using the juices from the brined Turkey. If youre brining and roasting a bone-in turkey breast, you can find the roasting instructions here. Remove from heat and allow the brine to cool completely (this can take quite a few hours). The actual amount of the brine consumed will vary. Boil for one minute and remove from heat. The skin color was a bit darker than yours, but it was still a very good looking abs juicy turkey. 1 (12 fluid ounce) can frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed. Add about 8 cups ice to reduce the temperature. 1 gallon vegetable broth, packaged, not low-sodium or sodium-free. Good luck and Happy Thanksgiving! I am just wondering if the thyme should be fresh or dried? This will remove any excess salt and herbs, on the outer surface and prevent the turkey from being overly salty. Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. Because turkeys are so large, an extended brine is a good idea. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption. Never pour a hot brine over a thawed, uncooked turkey. Brine poultry covered for at least 1 hour per pound in the refrigerator. Taste of Home is America's #1 cooking magazine. The main ingredients are salt and water, but beyond that, you can really customize the seasoning and spices to your tastes. Erin. Combine the apple juice, water, and salt in the bag; stir until the salt is dissolved; add the garlic. "We tried other brine recipes from well-known chefs and took our favorite elements from each to make this the orange and rosemary from one, the apple juice from another, and brown sugar and vinegar from our own cooking experiments." Dont Forget to Share a Pic of What You Made! In a large stockpot or other container large enough to hold the turkey and brine, combine the water, bourbon, salt, brown sugar, orange wedges (squeeze each wedge to release the juice), bay leaves, peppercorns, and cinnamon stick. Stir to dissolve the salt and sugar. It is also nice to add in a cup of chopped nuts, such as walnuts for a nutty flavor. Was that suppose to happen ? If you don't have a pot large enough to hold the turkey and brine, you can use a brining bag or even a clean bucket or bin. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Pour the ice over the turkey. Making a brine for your turkey is a relatively simple process. Delightful E Made is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. For example, if you are cooking a twelve pound bird and the cook books say that will take 3+1/4 to 3+3/4 hours, you need to first check the temp at 2+3/4 or 3 hours, because variations in cooking conditions and type of oven could easily cook your bird early. Apples. The nutrition data for this recipe includes the full amount of the brine ingredients. Pair it with green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce and cornbread for the ultimate Thanksgiving dinner! . I would recommend using kosher salt. Ideally, try to have an air layer between the bird and the foil above it, because when the foil sits directly upon the bird, that skin area may burn or get dry. Cook the turkey as desired reserving the drippings for gravy. Cool to room temperature. I just used this recipe to cook the bird for Thanksgiving dinner and everyone said it was the best turkey they have ever tasted! I have great brining, roasting and prep tips for roasting the ultimate holiday turkey! Okay, so back to the brining bag.I dont recommend using a bucket or cooler to brine your turkey, although you can use it if youre in a pinch. From my family to yours, I wish you a blessed, happy and healthy holiday season! In a large food safe container (2 to 5-gallons), combine the apple juice mixture with the remaining ingredients, then refrigerate to 40 degrees F. Remove giblets and neck from raw turkey and place turkey in the brine solution, breast side down. You may need to drain off some water and extra ice halfway through the process. When you brine a turkeyor any other type of proteinthe salt seeps into the meat and, essentially, allows it to retain more moisture. The salt in the brine will begin to break down the protein fibers of the meat, and the texture of the turkey will not be as good. Could this work? Thx again, What size Turkey was used with this? One lady said she was disappointed when she saw that turkey was on the menu because she hates turkey - but she came back 3 times because it was soooooooooo good. Keep a close eye on the bird. Brining bags are specifically designed for this exact technique. You can add the remaining cool water to the brining container later. Remove the turkey carefully. It was worth the time, and effort100%! Bring to a boil, and then simmer for 15 minutes over medium heat until salt and sugar are completely dissolved. A roasting bag is built to go into the oven and is a much thinner plastic. Thanks so much! We used unsweetened apple cider, and instead of powdered ginger we used slices of fresh ginger. My mission is to create healthy recipes and tools that encourage you to be the healthiest, most authentic version of you. Privacy Policy. In addition to a gallon of water, Ive also added a half gallon of apple cider. Im not usually very good at baking turkey, or any other meat for that matter. Inspired by local traditions and seasonal fare, youll find plenty of easy, comforting recipes that bring your family together around the table. It makes a turkey fall-apart moist every time. Cool to room temperature. Your recipe sounds wonderful! Wash and dry your turkey. You can stuff your turkey with all sorts of ingredients to give it more flavor. No. turkey needs about 2 3 hours in a 350 degree F oven, while a 15-16 lb. Denise, I'm trying the recipe, waiting for it to cool. For example, if you're adding 1 qt. A basic brine ratio is cup of kosher salt per 4 cups (1 quart) of water. and "What flavors am I tasting?" The apple brine left the turkey moist and flavorful. Add the apple juice and apple cider vinegar. More Ways to Sneak Flavor into Your Stuffing. Soaking a turkey in a brine infuses it with flavor inside and out and helps keep the bird moist as it cooks. Combine the orange juice concentrate, orange slices, lemon slices, lime slices, thyme, Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Yes, your turkey will be okay if it sits in the brine for longer than 24 hours. The original turkey (pictured) was approximately 14 lbs. I've used the brine (without making any recipe adjustments) on turkeys ranging anywhere from about 11 lbs to as big as 18 lbs. Congratulations! Some of the classic cook books say that broiled (uncovered) basted bird has a better meat flavor. However, if youve got the right recipe and the right techniques, your holiday turkey should roast up perfectly juicy for a showstopping dinner (and amazing leftovers). 1 cups salt, or 1 1/2 cups kosher or coarse salt, 12 cloves garlic, unpeeled and lightly smashed. To brine a turkey, first, create a brine. Let brine come to room temperature. Tired of diet culture telling you how to live your life? Nothing compares to the juicy, tender meat after it marinates in a salty, herb-infused solution overnight. I believe that's 12 cups (originally it probably said 12 cups (3 quarts) cold water). Youll also need plenty of room in the refrigerator to store the brine overnight! However, I added the orange juice and water only after the boiled ingredients had a chance to cool to refrigerator temp. ** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. I truly appreciate this post. 12 Related Question Answers About Best Turkey Brine Recipe With Apple Juice. Place the bucket in the refrigerator. Set turkey breast-side up on the rack in the roasting pan. Thanks for sharing at the What's for Dinner party! Thoroughly rinse the turkey on the inside and outside. "This is actually a recipe my husband and I have developed during our 12 years of hosting Thanksgiving," Rapone says. Thank you. The turkey was perfect because of this brine. Everyone raved. Heres the secret to what makes it so good. An apple cider brined turkey goes well with just about any of your favorite holiday sides. Brining and Cooking the Perfect Turkey with Delicious Gravy. Ive read that a brined turkey can make the gravy too salty? And of course: wings. Online since 1995, CDKitchen has grown into a large collection of delicious recipes created by home cooks and professional chefs from around the world. You can simply wash and quarter each of these ingredients and place them inside the turkey alongside some extra herbs. Get that same hot, zippy flavor in everything from deviled eggs to enchiladas. Feel free to customize brine ingredients to your tastes. Sign up for my newsletter and get a free guide with 5 quick-prep dinners you can make tonight. You can brine a large bird for up to 24 hours, but 12-14 hours is perfectly sufficient as well. Of course, you must finely chop and saut the liver and giblets and add that to the stuffing mix for added turkey flavor both for the stuffing cooked inside the bird, and extra stuffing that is cooked in a pan outside of the bird. The results with this Apple Cider Turkey Brine recipe are not only spot-on with flavor, its now the only way I make a holiday turkey! Once the water is boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low to keep it at a simmer. 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Healthy holiday season need plenty of easy, comforting recipes that bring your together. * Nutrient information is turkey brine with oranges and apples available for all ingredients darker than yours, I you! A salty, herb-infused solution overnight with 5 quick-prep dinners you can brine a large bird for up to hours!, orange juice and water only after the boiled ingredients had a chance to cool to temperature... Meat for that matter some extra herbs time and it results in browned!