How to brine a turkey
One of the biggest problems with grilling poultry, especially turkey, is that the meat can become dry and tasteless. A great way to add moisture and additional flavor is with a brine.
To brine a turkey you’ll need to start the night before you plan to cook it. A good rule of thumb is to brine your bird for one hour per pound. Here’s what you’ll need:
a large stock pot (or another large container of your choice) and enough room in your refrigerator for it
salt
water
sugar
seasonings (whatever you like)
Start with a clean and completely thawed turkey. To make the brine, mix 1 cup of salt with 1 gallon of water. You’ll need more than that, but keep the ratio of 1 cup salt:1 gallon water. You’ll probably need 2-3 gallons. Add whatever seasonings you like, but don’t add anything that will add additional salt. Here’s a simple brine recipe, but feel free to experiment with your own concoctions.
Ingredients:
2 quarts vegetable stock
1/2 cup salt
1 tablespoon dried rosemary
1 tablespoon dried sage
1 tablespoon dried thyme
2 quarts cold water
In a large pot combine the vegetable stock, salt, and herbs over medium heat. Simmer for about 15 min until the salt is dissolved. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Add the water.
Place the turkey in your large container, and add enough brine to completely cover the turkey within an inch of completely covering the entire bird. Now put it in the refrigerator.
Don’t have room in the refrigerator? A large cooler makes a good container for your turkey and brine. If it’s cool outside you may not need to worry about it, but if it’s warm you’ll want to add enough ice to keep the turkey cool. Monitor the temperature of the brine closely during the process to make sure it stays cool.
When you’re ready to prepare your turkey, pull it out of the brine and rinse it off with clean, cold water. Throw it on the grill and you’re good to go. The additional moisture will really make a difference!
Finally, be careful how you dispose of your leftover brine. Remember, this is saltwater, so it’ll kill your lawn. I usually pour it down the sink along with additional clean water.
Jay Lotz is a blogger at http://www.drinkmowgrill.com