|
|
Post by zztop11 on Nov 17, 2018 15:27:15 GMT
Please give me the bottom line on whether to brine a turkey or not. I roast mine in a cooking bag in the oven. Always been tasty and moist. Is it worth the extra time and expense and using up valuable refrigerator space to brine a turkey?
|
|
|
|
Post by craftedbys on Nov 17, 2018 15:30:51 GMT
Brine. Always brine. Alton Brown's recipe. Perfect every time
|
|
|
|
Post by kckckc on Nov 17, 2018 15:59:18 GMT
I bookmarked this thread last week. There seem to be mixed feelings about brining  (and Alton's recipe)
I think I will try the dry brine someone linked to in that thread.
|
|
|
|
Post by jumperhop on Nov 17, 2018 16:09:29 GMT
Always brine, I never use the fridge to brine. And follow Alton’s recipe
|
|
|
|
Post by withapea on Nov 17, 2018 16:39:37 GMT
My brined turkeys always turn out better.
|
|
|
|
Post by elaine on Nov 17, 2018 16:52:13 GMT
It depends on the turkey you have. Many turkeys have already been injected with a saline solution (brine) and then they won’t absorb another brine. Butterball, for example, will taste the same if you try to brine it or if you cook it as is, with its injected solution. They’ve actually run blind taste test studies and brining a saline injected turkey doesn’t objectively change the taste.
If you want to brine the turkey, and have it make a difference, you usually have to buy a fresh turkey, because almost all frozen turkeys 🦃 are injected/pre-treated.
|
|
RosieKat
Drama Llama
PeaJect #12
Posts: 5,398 
|
Post by RosieKat on Nov 17, 2018 16:53:57 GMT
I use a citrus brine that I love. It does seem to taste better. However, it is a pain in the butt to do - we usually do it in a cooler, FYI, so the mess stays outside. I wasn't going to do it this year because it's just my little family, none of whom particularly appreciate any degree of cooking skill beyond edible - but we're being given a smoked/grilled turkey as a gift so I don't have to mess with it at all!
|
|
styxgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,875
Jun 27, 2014 4:51:44 GMT
|
Post by styxgirl on Nov 17, 2018 16:57:40 GMT
Brine. Always brine. Alton Brown's recipe. Perfect every time
EXACTLY THIS! It is amazing!
|
|
|
|
Post by freecharlie on Nov 17, 2018 16:58:40 GMT
I watched a worst cooks in America and Anne and Tyler had them spatchcock (sp?) and cook it that way to keep it moist since then it only needs to cook for about 1.5 hours instead of 3. They did run an herb butter all under the skin
We did altons recipe last year and I didn't taste much difference.
|
|
|
|
Post by MichyM on Nov 17, 2018 16:59:52 GMT
Always brine, and also a fan of Alton Brown’s recipe. Been using it for at least 10 years.
|
|
styxgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,875
Jun 27, 2014 4:51:44 GMT
|
Post by styxgirl on Nov 17, 2018 17:00:56 GMT
Always brine, I never use the fridge to brine. And follow Alton’s recipe
I put the turkey in brining bag and then a HUGE stock pot. It get's put into the large side of the sink. The, I fill a trash bag with ice and sit on top of the pot. That way, it says nice and cold while it is bathing.
Halfway through, when I go to "flip the bird" (hahahha!) I refresh the ice on top with new and it's good-to-go until morning when it's ready to rinse and cook!
Alton Brown's recipe all the way!
|
|
|
|
Post by mcscrapper on Nov 17, 2018 19:22:47 GMT
Tis better when brined. We smoke our bird and always brine. I use a version of Alton Brown's - I add some oranges and apples to my brine and then use the apples in my drip pan in the smoker.
|
|
|
|
Post by pivibird on Nov 17, 2018 20:51:36 GMT
Brine. Always brine. Alton Brown's recipe. Perfect every time Worth repeating! |
|
|
|
Post by padresfan619 on Nov 17, 2018 20:52:13 GMT
Brine. Always brine. Alton Brown's recipe. Perfect every time 100% agree with this. Alton Brown’s brine recipe has never steered me wrong. |
|
|
|
Post by Scrapper100 on Nov 17, 2018 21:22:05 GMT
Our turkeys are always moist and good except the one year we brined our turkey  We usually buy Butterball turkeys though. Now the year we brined it wasn't bad it just wasn't quite as good as normal. We won't be brining any more turkeys as it just wasn't worth the time and effort. |
|
|
|
Post by Scrapper100 on Nov 17, 2018 21:24:44 GMT
It depends on the turkey you have. Many turkeys have already been injected with a saline solution (brine) and then they won’t absorb another brine. Butterball, for example, will taste the same if you try to brine it or if you cook it as is, with its injected solution. They’ve actually run blind taste test studies and brining a saline injected turkey doesn’t objectively change the taste. If you want to brine the turkey, and have it make a difference, you usually have to buy a fresh turkey, because almost all frozen turkeys 🦃 are injected/pre-treated.
Good to know this is why our turkey didn't really taste any better when we brined it. We have great luck cooking our Butterball - well my husband bakes it with lots of butter 
|
|
azredhead
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,755
|
Post by azredhead on Nov 17, 2018 21:26:40 GMT
Brine. Always brine. Alton Brown's recipe. Perfect every time 100% agree with this. Alton Brown’s brine recipe has never steered me wrong. Same we did it one year. It was a little more work, but worth it. It's just hard to get a home depot bucket in the fridge! LOL! But now even if our cousins do the brine. It's just better. |
|
anaterra
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,847
Location: Texas
Jun 29, 2014 3:04:02 GMT
|
Post by anaterra on Nov 17, 2018 23:17:11 GMT
Never brine... not much difference to me for the time effort n space... I also cook mine in a roaster so maybe that's why... I also use a cooking bag
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
May 19, 2024 4:37:12 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 17, 2018 23:55:37 GMT
Brine....pioneers woman recipe. I still stuff the turkey with herbs and cover it with buttered cheesecloth.
Damn, now I want turkey.
|
|
|
|
Post by circusjohnson on Nov 18, 2018 0:12:43 GMT
Brine!!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by rrp23 on Nov 18, 2018 3:11:01 GMT
We use an emeril recipe beer brine. Its fantastic! Now that ive had brined. I wouldnt go back. Its just too tasty!
|
|
|
|
Post by peasapie on Nov 18, 2018 3:32:36 GMT
After brining the past two years, I’d never go back to non-brining.
|
|
(and Alton's recipe)
We usually buy Butterball turkeys though. Now the year we brined it wasn't bad it just wasn't quite as good as normal. We won't be brining any more turkeys as it just wasn't worth the time and effort. 
