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The Best Brined Turkey
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Prep Time:
18 hours 20 minutes
Total Time:
21 hours
Achieve juicy, flavorful roast turkey with our signature brine of salt, sugar, cloves, and bay leaves.
Ingredients:
  • 20 cups water (5 quarts)
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup salt (preferably kosher)
  • 1 turkey (10-12 lb), defrosted if frozen
  • 4 cloves
  • 4 bay leaves
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable or canola oil
Instructions:
  • In a large stockpot, bring 4 cups of water to a gentle simmer. Add sugar and salt, stirring until completely dissolved. Mix in 16 cups of cold water, cloves, and bay leaves. Feel free to enhance the chill by adding 2 cups of ice. Stir well to blend all flavors.
  • Wrap the turkey in a flavorful brine, ensuring it is completely submerged. Refrigerate for 18-24 hours to enhance the turkey's succulence.
  • Preheat the oven to 450°F. Remove the turkey from the stock pot and rinse inside and out with cold water to discard brine. Place the turkey on a roasting rack in a wide low pan, pat dry with a paper towel. Tuck back the wings, rub the skin with oil, and cover the breast with foil. Roast on the lowest oven rack for 30 minutes.
  • Lower the oven temperature to 350°F, then pour 1 cup of water into the pan. Roast for another hour.
  • Uncover the breast and continue cooking for an additional 15-30 minutes. Place an ovenproof meat thermometer in the thickest part of the inner thigh, making sure it doesn't touch the bone. Roast until the thermometer shows 165°F and the drumsticks are easy to move when lifted or twisted.
  • Rest the succulent turkey for 20-30 minutes to allow the juices to redistribute and settle before serving.

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