Here is the best Turkey Brine recipe that is easy and adds flavor to any bird headed for the oven or smoker.
It is that time of the year to dust off that turkey baster as Thanksgiving is around the corner. Here is an easy Turkey brine recipe that has been handed down for generations in my family and will be in handed down in your family as well after trying this simply yet delicious brine recipe that is sure to wow! In just five easy steps you also can make your own perfect Thanksgiving Turkey brine.
Thanksgiving Brine 
Steeped Brine
Easy Turkey Brine
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Brining time: 12 to 36 hours
Yield: 1 Turkey
Ingredients
2 gallons water
¼ cup Kosher salt
3 bulbs garlic
A bunch fresh basil leaves
1 cup bay fresh Bay leaves
1 cup fresh cranberries
¼ Cup whole Allspice berries
5 dried Mexican Guajillo peppers
2 Orange or tangerine peels
Method
☞ Step 1
In a large pot combine the ingredients and bring your pot to a boil for 10 minutes. Make sure to stir the pot to dissolve the salt crystals and thoroughly mix the fresh herbs and the brine of the salt together.
☞ Step 2
The Turkey brine is ready when the temperature has cooled to room temperature. To be sure it is ready stick your thermometer in and check the temperature. Once the brine has cooled then strain the steeped Turkey briny ingredients into a cheese cloth leaving only liquid gold in a container that is big enough to hold the turkey and the finished brine.
☞ Step 3
Generally you should marinate your Turkey anywhere from 12 to 36 hours.
(Tip: The longer your marinate the better the bird will taste 😉 ). While marinating you can work on setting the smoker up and prepping your dry rub. Above all let that bird marinate!
☞ Step 4
After marinating remove your turkey from the brine and rinse with fresh water and be sure to add some dry rub or otherwise the Turkey will be ready on the inside but not as seasoned on the outside. Nevertheless pop that bird in to the oven or on the Smoker.
☞ Step 5
Cook the turkey until golden brown and internal temperatures
have beenre reached or until that Turkey thermometer has popped right out.
That’s it you have successfully made an easy yet delicious brine in just five easy steps, you are done.
Tips
Tip 1- When selecting a Turkey make sure to get fresh Young Turkey and NOT a ” Ready to roast” Turkey. A Ready to roast Turkey has brine injected from the factory and is ready to be cooked right out of the packaging or in some cases right in the packaging. Fresh Turkeys are frozen without any brine added and of course requires you to put your own spin on things.
Tip 2 – Always use food safe containers such as a 5 gallon food grade bucket or a large stainless steel stock pot that are nonreactive. Pots that are made out of aluminum, copper or cast iron are all reactive. Salt together with the salt is not good the brine.
Tip 3 – Equally as important as the brine is covering the Turkey in foil wrap for the 1st part of cooking the Turkey in the oven. When cooking a Turkey in the oven you want to make sure that the Turkey is covered really well so that it does not dry out while cooking.
Tip 4 – This Turkey Brine recipe works great with chicken as well.
Check out this video of our Jamaican Jerked Turkey on our Instagram page.
Do you want to know to make the perfect smoked Turkey for Thanksgiving?
☞ See how to make the Perfect Smoked Turkey for Thanksgiving ☜