Apple Turkey Brine
In this turkey brine recipe, apple juice provides natural sweetness, making a tender and delicious bird to grace your holiday table.
- Preparation:
- Cooking:
- Total:
- Serves: 1 person
Ingredients
- 1cup non-iodized table salt (or 1 1/2 cups kosher salt)
- ½cup brown sugar
- 2quarts water (divided)
- 10whole cloves
- 1cinnamon stick
- 1tablespoon black peppercorns
- 2tablespoons orange zest
- 2quarts apple juice (cold)
- 1whole turkey (up to 12 pounds)
Instructions
Step 1
Gather the ingredients.Step 2
In a large pot, combine the salt, sugar, and 1 quart of water. Bring it to a simmer, stirring until the salt and sugar have completely dissolved.Step 3
Remove the pot from the heat and add the cloves, cinnamon stick, peppercorns, and orange zest. Allow it to cool completely, for 30 to 40 minutes.Step 4
Add the cold apple juice and the remaining 1 quart of water, which should also be cold. Refrigerate until the brine is chilled.Step 5
Place the poultry in a large plastic container or brining bag. Pour the brine over the top. Brine the poultry in the refrigerator for 1 hour per pound. For example, a 12-pound turkey should brine for 12 hours while a 20-pound turkey should brine for 20 hours.Step 6
Thoroughly rinse all the brine from the turkey before cooking. This is vital to prevent the turkey from tasting excessively salty.Step 7
Season and cook the bird as planned. It can be coated with a dry rub , butter, or injected with marinade and then roasted, smoked, grilled, or deep-fried.Step 8
Enjoy.