Turkey Brine

Years ago, my mother and I were watching a food show talking about different ways to prepare turkey for the holidays. One of the methods being discussed was using a brine solution to soak the turkey in before cooking. Interesting! We had neither one ever heard of this and were both very curious if the outcome was worth the effort.

With a little research we discovered that there are many variations of brine solution and methods for soaking the turkey...but after taking many notes (see picture) over many years now, this is the solution that I have found gives us the best result. Absolutely worth the effort!!


Ingredients:

1 gallon vegetable broth, (prepared or homemade)
1 cup kosher salt
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 TBS whole peppercorns
1 tsp allspice
1 tsp candied ginger

* Combine ingredients and bring to a boil
* Let cool completely, covering with a lid
* Using a clean, dry cooler...place thawed turkey in cooler then cover with brine solution and enough ice to cover
* Allow to soak overnight, making sure you have enough ice in the cooler to keep the turkey at a safe temperature
* If space in your fridge allows, the same brine solution can be used in a resealable bag large enough for the turkey and brine solution - just make sure to set the bag with the brine and turkey in a bowl/tray/or pan to prevent any accidental leakages from contaminating your fridge

* After turkey has soaked in the brine solution for 4-12 hours, discard the brine solution and cook the turkey as desired