Should I brine my turkey for Thanksgiving?

A: Brining helps poultry stay moist and tasty. (Kosher or self-basting birds should not be brined.) Some people choose to dry brine their turkey — rub it with salt, basically. In that situation, salt draws the meat’s juices to the surface of the bird.

How long should I brine my turkey?

Pop the turkey into the fridge and let it brine for at least 8 hours (and up to 18 hours). Just don’t leave the turkey in the brine for longer than recommended—over-brining can render the bird too salty and turn the texture spongy.

Is brining a turkey worth it?

The short answer: there’s no reason to brine if you have a flavorful turkey. To keep your turkey moist, cover the breast with foil so that it doesn’t dry out. You can also stuff some stuffing under the skin of the breast to keep the meat from drying out and add even more flavor.

How many days before Thanksgiving should I brine my turkey?

The Day Before: Time to Brine You’ll want to submerge your turkey in brine a solid day before you roast it to allow the bird enough time to become thoroughly saturated. You can make the brine itself two or three days ahead and keep it in the fridge to chill.

Should I salt my turkey the night before?

It’s simple, really. Salt the turkey, cover it, then stick it in the fridge. Overnight the salt draws moisture from the interior of the bird to the surface, where it combines with the salt and other seasonings. Eventually, that flavorful salted liquid is reabsorbed by the meat, seasoning it throughout.

Can I brine a Butterball turkey?

Should I brine or pre-salt the turkey? “Most turkeys are already brined. Butterball turkeys have a solution in them that really helps to keep them moist and juicy and tender. If you’re going to brine it, we do suggest that you cut down on the salt.”

How much salt do I need to brine a 12 pound turkey?

Our general turkey-brining rule of thumb for how much brine for a 12-pound turkey (adjust up or down based on the size of your bird) is 5 quarts hot water + 1½ cups kosher salt or ¾ cup table salt. Mix to combine and add this to the pot or bag.

Do you have to refrigerate a turkey while brining?

If your brine recipe calls for heating the mixture, be sure to cool it to room temperature before using it. The amount of time will depend on the type of brine you use; however, do not brine any longer than two days and always keep the turkey and brine refrigerated (at 40°F or less).

Does a turkey need to be fully thawed before brining?

Turkeys should always be completely thawed before brining or cooking. According to Butterball.com, there are two acceptable ways to thaw your turkey: Refrigerator thawing: A thawed turkey can be kept in the fridge for up to 4 days before cooking, so it’s better to get that bird thawing sooner than later.

Should you brine a turkey to room temperature before cooking?

Your turkey will cook more evenly and faster if you start it out at room temperature so remove the turkey from the refrigerator 1 hour before roasting.