Recipes Meat and Poultry Turkey Brine Simple Turkey Brine 4.9 (27) 21 Reviews 6 Photos This simple turkey brine works overnight to ensure your turkey is moist, juicy, and full of delicious flavor! Use this easy brine on a fresh turkey, not on one already injected with any other brining solution. This recipe makes enough brine for a turkey in the 15- to 20-pound range. Submitted by Eric Updated on October 24, 2024 Tested by Allrecipes Test Kitchen Tested by Allrecipes Test Kitchen The Allrecipes Test Kitchen staff are a team of culinary pros who make and vet recipes using only equipment you'd find in a home kitchen. Staff credentials vary but include training at the Culinary Institute of America; kitchen stints in fine dining restaurants; and countless hours in the test kitchen itself. Meet the Allrecipes Test Kitchen Save Rate Print Share Close Add Photo 6 6 6 6 Prep Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 30 mins Additional Time: 10 hrs Total Time: 10 hrs 45 mins Servings: 30 Yield: 1 gallon Jump to Nutrition Facts Jump to recipe This simple turkey brine is the key to your best bird yet. Simple Turkey Brine Ingredients Here's what you'll need to make this quick and easy turkey brine: · Water: This turkey brine starts with a gallon of water.· Salt: Two cups of kosher salt should be enough to permeate the turkey, adding tons of savory flavor.· Sugar: Dark brown sugar adds sweetness and complexity.· Spices and seasonings: This simple turkey brine gets its irresistible flavor from bay leaves, black peppercorns, dried rosemary, dried thyme, and whole cloves. How to Make Simple Turkey Brine You'll find the full, step-by-step recipe below — but here's a brief overview of what you can expect when you make this simple turkey brine: 1. Boil: Bring the water to a boil, then add the salt and brown sugar. Stir until dissolved.2. Season: Add bay leaves, peppercorns, rosemary, thyme, and cloves. Reduce to a simmer.3. Cool: Remove from the heat and let cool completely before using. How to Use This Turkey Brine When your simple turkey brine is ready to use, here's what to do: 1. Find a large, non-reactive container that's large enough to hold your turkey. A plastic bucket is a great choice.2. Pour the brine into the container, then place the thawed turkey in the brine. Add just enough cold water to completely cover the turkey with liquid.3. Place the container in the refrigerator (never brine at room temperature). Learn more: How to Brine a Turkey How Long to Brine Turkey Brine the turkey for at least 8 hours, but no more than 24 hours. When you're done brining, let the brined turkey rest on a rack for about an hour before cooking it according to your recipe. Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise "I would add garlic next time, but that's a personal preference for our family," according to Aimee. "It made the turkey just how I wanted it (tender, juicy etc)." "I was pleased with the experience and the family said it was really good," raves Aimee. "One of the best things about this? It wasn't a list of oddball ingredients that I would only use for this single recipe. Everything was on hand and it was easy peasy." "The amount here I think is perfect for a smaller turkey, but for a larger [turkey] you need to double it," says Corrissa Rodriguez. "That's what I did. I substituted the second gallon of water with apple juice and it was the best decision of my life!!!" Editorial contributions by Corey Williams Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) Ingredients 1x 2x 4x Oops! Something went wrong. Our team is working on it. Original recipe (1X) yields 30 servings 1 gallon water 2 cups kosher salt 1 ½ cups dark brown sugar 3 large bay leaves 1 tablespoon whole black peppercorns 2 ½ teaspoons dried rosemary 2 ½ teaspoons dried thyme 12 whole cloves Directions Gather all ingredients. Allrecipes/Oana Ennis Bring water to a boil in a large stockpot. Stir in salt and brown sugar until dissolved; return to a boil. Allrecipes/Oana Ennis Add bay leaves, peppercorns, rosemary, thyme, and cloves. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Allrecipes/Oana Ennis Remove from the heat and let cool completely before using. Allrecipes/Oana Ennis Place thawed turkey into a large non-reactive container. Pour in cooled brine. Allrecipes/Oana Ennis Pour in enough cool water to cover turkey with liquid. Refrigerate 8 to 12 hours. Allrecipes/Oana Ennis Remove turkey from brine and let sit on counter for about 2 hours. Allrecipes/Oana Ennis Follow your favorite recipe to cook your turkey. From the Editor The nutrition data for this recipe includes the full amount of the brine ingredients. The actual amount of the brine consumed will vary. I Made It Print 113 home cooks made it! Nutrition Facts (per serving) 44 Calories 0g Fat 11g Carbs 0g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 30 Calories 44 % Daily Value * Total Fat 0g 0% Sodium 6081mg 264% Total Carbohydrate 11g 4% Dietary Fiber 0g 1% Total Sugars 11g Protein 0g 0% Vitamin C 0mg 0% Calcium 20mg 2% Iron 0mg 2% Potassium 20mg 0% * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs. ** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data. (-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.