How does Paula Deen brine a turkey?

How long should you soak a turkey in brine?

Keep the Turkey Cold and Let It Brine for 8 to 18 Hours

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.

Do I Rinse turkey after wet brining?

Do You Rinse a Turkey After Brining? You should always rinse the turkey after wet or dry brining. Once rinsed, you can let the turkey air dry, uncovered, in the refrigerator for several hours, or pat it dry with a paper towel.

How should I brine my turkey?

How do you season a Paula Deen turkey?

Sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper inside turkey cavity. Place onion, garlic, herb sprigs and bay leaves insides cavity. Place turkey breast-side up on rack in large roasting pan. Brush with half of butter; sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon pepper and remaining salt.

How to cook a turkey - Tuesday Tips

What is the secret to a moist turkey?

Dissolve ½ cup kosher salt and ½ cup brown sugar in 2 cups hot water. Stir in 2 cups apple juice and 4 cups of ice. Submerge turkey in brine for 2 or more hours in the refrigerator. I recommend 10 hours for optimal flavor and tenderness.

Is butter or oil better to coat a turkey?

Fat is going to help the skin get brown and crisp, and contrary to what most might think, butter isn't better. Butter does an okay job, but because it contains a lot of water, oil is a better fat to rub on the skin to ensure it gets extra crispy.

Should you flip a turkey when brining?

Flip the turkey halfway through brining so that all of the meat receives the same amount of saturation. Plan on brining a whole turkey for one hour per every pound of meat, but if that's not possible, even just one hour of brining will make a difference in the meat's moisture content.

What is the best way to brine?

The basic ratio for any wet brine is one cup of kosher salt to one gallon of water. Make sure to fully dissolve the salt in the water. If you're feeling fancy, throw in some smashed garlic cloves, peppercorns, citrus (also smashed), or even a sweetener like honey or brown sugar.

How do you properly brine?

Add 1 tablespoon of salt for every cup of water you used and mix until the salt is completely dissolved. For example, if you are using 1 gallon (16 cups) of water, add 16 tablespoons (1 cup) of salt. Place the meat in the brine and put the whole container in the refrigerator.

How long can you keep a turkey in the refrigerator after brining?

DO NOT OVER BRINE! Remove turkey from brine, pat dry, and store in refrigerator (uncovered) until ready to cook. Your turkey can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days before cooking. We recommend this step for two reasons.

How long should turkey sit after brining?

After 12 to 18 hours, remove the turkey, dry carefully with paper towels, and roast. For crisper skin, brine a couple days in advance, and let your turkey air-dry at least overnight and up to two nights, uncovered, in the refrigerator on a rack set in a rimmed baking sheet.

How many days ahead should you brine a turkey?

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). Remove turkey from brine after the recommended time.

Can you leave a turkey in brine too long?

So if you had a 6 pound turkey and an 8 pound turkey, take the 6 pound turkey out after 3 hours and leave the 8 pound turkey in for 4 hours. Q: Can I brine my turkey for longer than 24 hours? A: No. Brining works much faster than a marinade so brining a turkey for longer than recommended will oversaturate the bird.

Do brined turkeys cook faster?

NOTE: A brined turkey cooks slightly faster than an unbrined turkey, so check the internal temperature frequently. Remove turkey from the oven and allow to stand for 20 minutes before carving.

Is it worth brining a turkey for 4 hours?

Brine your turkey for 12 to 24 hours. The longer the better, but honestly, even a quick brine does wonders for the turkey. If you only have a few hours before it needs to go in the oven, then it's still worth doing. Be sure to keep your turkey covered and refrigerated while brining.

What is a good brine ratio?

What Is the Brine Ratio? The basic ratio of salt to water for a brine is 4 tablespoons of kosher salt per 1 quart (4 cups) of water. If you are using fine table salt, reduce the amount to 3 tablespoons.

Do you need sugar in a brine?

Along with salt, sugar (either brown or white granulated) is a dry-brine must-have, essential both for its browning capabilities and flavor-enhancing properties.

Do you rinse off brine before cooking?

Rinse off the brine and pat it as dry as possible before cooking. Remember that wet skin prior to roasting will make for a soggy—rather than crispy and golden-brown—bird, so don't let your hard work be upstaged by a lackluster finish. So Which To Use? There's no right or wrong choice for which brine you use.

Do you add ice when brining a turkey?

If there is any concern that the water will get too hot during the brining process, add some ice cubes to keep the temperature down. Brining your turkey in a cooler makes sure it keeps cold, especially when you have limited refrigeration space.

Do you put turkey breast side up or down?

The United States Department of Agriculture advises to cook a whole turkey breast side up during the entire cooking time. Turning over a large, hot bird can be dangerous and it's very easy to tear the skin, making the finished product less attractive.

What is best to put on turkey before cooking?

If your turkey is straight out of the package, rub it with some salt and pepper before putting it in the oven. We recommend leaving your turkey un-stuffed and un-trussed, both because it's easier and because the turkey will cook more evenly.

What do you put inside a turkey cavity?

Liberally salt and pepper the inside of the turkey cavity. Stuff the cavity with the bunch of thyme, halved lemon, quartered onion, and the garlic. Brush the outside of the turkey with the butter mixture and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Is it better to cook a turkey at 325 or 350?

Turkey weighing 12-14 lbs should be cooked at 350 degrees in the oven. It will cook your meat faster and make for crispy skin. It will also make the meat taste meatier. For smaller birds, cooking them at 325 degrees cooking temperature in the oven is best.