How to Cook Cranberry Turkey Brine

What better to brine a turkey in than cranberry? This turkey brine recipe is perfect for a traditional turkey dinner.

Prep Time: 13 minutes

Total Time: 13 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 quarts cranberry juice
• 1 quart water
• 1 cup salt (1 1/2 cups Kosher or coarse salt)
• 1/2 cup apple juice
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 12 cloves garlic, unpeeled and lightly smashed
• 4 springs fresh thyme
• 4 sprigs fresh rosemary
• 6-8 bay leaves

Preparation:

Combine ingredients and place in a large pot. Add turkey to pot, making sure that brine covers turkey. If not, add more water to mixture. Brine for 1 hour per pound.

Thoroughly rinse all the brine from the turkey, inside and out, before cooking. Otherwise there will be a salty flavor to the turkey.

How to Cook Clove and Honey Brine for Turkey

This brine will give your turkey a subtle sweetness and all the tenderness and moisture of a goodpoultry brine.

Prep Time: 7 minutes

Total Time: 7 minutes

Yield: Makes 1 1/2 gallons of brine

Ingredients:

• 1 large bag of ice
• 1 gallon hot water
• 2 quarts chicken broth
• 1 pound table salt (non-iodine)
• 1 pound honey
• 2 tablespoons whole cloves

Preparation:

Combine salt and hot water until it dissolves. Add honey, broth, and cloves to mixture. Once thoroughly mixed, add ice. Brine for 1 hour per pound.

Thoroughly rinse all the brine from the turkey before cooking. Otherwise there will be a salty flavor to the turkey. 

How to Cook Maple Brine

This brine can be used on any kind of poultry and pork. It gives a sweet, maple flavor to meats.

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Yield: Makes about 1 gallon of brine

Ingredients:

• 4 quarts water
• 2 cups dark brown sugar
• 1 cup soy sauce
• 1 cup maple syrup
• 3/4 cup sea salt
• 8-10 whole cloves garlic, peeled
• 6-8 whole bay leaves
• 3 large sprigs of thyme
• 2 teaspoons whole peppercorns

Preparation:

Place 2 quarts of water and other ingredients in a large pot and bring to a boil, dissolving sugar and maple syrup. Remove from heat, add remaining 2 quarts and allow brine to cool completely before using.

How to Cook Fruity Turkey Brine

The citrus fruit in this brine not only add a great tangy flavor but also act to tenderize the meat of the poultry. The mild acid of the lemon will help to carry flavors deep into the meat.

Prep Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Yield: Makes about 1 gallon of brine

Ingredients:

• 1 gallon water
• 1 cup salt (1 1/2 cups Kosher or coarse salt)
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1 lemon
• 1 orange
• 1 onion, cut into thick slices
• 4 cloves garlic, crushed
• 4 bay leaves
• 1 tablespoon dried thyme

Preparation:

Take four cups of the water and place in a large saucepan. Bring to a low boil. Add salt and sugar and stir until completely dissolved. Cut lemon and orange into 1/8ths. Add remaining ingredients. Reduce heat to low and cover. Let simmer for 30 minutes. Pour into a large pot. Add remaining water (cold) and refrigerate until completely cooled.

Place poultry and brine in a large plastic container. Keep refrigerated. Brine for 1 hour per pound.

Thoroughly rinse all the brine from the turkey before cooking. Otherwise there will be a salty flavor to the turkey. 

How to Cook Poultry Brine

This poultry brine works with the added power of pickling spices which increases the moisture in poultry with some great seasonings for more flavor.

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Yield: Makes about 1 gallon of brine

Ingredients:

• 1 gallon water
• 1 cup salt (1 1/2 cups Kosher or coarse salt)
• 1/2 cup white vinegar
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon pickling spice
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon allspice
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon tarragon

Preparation:

Dissolve salt and brown sugar in water in a large pot. Bring to a boil. Allow to cool. Add vinegar and spices. Brine for 1 hour per pound.

Thoroughly rinse all the brine from the turkey before cooking. Otherwise there will be a salty flavor to the turkey. 

How to Cook TomKattt's Poultry Brine

Tom Katt sent in this brining recipe that is perfect for poultry. Though it works well for most poultry, it is a perfect brine for that holiday turkey.

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Yield: Makes 1 1/2 gallons of brine

Ingredients:

• 1 cup salt (1 1/2 cups Kosher or coarse salt)
• 1 cup brown sugar
• peppercorns
• 1 onion
• 1 carrot
• bunch of scallions
• one hot pepper

Preparation:

Add enough water (about 1 1/2 gallons) to cover the bird. Place water and ingredients in a large pot and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Add poultry, cover and brine for 1 hour per pound.

Thoroughly rinse all the brine from the turkey before cooking. Otherwise there will be a salty flavor to the turkey. 

How to Cook Apple Spice Brine

A brine is typically water and salt with a little sweet to give it flavor. This brine uses fruit juices for water providing flavor and sweet at the same time.

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Yield: Enough for a 20 pound turkey

Ingredients:

• 1 gallon cold water
• 2 quarts apple juice
• 2 quarts orange juice
• 2 cup salt (3 cups Kosher or coarse salt)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 10 whole cloves
• 1 tablespoon ground nutmeg

Preparation:

Pour apple and orange juice into a large pot over a medium heat. Add salt, brown sugar, cloves and nutmeg. Simmer for 15 minutes until salt and sugar are completely dissolved. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Add cold water.

Place poultry in a large plastic container. Pour brine over top. Brine poultry for 1 hour per pound in the refrigerator.

Thoroughly rinse all the brine from the turkey before cooking. Otherwise there will be a salty flavor to the turkey.