Asked by: Joy Kovacek
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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.
Do you have to thaw a turkey before brining it?
They need to be partially thawed in cold water before they can finish thawing in brine. Sitting in brine for too long will change the texture of the meat and is not recommended.
How long should you brine a frozen turkey?
Cover the pot and place it in the refrigerator. Brine for 12 to 24 hours. Rinse the turkey in cool water and pat dry.
How cold does a turkey need to be while brining?
Brining should be done in the refrigerator or in a cooler with 5 to 6 ice packs to keep the turkey and brine at 40 degrees or below during the entire brining process.
Is it OK to brine a turkey for 3 days?
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.
40 related questions found
Is it OK to brine a turkey for 36 hours?
The brine time should be determined based on the size of turkey. For a turkey 15 pounds or under, brine for just 24 to 36 hours. For a turkey larger than 15 pounds, brine for up to 3 days. *If you want to brine a smaller turkey for a longer period of time, reduce the salt to 1/2-3/4 cup, so it is not overly seasoned.
Do you rinse a turkey after brining?
Leaving the turkey uncovered for the last 4 to 6 hours will help dry—and thus crisp up—the skin. Resist any temptation to rinse the turkey after brining. There will be no trace of salt on the surface and rinsing would only make the skin less prone to browning.
Can you brine a frozen turkey that has been thawed?
The thawed turkey should then be brined for up to one day, so you will need to allow for this extra day when calculating when to remove the turkey from the freezer. Make sure that the turkey remains chilled while it is brining.
What happens if you brine a turkey too long?
Brining too long can result in meat that tastes overly salty and has a spongy texture. If you're not ready to roast the bird after 18 hours, remove it from the brine, rinse it, pat it dry and refrigerate for up to two days.
Can you brine a turkey in the sink?
In fact, completely submerge the bird in fresh water in the sink and let it soak for about 10 minutes. Don't skip this step if using a frozen turkey, this will help control the saltiness.
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 do you brine a frozen turkey Alton Brown?
Combine the brine, water and ice in the 5-gallon bucket. Place the thawed turkey (with innards removed) breast side down in brine. If necessary, weigh down the bird to ensure it is fully immersed, cover, and refrigerate or set in cool area for 8 to 16 hours, turning the bird once halfway through brining.
How long should you brine a turkey before cooking?
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.
Can you brine a turkey for 24 hours?
Brine the turkey in the refrigerator for 12 to 24 hours. Rinse the turkey in cool water and pat dry. Remove the turkey from the brine and rinse under cold running water. Pat dry with paper towels.
How long is too long to brine?
As a general rule of thumb, brine meat for about one hour per pound. You can go longer, but keep in mind that it's definitely possible to over-brine your meat. Most over-brining simply makes everything a little too salty, and you can soak the meat in cold water to draw out the excess salt.
Can you brine while defrosting?
You can actually thaw and brine your meat at the same time, and it might even end up being quicker than waiting for meat to gradually thaw in the fridge. ... But if you replace the plain water with your brine, you can knock out two prep tasks at once by letting the meat thaw in the brine.
How do you rinse a turkey after brining?
After brining, rinse the turkey thoroughly under cold water for a few minutes. Take the brined turkey out of the brining bag or pot (or whatever vessel you set it in for brining), then discard the brine and set the turkey in a clean sink.
Why are there no drippings from my turkey?
Problem: There aren't enough pan drippings to make gravy. Solution: This is a travesty and a result of not basting properly. (This might occur when you're roasting just a breast and not the entire bird.) In other words, don't forget to baste!
Does a brined turkey take longer to cook?
Continue to roast until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. 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.
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.
Can you put turkey in warm brine?
Never add warm water brine to the turkey. Always allow the warm water to cool to room temperature before adding to the turkey to avoid bacterial contamination. If the salt and sugar don't seem to be dissolving, add more water to the solution and keep stirring.
What container do you brine a turkey in?
To brine a turkey, you will first need a large, nonreactive container; this can be plastic, glass, or stainless steel. Other metal containers will react with the brine solution and give the turkey a metallic flavor. One trick is to use a large, food-safe sealable bag.
What is the formula for brine?
Memorize This Basic Brine Ratio
The basic ratio of salt to water for a brine is 4 tablespoons of salt per 1 quart (4 cups) of water. In a container large enough to hold your meat (and preferably with a lid to avoid sloshing), dissolve the salt in the water.
FAQs
Does a turkey need to be thawed before brining? ›
Can I Brine a Frozen Turkey? Yes, you can brine a frozen turkey! Whether dry brining or wet brining, you'll want to start by defrosting the turkey enough to remove the giblets from the cavity. From there, you can prep the turkey as you please.
Does a turkey have to be completely thawed to brine? ›Even if your frozen turkey has been previously injected with a sodium solution, the brine will still add a bit of flavor to your turkey. That said, you MUST fully defrost your turkey before you brine it. You need to be able to remove the giblets and neck from the cavity of the turkey before you brine it.
Can you brine a turkey while still frozen? ›Yes, in fact, we experimented with this a couple of years ago and found that salting a frozen turkey and letting it defrost and brine at the same time works just fine. Just rinse the bird in cool running water to start the defrosting (and to sufficiently un-freeze the bag of giblets so you can pull them out).
How long to thaw a 20 lb turkey before brining? ›Refrigeration Method: Put the turkey on a tray and place on the bottom shelf of your refrigerator. It will take approximately 4 days for a 20 lb. turkey to thaw.
Can you brine a turkey halfway thawed? ›Yes, You Can Thaw and Brine Your Turkey at the Same Time.
Can I brine a frozen Butterball turkey? ›Brining Steps
The first step in the process is selecting a brine recipe that works for any occasion. Once you've selected your brine you'll need to: Purchase a fresh turkey to eliminate the need to thaw, or completely thaw a frozen turkey. The night before roasting, remove the giblets and turkey neck.
Thawing turkey in a sink of cold water is faster than thawing in the refrigerator, but it's not safe to leave it in the sink to thaw overnight.
Can I wet brine a Butterball turkey? ›There are two methods of brining: Wet brine and dry brine. Both use salt as one of the main ingredients but it works in different ways. Do not brine kosher turkey are self-basting turkeys like Butterball.
What happens if turkey isn't fully thawed? ›It's perfectly safe to cook a frozen or partially frozen turkey — you just need to allow some extra cooking time. Estimate 50 percent longer cooking time for a completely frozen turkey and around 25 percent longer for a partially frozen turkey.
Are Butterball turkeys pre brined? ›We pre-brine directly in the breast meat ensuring you can take the turkey from the packaging to your pan without a lot of additional preparation before cooking and enjoy the most tender and juicy turkey possible.
Do you cover turkey in fridge 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.
Is it OK to leave a turkey out overnight with a brine? ›Prepare the brine by mixing ingredients until all of the salt is dissolved. If your brine recipe calls for heating the mixture, be sure to cool it to room temperature before using it. Then place the turkey in the brine and place in the refrigerator. Don't leave the turkey sitting out at room temperature while brining.
How do you thaw a turkey in a few hours? ›The fastest way to thaw a turkey
By submerging it in ice water, even a 24-pound bird can be defrosted in just 12 hours (Thermoworks says to count on about 8 hours for a 15-pounder).
Submerge the wrapped turkey in it and change the water every half hour. Changing the water will help to ward off any contaminating bacteria. Allow 30 minutes of thawing time for each pound of turkey, which translates to two to six hours for a 4- to 12-pound turkey.
How do you defrost a turkey in 24 hours? ›Thaw time in the fridge requires about 24 hours for every 5 pounds in a refrigerator set at about 40 degrees F (5 degrees C). Thaw time in cold water requires about 30 minutes per pound in cold water, refreshed every 30 minutes.
Do you submerge turkey in water to thaw? ›Thaw turkey breast side down, in an unopened wrapper, with enough cold water to cover your turkey completely. Change water every 30 minutes and if turkey cannot be completely covered, rotate every 30 minutes to keep the turkey chilled. You can expect 30 minutes of thawing per pound of turkey.
How long to soak turkey in water to thaw? ›...
How Long Does it Take:
- 2 – 4 hours for a 4 – 7 pound turkey.
- 4 - 6 hours for 8 - 12 pound turkey.
- 6 - 8 hours for 12 - 16 pound turkey.
- 8 - 10 hours for 16 - 20 pound turkey.
- 10 - 12 hours for 20 - 24 pound turkey.
A 20-pound (9.1 kg) turkey will 10 hours to thaw using the cold water method. If you have and extra refrigerator, you can put the turkey bucket with water in the fridge, keeping the door closed, to maintain a proper water temperature.
What makes a Butterball turkey different? ›In fact, there is no actual butter in or on a Butterball turkey. The fresh turkeys are injected with a basting solution made of salt water and “common household spices,” one brand representative told me.
How do you keep turkey submerged in brine? ›Place the turkey in an oven bag or your brining container. Pour the cooled brine over the turkey, adding additional cold water as needed to ensure the turkey is completely submerged. Weigh the turkey down with a plate or bowl if it floats. Brine the turkey in the refrigerator or an ice-filled cooler for 12 to 24 hours.
Should you season a brined turkey? ›
After brining, remove from liquid and discard remaining brine. Rinse and pat your bird dry. Place the turkey in a roasting pan and generously seasoning the outside and cavity with salt and pepper. Place compound butter under the skin of the bird and rub the entire outside with the butter.
What happens if your turkey is still partially frozen? ›The USDA says partially frozen turkeys can still cook in the oven, it will just take 50 percent longer to get done. Keep a food thermometer handy and make sure the thickest parts of the turkey reach an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees before serving.
Can I put a partially thawed turkey back in the fridge? ›The benefit here is that the turkey will remain in a cold environment throughout the process. As a result, there is little to no risk of bacteria growing on the turkey meat. This is why, if you defrost turkey in the refrigerator, refreezing turkey isn't an issue as there has been no contamination.
What turkeys should not be brined? ›Turkeys labeled as “basted”, “self-basted”, “kosher”, or “enhanced” are typically brined before you buy them and should not be brined at home.
How many people will a 20 pound turkey feed? ›“So, for 10 people you should prepare a 20-pound turkey. Home cooks should expect to yield 40 percent of a cooked bird, and between dark meat and white meat preferences, the yield will shrink even further,” DiSpirito says.
What happens if my brine doesn't cover my turkey? ›If your brine doesn't completely cover the turkey, turn the turkey over half way through brining. Next day, an hour before you are ready to cook the turkey, remove the turkey from the brine and discard the brine.
Do you put water in the bottom of the roasting pan for turkey? ›Place roast, skin side up, on a flat roasting rack in 2-inch deep roasting pan. Do not add water to pan. Roast uncovered according to Cooking Schedule or until meat thermometer in center of breast roast reaches 170° F and in center of turkey roast reaches 175° F.
Will brining make turkey salty? ›Brining works much faster than a marinade so brining a turkey for longer than recommended will oversaturate the bird. An over-brined turkey will taste salty.
How long should you brine a 20 lb turkey? ›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.
Then, you need to cool the brine to room temperature before using it, since pouring hot or warm brine over a raw turkey can cause bacteria growth.
Should you brine a Butterball turkey? ›
Should I brine or pre-salt the turkey? "If you want to you can, but you don't have to," says Miller. "Most turkeys are already brined. Butterball turkeys have a solution in them that really helps to keep them moist and juicy and tender.
How do you brine a partially thawed turkey? ›The salty water and the frozen turkey will keep the temperature of the water low, allowing you to not have to continually switch out the water as the turkey thaws. Cover the vessel and let the turkey thaw and brine at the same time, 24-48 hours at room temperature, depending on the size of the turkey.
What happens if you don't have room in the fridge to brine a turkey? ›- In a large stockpot, add sugar, salt and water. ...
- Remove from heat and add remaining ingredients.
- Bring brine down to room temperature. ...
- Put turkey in brining bag and add cooled brine.
- Tie up bag and add ice and water to cooler so that turkey stays cool, adding more ice as necessary.
- Brine for 72 hours.
If your turkey isn't fully submerged, add more brine solution (1/4 cup salt to 1 quart water) until the turkey is covered. Let sit in the fridge for 12-18 hours. Pat the inside and outside dry with a paper towel, and let dry, uncovered, for 1-2 hours before roasting.
What happens if turkey only partially thawed? ›The USDA says partially frozen turkeys can still cook in the oven, it will just take 50 percent longer to get done. Keep a food thermometer handy and make sure the thickest parts of the turkey reach an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees before serving.
What do I do if my turkey is partially thawed? ›Put the turkey into a water proof plastic bag to prevent cross contamination and keep the turkey from getting water logged. Immerse the turkey in the sink under cold water. Change the water every 30 minutes. Cook the turkey immediately after it is thawed.
How long should the turkey sit out from the brine? ›Rinse and Dry the Turkey
A wet-brined turkey can be slow to brown in the oven, so, for the best results, remove the turkey from the brine 8 to 12 hours before you plan to roast it.
If your brine recipe calls for heating the mixture, be sure to cool it to room temperature before using it. Then place the turkey in the brine and place in the refrigerator. Don't leave the turkey sitting out at room temperature while brining.
How long can turkey stay in fridge before brining? ›Your turkey can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days before cooking. We recommend this step for two reasons. First, brining ahead of time is one less thing to do the day before Thanksgiving.
Can you ruin a turkey by brining? ›Brining for too long can result in meat that tastes overly salty and has a spongy texture. If you're not ready to roast the bird after 18 hours, remove it from the brine, rinse it, pat it dry, and refrigerate for up to two days. However, there's always the question of how long to brine the turkey for optimal results.
What is the best container to brine a turkey in? ›
Bowls (glass, stainless-steel or ceramic), stainless-steel stock pots, brining bags or plastic containers are all suitable. Many restaurant-supply stores sell larger food grade containers, which are often sold to the general public as well.
Does Butterball brine their turkeys? ›"If you want to you can, but you don't have to," says Miller. "Most turkeys are already brined. Butterball turkeys have a solution in them that really helps to keep them moist and juicy and tender.