How to Do a Simple Turkey Brine

People are often amazed with how moist my turkey is so they ask how do you get your turkey so moist. My answer I brine it. Below is a simple way and easy recipe I follow to Brine turkey.

Ingredients:

1 gallon water
2 cups kosher salt
1 1/2 cups dark brown sugar
12 whole cloves
3 bay leaves
1 tablespoon whole black peppercorns
2 1/2 teaspoons dried rosemary
2 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme

Directions:

Bring water to a boil in a large stockpot. Stir salt and sugar into the water until dissolved; bring water again to a boil. Add cloves, bay leaves, peppercorns, rosemary, and thyme to the water, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook mixture at a simmer for about 20 minutes.

Refrigerate brine until completely cooled.

Cooking tip

Pour cooled brine into a non-reactive container large enough to hold your turkey. I keep a large plastic bucket just for brining. Add thawed turkey; add enough cool water to cover turkey with liquid. Refrigerate overnight to 12 hours. Remove from brine and let sit on counter about 2 hours before planning to start roasting.