3 Killer turkey brines

3 Killer turkey brines

If you want the best turkey this year, give it a nice soak. Seriously, there is nothing better you can do to make a great turkey than brine it, which is just a culinary term for soaking it in salty water. Just the salt water alone adds moistness to meat, but since the turkey will sit in the brine for around twenty-four hours, using brine is a great opportunity to add additional flavors. Here are three brines recipes that will pack a big flavor this Thanksgiving day.

Here are three lists of ingredients with directions for all of them below.

Basic "American" style brine

Ingredients:

• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 cup salt
• 3 tablespoons powdered thyme
• 3 sprigs rosemary
• 2 tablespoons sage
• 2 tablespoons garlic powder
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons paprika

Tex-Mex style brine

Ingredients:

• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 cup salt
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 6 tablespoons cumin
• 2 tablespoons garlic powder
• 1 bunch cilantro, stems removed
• 2 tablespoons chipotle powder
• 1 tablespoon black pepper

New England style brine

Ingredients:

• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 cup salt
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 8 tablespoons crab boil
• 1 tablespoon juniper berries

Directions:

1. Pour all the ingredients into a sauce pan. Bring them to a boil, stirring occasionally to make sure all of the salt is dissolved.
2. Cool the brine down with a few ice cubes, then place the turkey or chicken into a bowl. Pour the brine over the poultry, cover with plastic wrap, and place in the refrigerator for twenty-four hours. If you can, turn the turkey every four-to-six hours.
3. When you are ready to make the turkey, pat it dry and put it in the oven.