My Favorite Turkey Brine

My Favorite Turkey Brine

from thepioneerwoman.com

Ingredients

  • 3 c. apple juice or apple cider
  • 2 gallons cold water
  • 4 tbsp. fresh rosemary leaves
  • 5 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 1/2 c. kosher salt
  • 2 c. brown sugar
  • 3 tbsp. peppercorns
  • 5 whole bay leaves
  • Peel of three large oranges

Directions

  1. 1

    Combine all the ingredients in a large pot and bring to a boil, stirring until the salt and sugar dissolve. Turn off heat, cover and allow the brine to cool completely.

  2. 2

    Place the uncooked turkey in a large brining bag or pot, pour in the brine solution to cover the turkey, and refrigerate for 16 to 24 hours.

  3. 3

    Before roasting, remove the turkey from the brine (discard the brine) and submerge the turkey in a pot or sink filled with fresh, cold water for 15 minutes. This removes excess salt from the outside.

  4. 4

    Remove the turkey from the water, pat dry, and cook according to your normal roasting method.