Cooking Resources

legend_018 · 11-13-2011, 03:51 PM

I know I didn't grow up with my mother and father doing that. Any here brining there turkey?

**PrincessFiona60** · 11-13-2011, 03:56 PM

I did once, but I really don't have the room for it. I don't trust leaving anything outside in the "chiller" since we are in an apartment. I guess I could lock it in our storage closet. But now, I don't do a whole turkey anymore.

PattY1 · 11-13-2011, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by legend_018

I know I didn't grow up with my mother and father doing that. Any here bringing there turkey?

A big fat HE!! NO. Commercial Turkeys are already pumped with lots of SALTY BROTH, why would I want to brine one at home and up the SODIUM?? That is just crazy.

legend_018 · 11-13-2011, 04:46 PM

I don't know - I see a lot of people talking about it, blogs and such.

bakechef · 11-13-2011, 04:59 PM

YES! A proper brine does not produce a salty bird, just one full of flavor that retains its moisture. Seriously I have "wowed" many people with brined birds. My mom never brined, her turkeys were good, but really needed that gravy to give the white meat any flavor.

Yes it is kind of a cumbersome process, but for me, really worth it.

**Dawgluver** · 11-13-2011, 05:00 PM

As Patty mentioned, a lot of commercial birds are already pumped up. Maybe if you're lucky enough to get a fresh turkey, it might be nice to brine.

bakechef · 11-13-2011, 05:19 PM

I've only brined previously frozen birds, never fresh, it works great. Frozen birds may already have a solution, but it really isn't "brined"

**Dawgluver** · 11-13-2011, 06:02 PM

BIL, who worked for Butterball for many years, brined his turkey last year. It was good, but his turkeys are always good, brine or no brine!

roadfix · 11-13-2011, 06:22 PM

I plan on cooking Trader Joe's brined turkey this year on the Weber kettle grill. It's been pre-brined before packaging. In fact, this will be my first turkey ever.
I've always brined whole chicken and they always come out good and moist.

Andy M. · 11-13-2011, 07:28 PM

Not all commercially available turkeys are "already pumped with lots of SALTY BROTH". I buy a fresh Butterball every year and brine it (frozen Butterballs are injected with a brine). Since I started using the Good Eats Thanksgiving Turkey recipe, I've had the juiciest and tastiest turkeys I've ever eaten.

One of the reasons some turkeys come brined is because brining works!