I mixed and matched and finally found the best way to brine a turkey. It adds flavor but not enough to overpower what you will use when you roast the turkey. It will literally leak when you cut it... that is how juicy this bird gets. You can also use this brine for other types of poultry.
Ingredients
- water: 5 cups (divided)
- salt: 1 cup
- gallon water: 1 piece
- packed dark brown sugar: 1 cup
- quarts apple juice (not from concentrate): 2 piece
- pint whiskey (such as Jack Daniel's®): 1 piece
- lemon: 1 piece (juiced)
- Gala apple, quartered and: 1 piece (chopped)
- navel orange, quartered: 1 piece (to taste)
Metric Conversion
Stages of cooking
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Combine 2 1/2 cups water and salt in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, until salt is dissolved, about 3 minutes.
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Pour water and salt mixture into a 5-gallon bucket. Add 1 gallon of water.
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Combine 2 1/2 cups water and brown sugar in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, until sugar is dissolved, about 3 minutes. Pour into the bucket.
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Stir apple juice, whiskey, and lemon juice into the bucket. Add chopped apple. Squeeze in orange juice and add in rinds.
