Smoked Turkey Brine
Smoked Turkey Brine
This honey-bourbon brine is perfect for smoked turkeys. It imparts just a little bit of sweet and a little bourbon flavor to the finished product. Of course, you can use this brine on a grilled or baked turkey as well. Amp up your holiday turkeys with this fantastic wet brine!
Ingredients
- 1 gallon cold water
- 1 1/2 cups bourbon
- 1 cup kosher salt
- 1 cup honey
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- 2 red apples quartered
- 2 oranges quartered
- 4-5 whole bay leaves
- 4 garlic cloves, smashed
- Large stock pot
- 1 large baking bag
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine cold water with salt, honey, bourbon, and sugar. Add remaining ingredients.
- Place large baking bag into stock pot and place turkey inside. Pour brine over top. Seal or tie bag and place into refrigerator (or a cold space), for 10-12 hours.
- Once brined, remove turkey from solution and rinse off. Pat dry with paper towels, inside and out, and cook as directed. Discard any remaining brine.
- You can prepare the brine 24 hours in advance to give the flavors a chance to combine. Store sealed in the refrigerator until ready to use on the bird.
Notes
Photo by Austin Matherne/Flickr No changes were made to image
