This simple brine for turkey of salt, sugar, and fresh herbs is super simple and versatile–you can also use it with pork or chicken. It’s perfectly scaled for a turkey breast or two but can be easily adapted to a whole turkey. Best of all, with this recipe, you won’t be throwing a lot of extra ingredients away because each ingredient serves a real purpose. Read on for lots more brining tips!
Brining a turkey before roasting is a fantastic way to help ensure a moist, flavorful bird on your holiday table. But with so many options for brining vessels, you may be wondering if a stainless steel pot is a safe choice.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about brining turkey in stainless steel, including the pros and cons, proper techniques, tips for success, and answers to frequently asked questions.
The Benefits of Stainless Steel for Brining
Stainless steel offers several key advantages that make it a good option for brining turkey
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Non-Reactive Stainless steel won’t react with the salt, spices, or acids sometimes used in brines This makes it safer than more reactive metals like aluminum or copper
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Durable: Quality stainless steel pots can withstand repeated use without degrading. Platics may eventually break down over time.
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Even Heat Conduction: The conductive nature of stainless steel allows the brine to cool down evenly when using an ice bath. This helps maintain safe temperatures.
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Non-Porous: The smooth surface doesn’t absorb flavors or allow bacterial buildup like more porous materials can.
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Food-Safe: Stainless steel made for food use won’t leach any harmful chemicals into the brine.
Potential Drawbacks of Stainless Steel
While stainless steel has many benefits for brining, there are a couple potential drawbacks to be aware of:
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Corrosion: Prolonged exposure to salt can eventually cause corrosion of stainless steel over time. This risk increases the longer the brine is in contact with the metal.
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Heat Conduction: As mentioned above, stainless steel conducts heat well. This means the brine solution may heat up faster than desired if the pot isn’t properly regulated.
As long as you follow the proper guidelines covered next, these potential downsides are easy to prevent.
Step-By-Step Guide to Brining Turkey in Stainless Steel
Follow this simple process for safely and effectively brining turkey in a stainless steel pot:
1. Select an Appropriately Sized Pot
Choose a pot large enough to fully submerge the turkey and brine solution. Allow about 1-2 gallons of brine per turkey. A 5+ quart pot is ideal for small to medium birds.
2. Make the Brine
Create your brine by dissolving 1 cup kosher salt and 1/2 cup sugar per gallon of cool water. Add any other desired flavors like herbs or citrus.
3. Chill the Brine
Before adding the turkey, use an ice bath setup to chill the brine down to 40°F or lower. This prevents bacterial growth.
4. Submerge the Turkey
Place the turkey in the pot breast-side down. If needed, weigh it down to keep fully immersed in the brine.
5. Maintain Proper Temperature
Monitor the brine temperature and add more ice as needed to maintain 40°F or below. The stainless steel will conduct heat from the surroundings.
6. Brine for Recommended Time
Soak the turkey for 12-24 hours depending on size, allowing approximately 1 hour per pound.
7. Rinse Thoroughly
Once done brining, remove the turkey and rinse very well with cool water before cooking. Discard used brine.
Turkey Brining Tips for Best Results
Follow these extra tips for getting the most out of brining turkey in stainless steel:
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Use high-quality, food-grade stainless steel to prevent leaching.
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Keep brining time under 24 hours to limit corrosion risk.
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Let any rubs or seasoning wait until after brining, when flavors have penetrated.
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Resist reusing brine as it can harbor bacteria after raw turkey contact.
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If brining a frozen turkey, ensure it is fully thawed first for proper penetration.
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A brine pump can help accelerate brine absorption for large birds or when time is limited.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my stainless pot isn’t big enough for the whole turkey?
You can brine turkey parts separately if needed. Cut the bird into quarters and brine white and dark meat in different pots.
Is brining required for a juicy turkey?
While not strictly required, brining does reliably improve moisture and flavor. You can also rely on proper roasting techniques for a juicy bird.
Can I brine for longer than 24 hours?
It’s best to limit brining to 24 hours maximum. The longer the brine stays in contact with the stainless steel, the more corrosion can occur over time.
What about brining in a plastic bucket or cooler?
Food-safe plastic vessels are another excellent option for brining turkey. Just ensure temperatures stay chilled.
Do I really need to discard the brine after using?
Yes, it’s important to discard used brine as it can contain bacteria after raw poultry contact. Never reuse brine.
The Bottom Line
Brining turkey in a stainless steel pot is perfectly safe when following the proper guidelines. Be sure to use a large enough food-grade pot, keep the brine chilled, limit contact time, rinse the turkey well, and discard used brine. With these simple precautions, you’ll be rewarded with a juicy, flavorful holiday bird.
Why This Recipe is a Keeper!
Because my personal chef clients entrust me with their money, I must be highly conscious of wasting ingredients.
Many brine recipes involve a lot of extra spices and aromatics like onions, carrots, garlic and fruit such as citrus. According to Serious Eats, those extra ingredients make your brine smell good but do little to flavor the meat past the skin. In a brine solution, the salt does all the work. All those other ingredients that don’t have much impact on flavor will just get thrown away in the end.
This simple brine for turkey has added flavor with fresh herbs, but dried herbs may also be used, making this simple turkey brine recipe very economical.
This simple turkey brine recipe can also be used for pork or chicken, and it’s scaled perfectly for one or two turkey breasts but can be doubled or tripled for a large turkey.
How to Make a Simple Brine for Turkey:
Here’s everything you’ll need to make this simple turkey brine recipe, along with how to prep. See the recipe card below for the exact quantities.