Spatchcock Turkey for the juiciest, simplest turkey you’ve ever roasted. The easiest, most reliable recipe for moist, juicy turkey with incredibly crisp skin.
Marinating turkey in buttermilk is a great way to make the meat incredibly moist tender and full of flavor. But how long should you soak the turkey to get the best results? The optimal marinating time depends on a few factors. In this article we’ll look at why marinating in buttermilk works so well, how long you should marinate for, and tips to ensure marinating success.
Why Marinate Turkey in Buttermilk?
There are a few key reasons why buttermilk makes such a great marinade for turkey:
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Tenderizes the Meat – The lactic acid in buttermilk helps break down tough muscle fibers in the turkey, resulting in more tender meat. This is especially helpful for the breast meat, which can easily dry out.
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Adds Flavor – Buttermilk has a tasty tangy, sour flavor. This gives the turkey a delicious flavor boost
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Keeps Turkey Juicy – The acids in buttermilk allow the turkey to retain more moisture as it cooks Less moisture loss means a juicier end result.
So buttermilk marinating improves both texture and flavor – which is why it’s a prime choice for preparing turkey.
How Long Should You Marinate Turkey in Buttermilk?
To get the full advantages of buttermilk marinating, you need to soak the turkey for a significant amount of time. Here’s a breakdown of recommended marinating times:
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8-12 hours – Good for imparting basic flavor and a slight tenderizing effect. Best for boneless turkey breast.
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24 hours – Allows the buttermilk to really penetrate into bone-in parts like drumsticks and wings.
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48 hours – Ideal for marinating a whole turkey. Gives time for the buttermilk to properly tenderize and infuse flavor into the thickest part of the breast.
The optimal time can also depend on the size of the turkey pieces. Smaller cuts like breast medallions may only need 8-12 hours. Larger pieces and whole birds do best with a full 48 hour soak.
The longer you marinate, the more tender and flavorful the turkey will turn out.
Tips for Marinating Turkey in Buttermilk
Follow these tips to ensure your buttermilk marinated turkey comes out perfect:
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Use cold buttermilk straight from the fridge. It works better than buttermilk at room temp.
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Make sure turkey pieces are fully submerged in the buttermilk. Weigh them down if needed.
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Marinate turkey in the refrigerator, not on the counter. Keep chilled the entire time.
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Don’t reuse buttermilk after marinating raw turkey. Always use fresh buttermilk.
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Pat the turkey dry before cooking to help it brown and crisp better.
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Season the buttermilk with herbs, garlic, citrus, mustard, etc to add extra flavor.
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Discard used buttermilk properly after marinating raw meat. Don’t consume it.
Sample Buttermilk Marinade Recipes
Here are two tasty buttermilk marinade recipes to try with your turkey:
Simple Buttermilk Marinade
- 3-4 cups buttermilk
- 1⁄4 cup kosher salt
- 1 tbsp black pepper
- Optional: garlic, herbs
Whisk together all ingredients until salt dissolves. Submerge turkey and marinate 24-48 hours.
Flavorful Buttermilk Brine
- 4 cups buttermilk
- 1⁄2 cup salt
- 1⁄4 cup brown sugar
- Juice of 2 lemons
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried rosemary
Combine all ingredients and stir to dissolve salt and sugar. Marinate turkey 24-48 hours.
For tender, juicy turkey with great flavor, soaking in buttermilk is a great preparatory technique. Whole birds and bone-in parts benefit from a good 24-48 hour marinating time. Keep the turkey chilled in the fridge, fully submerged in the buttermilk. When marinated properly, your holiday turkey or anytime turkey will turn out super moist and taste fantastic. Give buttermilk marinating a try for your next turkey dinner!
The BEST Turkey Recipe
This is Samin Nosrat’s recipe, of Netflix’s Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat fame. She took her famous Buttermilk Marinated Roast Chicken with its amazing golden, brown crispy skin, and developed a turkey recipe.
While I’ve long loved Spatchcock Turkey, this buttermilk brined recipe is a game changer. With only 3 ingredients, it’s also the easiest!
The buttermilk brine perfectly flavors every bite of the moist, juicy meat. The beautiful golden-brown, incredibly crisp skin is a stunning addition to the holiday table.
Begin by cutting off the thighs and legs:
- Cut the skin between the thighs/legs and the breast
- Pull the leg back until the joint pops.
- Cut along the leg joint to separate it.
- Bend the wing joint until it pops.
- Cut along the exposed joint to remove.
- Slice each breast down the middle along the side of the rib cage.
- Keep working your knife down slowly until each breast is completely removed.
- Slice the breasts into slices, try to keep the skin in place.
Martha’s Famous Buttermilk Turkey recipe
FAQ
How long to put turkey in buttermilk?
Rinse the turkey inside and out with cold water and place in a large brining bag. Carefully pour the buttermilk brine mixture into the bag. Seal the bag, pressing out the air, and place in a large stockpot or other container large enough to hold the turkey. Refrigerate for 24 to 36 hours, turning occasionally.
How long to soak meat in buttermilk?
- Steak: Marinate for 4 to 12 hours, or overnight for tougher cuts
- Chicken: Marinate for 1 to 4 hours, or overnight or up to two days
- Venison: Marinate for 6 to 12 hours
How long to marinate wild turkey in buttermilk?
Just make sure you don’t skimp on the brining time; 48 hours is essential to make sure the bird gets seasoned through and through.Dec 16, 2024
How long should you marinate turkey?
Use ¼ to ½ cup of marinade for every 1 to 2 pounds of meat. Marinate meat for 2 to 8 hours. The longer you marinate the stronger the flavor.
How long should you marinate a Turkey in buttermilk?
To get the full benefits of buttermilk marinating, the turkey needs to soak for a significant period of time. Most recipes call for a minimum marinating time of 8-12 hours. However, leaving the turkey in buttermilk for 24-48 hours is ideal for maximum tenderizing and flavor infusion. Here is a breakdown of recommended marinating times:
How long should you marinate a turkey breast?
48 hours: Best for a whole turkey. Gives the brine enough time to work into the thickest part of the breast. So for a whole Thanksgiving turkey, marinate for a full 48 hours if possible. For just turkey parts or boneless breasts, you can get away with less time. Follow these tips to get the most out of your buttermilk turkey brine:
How do you marinate a turkey breast in buttermilk?
Turkey breast, marinated in buttermilk and seasonings, so it’s extra tender and juicy. Place turkey breast in a large, zip-top bag. In a medium bowl, whisk together buttermilk, 1 tablespoon salt, 1 teaspoon pepper, 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning, and garlic. Pour buttermilk mixture into bag with turkey breast and seal tightly.
How long to marinate meat in buttermilk?
The minimum time to marinate meat in buttermilk is one hour, but you won’t get great results. Try a longer marinade of around 8 hours to get the mild acids tenderizing and adding flavor. Always keep your marinating meat in a sealed container in the fridge, and don’t leave it on the kitchen counter.
Is buttermilk marinated turkey breast good for Thanksgiving?
Turkey breast, marinated in buttermilk and seasonings, so it’s extra tender and juicy. If you’re intimidated by the idea of cooking a whole turkey for Thanksgiving dinner, or you just don’t need that much turkey to begin with, this Buttermilk Marinated Turkey Breast is for you.
Can you cook a whole turkey with buttermilk?
Buttermilk marinades make the skin crisp and give the turkey breast a dark golden brown color. However, a large turkey may be in the oven for a much longer time and I believe that the skin would be burned before the meat was cooked. Therefore, I do not recommend cooking a whole turkey with this marinade.