The Best No-Brine Turkey for a Hassle-Free Feast
As Thanksgiving approaches, everyone wants a juicy, flavorful turkey without the hassle of brining. Skipping the brine saves time and fridge space, but can you still get a moist delicious bird? Absolutely! Over the years I’ve perfected my no-brine turkey technique to deliver tender, succulent results every time. Follow my foolproof method for the best holiday turkey ever – no brine required.
Why Go No-Brine?
Brining involves fully submerging the raw turkey in a saltwater solution before roasting. It helps the bird retain moisture. But it’s cumbersome, requiring a huge container and ample fridge space. With my easy no-brine method, you can skip this step and still end up with an incredibly juicy turkey.
After years of testing, I’ve dialed in a no-brine turkey that rivals any brined bird. The key is using ingredients like flavored butter, citrus, vegetables, broth and frequent basting to infuse flavor and prevent drying out. Trust me, no one at your table will be able to tell this turkey wasn’t brined!
No-Brine Turkey Tips and Tricks
Follow these techniques for moist, delicious no-brine success:
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Loosen the skin and rub herb butter underneath to keep the meat tender and add flavor.
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Stuff aromatic vegetables like onions, carrots and fresh herbs into the cavity to perfume the meat.
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Add citrus like lemons, oranges or limes to the cavity – the juice helps retain moisture.
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Drape butter-soaked cheesecloth over the breast to seal in moisture and promote even browning.
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Roast the turkey over chicken broth to keep it incredibly moist and juicy.
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Baste frequently, every 30 minutes, using the broth and pan drippings.
Step-by-Step No-Brine Turkey
Follow my simple step-by-step method:
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Remove giblets and neck, pat turkey dry. Loosen the skin.
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Make flavored butter with herbs, citrus, garlic. Rub it under the skin.
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Stuff the cavity with onions, carrots, garlic, citrus and fresh herbs.
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Truss the legs, drape cheesecloth soaked in herb butter over breast.
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Place turkey on a rack over chicken broth in a roasting pan.
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Roast at 425°F for 30 mins to brown skin, then reduce to 325°F, basting every 30 mins.
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Cook until 165°F in thighs, 170°F in breast, about 15 mins per pound.
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Let rest 30 minutes before carving.
No-Brine Turkey FAQs
Here are some common questions about cooking turkey without brining:
How do you keep it moist? Herb butter under the skin, citrus in the cavity and roasting over broth prevents drying out. Frequently basting helps too.
What’s the best roasting temp? Start high at 425°F to brown the skin then reduce to 325-350°F to finish cooking without drying out.
How long does it take? Estimate 15 minutes per pound, so a 15 lb turkey takes about 3 hours at 325°F.
What’s the minimum resting time? Let it rest at least 30 minutes after roasting so juices redistribute.
What temperature means it’s done? Cook until 165°F in thighs and 170°F in the breast.
The Perfect No-Brine Bird
My easy no-brine technique consistently delivers tender, juicy and flavorful holiday turkey. Ditch the brining hassle and try my method for your next feast. With herb butter massaged under the skin, vegetables and citrus stuffed in the cavity and roasted over flavorful broth, you’ll get moist, delicious results every time.
The Best Roast Turkey Recipe
Sharing my secret to super juicy no brine roast turkey recipe that will make you a hero of your Thanksgiving dinner. It involves a bottle of champagne and melted butter!
✅ Succulent turkey! ✅ Not brining the turkey this year.✅ Roasted in champagne!
Pull the neck and giblets out of the cavity Carefully run your hand under the breast skin to create a pocket.
Combine 1 stick of butter, garlic, parsley, rosemary, sage, thyme, salt and lemon juice. Mix until well combined.
Smear the compound butter evenly. Fill the turkey cavity with carrots, apples, and fresh herbs. inject each thigh and breast half with about 1 tablespoon of melted butter.
Pour champagne and chicken stock over the turkey and into the cavity. Roast the turkey until it’s golden brown. Let rest for at least 30 minutes before carving.
Juicy Whole Roasted Turkey (No Brine Needed!) | I Heart Recipes
FAQ
What is an alternative to brining a turkey?
Brining Alternatives. By far the most common alternative is plain old salting. When you salt a turkey (or chicken) breast, meat juices are initially drawn out through the process of osmosis (yes, this time it really is osmosis at work).
Is it OK not to brine a turkey?
Brining a turkey is totally optional. If you’re short on time or just want the most straight-forward method to roast a turkey, skip the brining step and just use the Simple Roasted Turkey method. Some people swear that brining yields the most tender, juicy meat, but it takes planning ahead.
What is the secret to a moist turkey?
Baste It Another key to a delicious, juicy turkey is to baste as it cooks. Basting is also the key to delicious pan drippings and gravy! I love the combination of melted butter, chicken broth, and a little bit of cooking sherry for this turkey. Rich and flavorful, just as Thanksgiving and the holidays should be.
What happens if you cook a turkey uncovered?
You can either let the turkey uncovered or covered for the second slow cooking phase. The skin will get crispier if you uncover it.