Brining is a popular technique used by many cooks to help ensure a tender, juicy turkey. But if you’re cooking a Butterball turkey, is brining necessary or just extra work? Butterball turkeys are already injected with a salted solution during processing. Does this eliminate the need to brine? Or are there still benefits to soaking a Butterball turkey anyway? Let’s weigh the pros and cons
What is Brining and Why Do People Brine Turkeys?
Brining refers to soaking meat in a saltwater solution prior to cooking. The salt allows the turkey to absorb extra moisture, helping to make the meat incredibly juicy and flavorful. The salt also breaks down some proteins, tenderizing the meat.
People brine turkeys because it reliably delivers a moist, tender turkey that’s seasoned throughout. Since turkey breast meat can easily dry out when roasted, brining provides a buffer against overcooking. The added moisture ensures even the white breast meat stays deliciously succulent.
Are Butterball Turkeys Pre-Brined?
Yes, Butterball injects their whole turkeys with a saltwater solution during processing. This is why you’ll often see “contains up to 8% of a solution of water, salt, spices and natural flavor” on Butterball turkey packaging.
This solution helps keep the meat moist and well-seasoned. Butterball states that their turkeys contain about 50 mg of sodium per 4 oz serving prior to cooking or additional seasoning.
So Butterball turkeys essentially come pre-brined, eliminating the need to brine them at home. But some cooks still choose to brine Butterball birds for extra moisture and flavor.
Pros of Brining a Butterball Turkey
While Butterball turkeys already contain salt and water for enhanced juiciness, some people still prefer to brine them. Reasons you may want to brine a pre-brined Butterball turkey include:
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Custom flavor – Brining allows you to add your own choice of aromatics like brown sugar, citrus, herbs and spices for personalized flavor.
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Extra moisture assurance – If concerned about dryness, brining gives an extra hydration boost. This provides a larger margin of error.
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Seasoning throughout – More salt and seasonings penetrate deep into the meat compared to surface-only seasoning.
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Oven roasting – Since Butterballs are prepped for roasting, brining can benefit other cooking methods like smoking where moisture loss is a concern.
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Larger birds – Brining gives added insurance against dryness in big 20+ lb turkeys where overcooking breast meat is likely.
So for cooks wanting to customize flavor or ensure absolute succulence, brining a Butterball turkey can provide added benefits. It certainly doesn’t hurt to brine a Butterball as long as you reduce the salt.
Cons of Brining a Pre-Brined Turkey
On the flip side, there are some downsides to brining a turkey that already contains salt and water:
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Redundant – Since Butterball turkeys are prepped to stay moist, brining doesn’t provide that much extra advantage. It may just be redundant.
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No benefit for small turkeys – For smaller 10-15 lb turkeys, brining is overkill as these cook evenly with less risk of drying out.
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Extra work – Brining requires an extra container, fridge space, brine ingredients and time. Skipping it simplifies the process.
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Could over-salt – Brining a pre-brined turkey risks making it overly salty if you don’t reduce the salt.
So if you’re short on time, fridge space or want to avoid too much salt, you can likely skip brining a Butterball altogether. Their pre-brined solution should be sufficient for most turkeys under 20 lbs.
Tips for Brining a Butterball Turkey
If you do opt to brine a pre-brined Butterball turkey, keep these tips in mind:
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Use a low-salt brine – Only 1/4 to 1/2 cup salt for 1 gallon water since salt is already present.
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Reduce brining time – 8-12 hours is often plenty compared to 24+ hours for an unbrined turkey.
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Avoid re-using brine – Don’t reuse a brine that already held raw turkey to prevent bacterial contamination.
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Rinse well after brining – This removes excess surface salt for better flavor. Pat the skin very dry.
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Cook turkey ASAP after brining – Don’t let it sit for extended periods after brining to prevent spoilage.
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Enhance flavor with aromatics like citrus, herbs, spices, sugar.
Following these best practices allows you to brine a Butterball turkey safely while optimizing flavor and moisture.
Simple Brine Recipe for a Butterball Turkey
If brining a Butterball turkey, use this simple brine recipe for great results:
Ingredients:
- 1 gallon water
- 1⁄4 cup kosher salt
- 1⁄4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon black peppercorns
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 1 lemon, sliced
- 4 cloves garlic, smashed
- 1 onion, chopped
Instructions:
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Combine all brine ingredients in a pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes to infuse flavors.
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Remove from heat and cool brine completely. Refrigerate until chilled.
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Place thawed turkey in brine, breast side down. Cover and refrigerate 8-12 hours.
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Remove turkey from brine and rinse well. Pat skin very dry with paper towels.
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Roast turkey as desired, allowing 15-20 minutes per pound.
The aromatics in this brine help provide lots of flavor, while the reduced salt content is appropriate for a pre-brined Butterball turkey.
The Bottom Line
While Butterball turkeys are prepped with a salt solution for enhanced moisture and flavor, some cooks still prefer to brine them for custom seasoning and extra juiciness assurance. This certainly won’t hurt the turkey if you reduce the salt.
However, brining a Butterball is optional since they are initially processed to retain moisture. For small 10-15 lb birds, it’s likely not needed. As with any turkey, proper roasting technique and temperature monitoring are key for best results.
Essential tools for the best bird ever!
Q: Can I brine a chicken or turkey breast? A: Yes, follow the instructions on the back of the package and allow the turkey (or breast) to brine for 30 minutes per pound.
Q: What size turkey should I buy? A: Rule of thumb is 1.5 pounds of turkey per person. If your family really loves turkey sandwiches or you want to try some of Urban Accents turkey leftover recipes, then buy 2 lbs. per person.
Q: Can I brine a self-basted or injected turkey (such as Butterball)? A: It is best to start with an all-natural turkey for maximum flavor. Self-basted or injected turkeys are injected with a flavorless brine solution.
Prepping the bird and the brine
Q: Can I cook the turkey in the brine bag? A: NO! The brining bag is not oven safe and is recommended for brining only.
Q: Can I brine my turkey for longer than the instructions recommend? A: Do not brine your turkey for longer than the instructions recommended. It will not make it more flavorful just too salty. There is no rescue for over brined meat.
Q: How much can our Gourmet Gobbler brine bag hold? A: Up to a 25-pound turkey plus 2 gallons of brine.
Q: Do I have to rinse my turkey after brining? A: We do recommend rinsing the bird and patting dry after turkey brining.
Q: Do I have to add sugar to my Gourmet Gobbler Brine? A: No – Our brining blend is complete. You just need to add water.
Q: May I brine in other liquid besides water? A: Fruit juice (apple, orange, and cranberry), beer & wine can be used, but do not substitute more than 1/3 of the total water content. General rule of thumb: use 1 part substitution liquid to 2 parts water.
Q: Will turkey brining make my turkey taste salty? A: If you have followed the Gourmet Gobbler brining instructions, then the salt content of the turkey will increase less than 1% after brining. Unless you over brine, the turkey should not taste salty at all. The Gourmet Gobbler Peppercorn Turkey Rub has some salt in it for a perfect, crispy skin.
Q: Can I brine a frozen turkey? A: You must start with a fully thawed turkey.
Q: Is there a best way to position my turkey in the brine bag? A: Yes. Place the turkey breast-side down in the brine bag for best results. This ensures that the largest concentration of meat is submerged as much as possible.
Q: Where should I store my turkey while it is brining? A: Your turkey can be placed inside a roasting pan in your refrigerator or stored directly on ice in a cooler. Make sure the cooler/refrigerator is 35-38F.
Q: I forgot to brine my turkey until today! What happens if I dont brine for the required time? A: As long as you are able to brine for at least 15 minutes per pound of turkey, the turkey will be juicier than if you don’t brine at all. Brining for shorter than the recommended time period might not give the brine time to get to the center of the turkey, but youll still notice a difference in flavor!
Q: Can I brine two small turkeys at the same time in the same bag? What if the turkeys are different sizes? A: Yes. Use the whole box of brine mix but only leave each turkey in the brine for 30 mins/ pound. So if you had a 6 pound turkey and an 8 pound turkey, take the 6 pound turkey out after 3 hours and leave the 8 pound turkey in for 4 hours.
Q: Can I brine my turkey for longer than 24 hours? A: No. Brining works much faster than a marinade so brining a turkey for longer than recommended will oversaturate the bird. An over-brined turkey will taste salty.
Q: How far in advance can I brine my turkey? Can I do it 2 days ahead of time and let it sit in the fridge? A: Yes, you can brine your turkey ahead of time. Remove turkey from brine, rinse and pat dry, and place on rimmed baking sheet or inside roasting pan. Store turkey in refrigerator, uncovered, for up to 24 hours before cooking.
Q: Can I stuff a brined turkey? A: We do not recommend stuffing a brined bird because the drippings from the turkey can add too much salt to the stuffing. We prefer to cook our stuffing separately. If you insist on stuffing your bird, do not add any additional salt to the stuffing. Also, make sure to check the temperature of the stuffing when you finish cooking the turkey. The stuffing temperature also needs to reach 165F before its safe to eat.
Can you brine a Butterball turkey?
FAQ
Does Butterball turkey need brine?
That’s a great question! Butterball turkeys are pre-brined,guaranteeing a delicious, moist turkey. You can, of course, choose to brine the turkey yourself as well, but there’s no need to.
Are all frozen Butterball turkeys pre-brined?
Butterball whole turkeys are individually pre-brined for juiciness, tenderness and flavor.
Should you rinse a Butterball turkey?
Wash your hands, but not the turkey! Many consumers think that washing their turkey will remove bacteria and make it safer. However, it’s virtually impossible to wash bacteria off the bird. Instead, juices that splash during washing can transfer bacteria onto the surfaces of your kitchen, other foods and utensils.
What is the downside of brining turkey?
- You need a big vessel to submerge the turkey, like a cooler or a large bucket
- You need to keep the turkey and brine cold, which can use up your fridge space
Can You brine a Butterball turkey?
Butterball whole turkeys are individually pre-brined for convenience and taste, but if you want even more flavor and juiciness, you can brine, marinate, or inject your turkey following our step-by-step instructions. Should you rinse a Butterball turkey? Wash your hands, but not the turkey!
Should you rinse a Butterball turkey After brining?
It is recommended to rinse the turkey after brining to remove any excess salt from the surface of the bird. This will help prevent the turkey from becoming too salty during the cooking process. 4. Can I brine a Butterball turkey that is already pre-seasoned?
Should you brine a pre-brined Turkey?
Could over-salt – Brining a pre-brined turkey risks making it overly salty if you don’t reduce the salt. So if you’re short on time, fridge space or want to avoid too much salt, you can likely skip brining a Butterball altogether. Their pre-brined solution should be sufficient for most turkeys under 20 lbs.
What happens if you brine a Butterball turkey too long?
Brining for too long can result in a mushy turkey. * When brining a Butterball turkey, it’s important to make sure that the turkey is completely submerged in the brine. If the turkey is not completely submerged, the parts that are not submerged will not be properly brined.
Do Butterball turkeys come pre-brined?
This solution helps keep the meat moist and well-seasoned. Butterball states that their turkeys contain about 50 mg of sodium per 4 oz serving prior to cooking or additional seasoning. So Butterball turkeys essentially come pre-brined, eliminating the need to brine them at home.
Can You brine a frozen turkey?
Yes, you can brine a frozen turkey! Just make sure it is completely thawed first. Otherwise, the brine can’t properly penetrate the frozen parts. What about a kosher turkey?