Brining a turkey before roasting helps ensure a moist and flavorful bird. But once the turkey is out of the brine, you’re often left with a good amount of leftover brine. Don’t just pour that flavorful liquid down the drain! Here are 10 creative ways to use up your leftover turkey brine.
Can You Reuse Turkey Brine?
It’s important to note that you should never reuse brine that has already been used on raw poultry Reusing brine can lead to cross-contamination and foodborne illness, So only use leftover brine that has not yet touched the raw turkey
1. Make a Brine-Infused Gravy
One of the best uses for leftover turkey brine is to make a flavored gravy Be sure to start with an unsalted turkey stock as the base. Then add the brine a little at a time, tasting as you go, until the gravy has a balanced saltiness The brine adds great flavor without over-salting.
2. Use as a Basting Liquid
While the turkey is roasting, use some of the leftover brine to baste the turkey periodically. This adds extra moisture and flavor as it cooks. Just be careful not to use too much, as the brine is quite salty.
3. Make Brined Roasted Vegetables
Roast vegetables like potatoes, carrots, parsnips or brussels sprouts tossed in a bit of the brine for a flavor boost. The brine nicely seasons the veggies without overpowering their natural flavors.
4. Add Flavor to Stuffing
Use a bit of brine in the liquid when making your stuffing or dressing recipe. It provides seasoning without going overboard on the salt.
5. Make Brined Baked Goods
Add a tablespoon or two of brine to bread doughs, biscuits, scones, etc. The brine subtly seasons the baked goods. Be sure to decrease any salt the recipe already calls for.
6. Brine Meats Before Cooking
Use leftover brine to quickly brine chicken, pork chops, or other meats. Even 30 minutes to an hour of brining boosts moisture and flavor.
7. Brine Fish Before Cooking
Try soaking firmer fish like salmon or cod in leftover brine for 30 minutes before cooking. This seasons the fish and helps keep it nice and moist.
8. Make a Brined Salad Dressing
Whisk a bit of the brine into your favorite vinaigrette, ranch or creamy salad dressing recipe. It adds a tasty seasoning element.
9. Make a Brined Soup
When making soup, substitute some of the water or broth with turkey brine for a flavor boost. Lentil, bean and vegetable soups work well.
10. Add to a Casserole
Stir some brine into casserole dishes like mac and cheese, potato gratin or scalloped potatoes to amplify the flavor. The brine gives a tasty seasoning without over-salting.
Next time you brine a turkey, try out some of these ideas for leftover brine. You’ll be surprised at how a little brine can add big flavor to all kinds of dishes!
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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.
Easy Turkey Brine Recipe
FAQ
How do you use turkey brine?
Brining means making a salt water solution and submerging the turkey for about 24 hours before roasting. This spa treatment helps the turkey retain more moisture during roasting and prevents it from drying out. A brine also gives me a chance to season the turkey with herbs and spices, especially the skin!
What to do with brine after?
- 1. Cook with it
- 2. Shoot it
- 3. Mix it
- 4. Shake it up (salad dressing)
- 5. Backslop it (fertilize future ferments)
Do you throw away turkey brine?
The turkey brine should be thrown away after use and should never be re-used. Firstly if it has fermented then it is likely that it has gone off anyway.
What is a turkey brine?
Simply put a turkey brine is a salt and water mixture used to add moisture and flavor to meat. Smoking slowly take a toll on moisture and this offsets that. How?
How do you make turkey brine?
Make the turkey brine. Heat the water in a large stockpot until boiling. Add the sugar and salt, and stir until they have dissolved. Remove the pot from the heat and add the herbs and wine. Once the liquid has cooled completely, add your turkey.
What does brining a Turkey mean?
When it comes to turkey, you have likely heard of a process called brining. According to the Food Network, to brine a turkey means to essentially soak it in water that’s loaded with salt and sugar (and sometimes other seasonings or flavors). The process allows the turkey to soak up the flavors of its brine, making for a much tastier bird.