Harvest Turkey Brine
Description
For the juiciest possible turkey, brine the bird a day or two in advance with this flavor-packed mixture of stocks, wine, fruits, and fresh herbs.
Ingredients
•
1 (32 fluid ounce) container chicken stock
•
1 (32 fluid ounce) container vegetable stock
•
2 cups Pinot Grigio wine
•
2 Fuji apples, sliced
•
2 medium oranges, sliced
•
3 small lemons, sliced
•
1 Anjou pear, sliced
•
1 head garlic, cloves peeled and crushed
•
1/2 yellow onion, sliced
•
1/2 bunch fresh rosemary, or to taste
•
1/2 bunch fresh thyme, or to taste
•
1/2 bunch fresh sage, or to taste
•
kitchen twine
•
1 cup water
•
3/4 cup sea salt
•
1/2 cup white sugar
•
2 tablespoons dried bell peppers
•
2 tablespoons dried vegetable flakes
•
2 tablespoons multi-colored whole peppercorns
•
4 bay leaves
•
1 gallon iced water
•
1 (11 pound) whole turkey, neck and giblets removed
•
1 extra-large turkey bag
Directions
1
Combine chicken stock, vegetable stock, and with wine in a large pot. Toss in apples, oranges, lemons, pear, garlic, and onion. Tie rosemary, thyme, and sage together with kitchen twine; add to the pot. Stir in 1 cup water, salt, sugar, dried peppers, vegetable flakes, peppercorns, and bay leaves. Bring to a boil; stir to dissolve salt and sugar.
2
Remove brine from heat and let cool to room temperature. Store in the refrigerator.
3
Combine brine with 1 gallon of heavily iced water 1 to 2 days before serving the turkey. Place thawed turkey in an extra-large turkey bag and pour in enough brine to cover completely. Refrigerate.
4
Remove turkey from the brine and rinse inside and out with cold water. Discard brine and start cooking.