Turkey Brine And Injection Marinade Recipes

TURKEY BRINE AND INJECTION MARINADE

Steps:

• You will also need 1 Ice chest just large enough to hold the bird, brine, and ice (not too big, bird must be submerged) and 1 Brine injector (preferred), or a large (50+cc) hydodermic with large diameter needle.
• Stir salt and sugar into boiling water until completely dissolved.
• Add remaining ingredients, except olive oil, and allow to set for at least 30 minutes for flavors to develop.
• Taste; brine will be very salty; that’s why it is called ‘brine’.
• Adjust any or all ingredients to your taste, keeping in mind that tastes should be quite assertive.
• Thoroughly blend everything in a food processor or blender.
• Whisk or blend in olive oil, and strain about half into a cup or bowl for injecting, returning all strained solids to the half to be used for brining.
• Thaw your turkey completely, if frozen.
• Better yet, get a fresh turkey that hasn’t been injected with all of the artificial quote ‘butter’ unquote stuff, so the only thing in the bird is what YOU put inside the bird!
• Remove and reserve the neck and innards for gravy making, or discard them if you are not a gravy freak.
• Wash the bird thoroughly inside and out, drain well, and pat dry with paper towels.
• Use a 2 ounce (about) brining injector or a BIG (50+ cc) ‘hypodeemic nerdle’ to inject the bird with the strained brine.
• Inject in at least 3-4 sites on each side of the breast, 2-3 in each thigh, and 2-3 into the meaty part of each drumsticks, pushing the needle in deep and injecting about 1/3 of the brine deep, pulling the needle back about a third, injecting another third of the brine, and repeating after pulling the needle back another third of its length.
• Pour any remaining injection-brine with the half to be used for brining.
• Place 1 bag of ice in the bottom of the ice chest, place the turkey on top, and pour all of the brine over the turkey.
• Dump the remaining bag of ice over the turkey, and add enough very cold water to just cover the bird.
• Slosh things around enough to combine the brine with the additional water, ice, and the turkey, and make sure the brine gets into the turkey cavity.
• Close the ice chest, and set in a cool place to marinate.
• After about 7-8 hours, turn the turkey over, top to bottom, and do it again after another 7-8 hours.
• Add more ice only if everything melts; don’t bother otherwise.
• After a total of at least 24 hours, you are ready to cook your bird any way you desire, stuffed or not stuffed, roasted, fried, nuked, whatever.
• Just be sure to drain the turkey well and pat it dry before cooking by your desired method.
• Throw away all of the brine, remaining ice, etc.
• ,and thoroughly wash your ice chest before using it for more legitimate purposes, such as storing beer and wine to go with your ‘wonnerful’ turkey dinner.
• Notes: This marinade/brine can also be used for chicken or pork-- just half the recipe, and follow the general instructions using smaller amounts-- or make a full recipe of the brine/marinade and save half in the fridge for next time.
• If you are lucky enough to actually have a fridge large enough and empty enough to hold a turkey for a day or so, forget the ice chest and most of the ice, and brine your bird in a plastic bag large enough to hold the bird and brine, squeezing out all of the air, and just turn it over every 7-8 hours so things marinate evenly.

MY FAVORITE TURKEY BRINE

Steps:

• Combine 2 gallons cold water with the apple cider, brown sugar, salt, peppercorns, bay leaves, garlic, rosemary and orange peels in a large pot. Stir until the salt and sugar dissolve. Bring to a boil, then turn off the heat and cover.
• Allow to cool completely, then place into the fridge to chill. Place uncooked turkey in the chilled brine solution, then refrigerate for 16 to 24 hours.
• When ready to roast the turkey, remove from the brine. Submerge the turkey in a pot or sink of fresh, cold water. Allow to sit in clean water for 15 minutes to remove excess salt from the outside.
• Discard the brine. Remove the turkey from the clean water, pat dry, and cook according to your normal roasting method.

CAJUN TURKEY INJECTION (BRINE)

Steps:

• Blend all of the dry ingredients then mix with the butter.
• Inject into the turkey prior to deep frying (the injector must have a discharge nozzle of at least 1/16th of an inch). This recipe is enough for 1 (10 to 12 pound) turkey.

PERFECTLY PAIRED TURKEY INJECTION MARINADE AND RUB

Steps:

• Stir chicken broth, lemon juice, 1/2 cup melted butter, 1 clove garlic, mustard powder, and ginger together in a bowl. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate marinade for flavors to blend, about 30 minutes.
• Mix 1 cup softened butter, rosemary, thyme, and 2 cloves garlic together in a bowl until rub is evenly combined.
• Separate skin from the meat of the turkey by running your hand under the skin to separate. Spoon rub mixture evenly under the skin in several different parts of the turkey.
• Pour marinade into a meat injector and inject the meatiest parts of turkey with marinade, changing the angle of the needle several times.
• Brush turkey with olive oil and season with salt and pepper; place in roasting pan and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate turkey for 12 to 24 hours.

TURKEY BRINE

Steps:

• Bring 1 quart water, salt, bay leaves, and spices to a simmer, stirring until salt has dissolved. Let cool 5 minutes.
• Line a 5-gallon container with a large brining or oven-roasting bag. Place turkey in bag. Add salt mixture, remaining 6 quarts (24 cups) water, and the other ingredients. Tie bag; if turkey is not submerged, weight it with a plate. Refrigerate 24 hours, flipping turkey once.