Page 1
Page 1
Started By
Message

Turkey breast ... brine or no?

Posted on 11/25/14 at 7:07 pm
Posted by tiger91
In my own little world
Member since Nov 2005
36707 posts
Posted on 11/25/14 at 7:07 pm
I'm cooking just a turkey breast .. any reason to go ahead and do the brine solution thing?? Never in my life did this before ... mom or the inlaws always did it!
Posted by KosmoCramer
Member since Dec 2007
76519 posts
Posted on 11/25/14 at 7:11 pm to
dry bring and reverse sear
Posted by AlmaDawg
Slow Hell
Member since Sep 2012
3222 posts
Posted on 11/25/14 at 7:12 pm to
I like brined turkey. Makes the meat very juicy. Matter of opinion though.
Posted by tiger91
In my own little world
Member since Nov 2005
36707 posts
Posted on 11/25/14 at 7:12 pm to
thanks but can you elaborate?
Posted by KosmoCramer
Member since Dec 2007
76519 posts
Posted on 11/25/14 at 8:11 pm to
Dry brining:

Combine half a cup of Diamond Crystal kosher salt (or 6 tablespoons Morton's kosher salt) with two tablespoons of baking powder in a bowl. Carefully pat your turkey dry with paper towels. Generously sprinkle it on all surfaces with the salt mixture by picking up the mixture between your thumb and fingers, holding it six to ten inches above the bird and letting the mixture shower down over the surface of the turkey for even coverage. The turkey should be well-coated with salt, though not completely encrusted.

Warning: You will most likely not need all of the salt, in some cases less than half will be ok depending on the size of your bird and your salt preference.

Transfer the turkey to a rack set in a rimmed baking sheet and refrigerate uncovered for 12 to 24 hours. Without rinsing, roast using one of our recipes, omitting any additional salting steps called for in those recipes.

Dry-brining for more than 24 hours will produce even more juicy and well-seasoned meat. To brine longer than 24 hours, loosely cover turkey with plastic wrap or cheesecloth before refrigerating to prevent excess moisture loss through evaporation. Let rest for up to 3 days.

Posted by Stadium Rat
Metairie
Member since Jul 2004
9558 posts
Posted on 11/25/14 at 8:18 pm to
I'm doing America's Test Kitchen's take on Julia Child's Roast turkey. The thighs are removed, and the thigh bone removed. Then the thigh meat is seasoned and rolled and trussed. This means later, you'll be able to slice it like white meat.

The breast is brined about 6 hours in a 1/8 cup salt to 1 quart water brine. (use as much as you need to cover) The breast is started in a skillet, then both breast and thigh quarters are cooked directly on top of bread dressing.
Posted by iliveinabox
in a box
Member since Aug 2011
24115 posts
Posted on 11/26/14 at 12:15 am to
Brine that bird in a mini trash can, they're perfect
Posted by HonoraryCoonass
Member since Jan 2005
18073 posts
Posted on 11/26/14 at 1:30 am to
I use a plastic 5 gallon paint bucket.
Posted by KosmoCramer
Member since Dec 2007
76519 posts
Posted on 11/26/14 at 1:49 am to
How much turkey breast are you cooking that you need a mini trash can or a 5 gallon paint bucket
Posted by Martini
Near Athens
Member since Mar 2005
48847 posts
Posted on 11/26/14 at 7:07 am to
If you have it and have time certainly brine it. I use wet brine but a lot on here use dry brine. Either one.

Wet brine is one cup salt, one cup sugar per gallon of water. Basic brine. Just the breast I would brine from 6-12 hours. The rinse very well several times and dry.
Posted by BlackenedOut
The Big Sleazy
Member since Feb 2011
5804 posts
Posted on 11/26/14 at 8:13 am to
By way of comparison, i dry brined a turkey breast on sunday and cooked on Monday. I used a tablespoon of salt.

Dry brines wins.
first pageprev pagePage 1 of 1Next pagelast page
refresh

Back to top
logoFollow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to get the latest updates on LSU Football and Recruiting.

FacebookTwitterInstagram