Turkey Brine

Three ways to read this recipe

The table

Turkey Brine: ingredients down the left, what to do with them across. Tap any cell to cross it off.
1 gal(4 L)watersimmer, stir until dissolvedsteep off the heat 20 minstir inpour over ice, chill below 40°F, brine 8 to 12 hr
2 cups(285 g; Diamond Crystal, or 1 1/4 cups Morton)kosher salt
1 cup(215 g)dark brown sugar
2 Tbs(cracked)black peppercorns
1 Tbsallspice berries
6bay leaves
6 sprigsfresh thyme
1 head(halved crosswise)garlic
1(quartered)orange
1(quartered)yellow onion
1 gal(4 L)ice water
Tap anything to cross it off.

What to lay out

Everything the recipe asks for, sitting under the step that eats it. Tick each one as you measure it.12 things to get out.

Pans and tools

1simmer, stir until dissolved

2steep off the heat 20 min

goes in with what step 1 made

3stir in

goes in with what step 2 made

4pour over ice, chill below 40°F, brine 8 to 12 hr

goes in with what step 3 made

Cooking it

Tap a step when it is done; the next one lights up.

The clock

Start to finish
at least 20 min3 of 4 steps give no time
Needs you
none given
If you get it wrong
Unforgiving — the bird is held below 40°F for the whole eight to twelve hours; a bird brining warm is a food-safety failure
  1. simmer, stir until dissolved

    not timedfrom the start

  2. steep off the heat 20 min

    20 minwalk away(we think)from the start

  3. stir in

    not timed20 min in

  4. pour over ice, chill below 40°F, brine 8 to 12 hr

    not timed20 min in

You'll need stockpot

Goes with

See how it is written
>> title: Turkey Brine
>> category: Spice Blends & Marinades
>> tags: thanksgiving, turkey, brine, poultry, make-ahead
>> counters: Meat and Three, Smokehouse
>> pairs-with: turkey-pan-gravy, cranberry-sauce
>> servings: 12
>> time: 40 min
>> slack: unforgiving — the bird is held below 40°F for the whole eight to twelve hours; a bird brining warm is a food-safety failure

>> step: simmer, stir until dissolved
Bring @water{1%gal}(4 L) to a simmer in a large #stockpot{} with @kosher salt{2%cups}(285 g; Diamond Crystal, or 1 1/4 cups Morton) and @dark brown sugar{1%cup}(215 g), stirring until they dissolve.

>> step: steep off the heat 20 min
Add @black peppercorns{2%Tbs}(cracked), @allspice berries{1%Tbs}, @bay leaves{6}, @fresh thyme{6%sprigs}, and @garlic{1%head}(halved crosswise) to @&(~1)salted water{}, take it off the heat, and steep ~{20%min}.

>> step: stir in
Stir @orange{1}(quartered) and @yellow onion{1}(quartered) into @&(~1)brine{}.

>> step: pour over ice, chill below 40°F, brine 8 to 12 hr
Pour @&(~1)hot brine{} over @ice water{1%gal}(4 L) and chill it below 40°F (4°C) before a 12 to 16 lb turkey goes in for 8 to 12 hours.