Turkey Brine

The table

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 mintwo waits that overlap count once
Needs you
none givenof the steps that give a time

3 of the 4 steps never say how long they take, so both numbers are floors. The recipe itself says 40 min.

  1. simmer, stir until dissolved

    not timedfrom the start

  2. steep off the heat 20 min

    20 minwalk away(read off the step)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

The minutes are always the recipe’s own; a dashed edge means we worked out from the step whether you have to be there, and a dotted one means nothing was said, so we assumed you are standing over it.

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
>> step.1: simmer, stir until dissolved
>> step.2: steep off the heat 20 min
>> step.3: stir in
>> step.4: pour over ice, chill below 40°F, brine 8 to 12 hr

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.

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}.

Stir @orange{1}(quartered) and @yellow onion{1}(quartered) into @&(~1)brine{}.

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.