Best Cranberry Turkey Brine Recipes

TURKEY WITH CRANBERRY BRINE

Steps:

• 24 hours in advance, wash the turkey and remove the neck and giblets from the cavity and neck; reserve for broth.
• Mix together in a large pot 1 of the onions, 2 stalks celery, 2 carrots, 6 garlic cloves, peppercorns, 3 sprigs each of the rosemary, thyme and sage, 6 sprigs of the parsley, kosher salt and the cranberry juice; heat and stir until the salt dissolves and mixture begins to simmer; remove and let cool to room temperature.
• Place turkey in a very large pot or turkey bucket and pour brine over to submerge, adding cold water if needed; refrigerate 24 hours.
• Remove turkey from brine and rinse well; dry with paper towels. (It will be a lovely shade of pink but don't worry, it roasts a beautiful mahogany color).
• Season turkey cavity with salt and pepper.
• Place 2 stalks chopped celery, 2 chopped carrots, apple, orange, cranberries, and 4 garlic cloves inside cavity.
• Make a nest of 1 med chopped onion, 1 chopped celery stalk, 1 chopped carrot, 4 crushed garlic cloves, 3 sprigs each rosemary, thyme and sage, 6 sprigs parsley and 3 bay leaves in a large roasting pan.
• Place turkey on top of the vegetables and herbs.
• Put butter pats on the turkey or between the skin and breast meat.
• Roast in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 45 minutes.
• While turkey roasts the first 45 minutes, prepare a broth by placing the giblets in 5 cups of water; simmer to create turkey stock adding more water as needed; remove giblets. (You can chop the giblets and remove the meat from the neck and add it to your stuffing or discard it if you don't wish to use it. You can skip the turkey stock step and use canned chicken stock if desired. You will need 5 cups).
• After the first 45 minutes of roast time, pour half of the stock over the turkey; roast another 45 minutes and pour the remaining stock over the turkey.
• Continue to roast your turkey; basting with the juices from the bottom of the pan until the turkey has reached an internal temperature of 165 to 175°F (74 to 80°C).
• Remove from the oven and tent with foil; allow to rest for 10 or 15 minutes before carving.
• Strain and use the liquid in the bottom of your roasting pan to make gravy and to moisten your stuffing if desired.
• Simple gravy:.
• Discard herbs from the bottom of the roasting pan and measure out 1 cup of the vegetables and 3 cups of the juices; puree in a blender. To thicken, add more vegetables, to thin, add more pan juice. Pour through a mesh strainer to make a smooth gravy.

TURKEY WITH CRANBERRY BRINE

Steps:

• 24 hours in advance, wash turkey & remove neck & giblets from the cavity & neck; Reserve for broth Mix together in a large pot 1 onion, 2 stalks celery, 2 carrots, 6 garlic cloves, peppercorns, 3 sprigs each of the rosemary, thyme & sage, 6 sprigs of the parsley, kosher salt & the cranberry juice; heat & stir until salt dissolves & mixture begins to simmer; remove & let cool to room temperature Place turkey in a very large pot or turkey bucket & pour brine over to submerge, adding cold water if needed; refrigerate 24 hours Remove turkey from brine & rinse well; dry with paper towels. It will be pink but will roasts to a beautiful mahogany color Season turkey cavity with salt & pepper Place 2 celery, 2 chopped carrots, apple, orange, cranberries & 4 garlic cloves inside cavity Make a nest of 1 med chopped onion, 1 chopped celery stalk, 1 chopped carrot, 4 crushed garlic cloves, 3 sprigs each rosemary, thyme and sage, 6 sprigs parsley & 3 bay leaves in a large roasting pan Place turkey on top Put butter pats on turkey or between skin & breast meat Roast 350°F (175°C) oven for 45 minutes While roasting prepare broth Giblets in 5 cups of water; simmer turkey stock add more water as needed; remove giblets After the first 45 minutes of roast time, pour half of the stock over the turkey; roast another 45 minutes & pour the remaining stock over the turkey While roasting baste with the juices from the bottom of the pan until the turkey has reached internal temperature of 165 to 175°F Remove from oven & tent with foil allow to rest for 15 minutes before carving Strain & use the liquid in the bottom of roasting pan to make gravy & to moisten stuffing if desired Simple gravy Discard herbs from the bottom of the roasting pan & measure out 1 cup of the vegetables & 3 cups of the juices; puree in a blender. To thicken, & more vegetables, to thin, add more pan juice. Pour through a mesh strainer to make smooth gravy.

CRANBERRY TURKEY BRINE

Steps:

• Place all dry ingredients, wine, and 1 bottle of juice to a stock pot. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat and pour into 5 gal Bucket. Add remaining juice and ice, stirring to ensure even mixing. Slowly place turkey into brine ensuring turkey is fully immersed in brine. (If not just add water until the turkey is covered.) Put the lid on and place in fridge for 24 hours. I also added about 1 cup smashed pomegranate arils for fun. You could use one bottle of cran/pom for the added flavor instead of the arils though.