Brined turkey or chicken

[Smokin Gator]

I always brine turkeys before I cook them and frequently brine chicken as well. The meat is much moister IMO.

My standard brine is 3/4 cup of salt and 1/2 cup of sugar per gallon of water. Heat the water, mix in the solids, stir until they dissolve. I put the bird in a doubled heavy plastic garbage bag and pour the liquid over it. I usually put some cut up oranges in as well. You want the liquid to completely cover the bird. Brine for 12-24 hours for a chicken or 24-36 hours for a turkey.

After you brine rinse the bird well and pat dry. You can then smoke or roast the bird but be aware that brined birds cook faster.

[livwire68]

Originally Posted by Smokin Gator

I always brine turkeys before I cook them and frequently brine chicken as well. The meat is much moister IMO.

My standard brine is 3/4 cup of salt and 1/2 cup of sugar per gallon of water. Heat the water, mix in the solids, stir until they dissolve. I put the bird in a doubled heavy plastic garbage bag and pour the liquid over it. I usually put some cut up oranges in as well. You want the liquid to completely cover the bird. Brine for 12-24 hours for a chicken or 24-36 hours for a turkey.

After you brine rinse the bird well and pat dry. You can then smoke or roast the bird but be aware that brined birds cook faster.

Did not know this, figured with more moisture it would take longer to heat.

I'm not a huge turkey fan, but my wife has been brining for the past two years at Thanksgiving, and it is absolutely fantastic! I could never go back to plain old turkey.

[Smokin Gator]

Originally Posted by livwire68

Did not know this, figured with more moisture it would take longer to heat.

I dang sure aint no chemist...but it is something about the osmosis breaking down the cell walls enabling the bird to cook faster.

[St. Lou Stu]

I have a Jim Beam sometimes Jack Daniels Brine that is FANTASTIC pre-treat to deep frying a bird.

Pretty simple.
5 Gallons of water
A couple cups of salt (use as much as you think necessary really)
1 Bottle of Beam or Jack

Mix it all together in a cooler that is big enough to hold all of the liquid and the bird (keep 1/4 of the bottle of whisky for yourself if ya want). Keep it at a refrigerated/cool temperature. Soak over night. I usually do 24 hours.


Deep fry as you normally would. It will cook a bit faster.

[Smokin Gator]

Originally Posted by St. Lou Stu

I have a Jim Beam sometimes Jack Daniels Brine that is FANTASTIC pre-treat to deep frying a bird.

Pretty simple.
5 Gallons of water
A couple cups of salt (use as much as you think necessary really)
1 Bottle of Beam or Jack

Mix it all together in a cooler that is big enough to hold all of the liquid and the bird (keep 1/4 of the bottle of whisky for yourself if ya want). Keep it at a refrigerated/cool temperature. Soak over night. I usually do 24 hours.


Deep fry as you normally would. It will cook a bit faster.

Brother... that does sound good... but there ain't no way I am pouring a bottle of Jack or Beam on that bird. Now drinking it while I cook it is a whole nuther story!!

[dadof3illinois]

We cook a lot of turkey and chicken. On Thanksgiving day we have a big cookout early in the morning with as many as 16 birds cooking in about as many different ways. We've been doing this for the past 10-12 years so I think we're getting pretty good at it.

So far the Brined birds that are smoked seem to be the best followed by deep fried. Roasted birds still seem a little dry for me even after using a Brine for 24 hours.

The brine I use is pretty much the same as Smokin Gators except I add more sugar and some other spices. I've got a 10 gal bucket with a lid that works great for keeping the bird in during the brine process.

[Bubba - NJ]

The last chicken I didn't brine and man what a difference , my wife thought I bought a cheaper chicken , was dried out a little and not as flavorful . I'm gonna have to get me a vessel to hold a turkey for brining .