Brine is a flavored water salt mixture that you soak meat in to add flavor to it. This particular recipe is for a wet brine. For a u003cstrongu003eu003ca href=u0022https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.midgetmomma.com%2Fhow-to-cook-a-turkey-with-a-dry-salt-brine%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3CmGQC9f0c1TmpIwkDTa_44edMQw5XQfYJ_p7fkVziwT-d5uP-52PaveIu0026amp;h=AT0aghxllGrlIb_n8yRO_4uSfx0sdXoitPKRoVExD3wNiBbh-kFhPG6skredtb4lWQ5SvdWSSGMeoUsvmh3Q7r-LRAmXOli6gR_R_EDPuAy7bB5DT2622ZLjHlzMB9l7TE_oqyFwUrJOIJE9BZoLu0026amp;__tn__=R]-Ru0026amp;c[0]=AT08Zm9Du9HpxdNxq1Kkgq4BQKIL5ReQSbHPFJhL1CJIpP_eJkeqit0-7udEpFCiTMhamUDBs-JB1qGaoEC2BFXZLkQA-feViZQ6NTWUiiP2dZJ6xIiWcuaYlBIa3ciVMrsY57VgaRUCe6jHchUbWzcktn2pu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003edry brine click hereu003c/au003eu003c/strongu003e.

Smokey Turkey Brine

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Get that delicious smoky flavor for your Thanksgiving or Christmas turkey with this liquid smoke brine! Simple ingredients, simple steps, simple turkey brine, perfectly flavored turkey!

A quart of smoked turkey brine in a glass measuring cup by assorted vegetables. — Easy smoked turkey brine ready to use!

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Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredient Notes
How to Make Step by Step Recipe Instructions:
Recipe FAQs and Expert Tips
Recipes for Leftover Turkey
Smokey Turkey Brine Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

No fruity, sweet flavors! No cinnamon or cloves either! (I'm just not a fruit with my meat person)
Simple way to get that smoked flavor in your Thanksgiving turkey without a smoker!
Enough wet brine for a 12-14 pound turkey!

Ingredient Notes

Liquid Smoke - This is where we get the delicious smoke flavor. I usually find the bottles of liquid smoke next to barbecue sauces and such. You can order from Walmart HERE, though OR you can order it from Amazon HERE.
Chicken Base - Why not use a chicken bouillon? Chicken base is SOOOOO much better. Deeper flavor. Fresher. Bouillon granules tend to have a stale flavor to them in my opinion. If you've never used a base don't worry. 1 teaspoon makes 1 cup of chicken broth. I really like the Better Than Bouillon brand.
White Pepper - You could substitute black pepper however, white pepper has such a nice flavor with a subtle heat. If you haven't tried it before purchase some HERE. Trust me! It's amazing!
Turkey - You'll need a thawed 12-14 pound turkey or a fresh turkey for this recipe. If you've purchase a frozen turkey please thaw it using safe methods.

The simple ingredients needed to make this turkey brine. — Brine ingredients to whip up the best turkey brine!

Liquid Smoke

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20 Quart Stock Pot

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Better Than Bouillon

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How to Make Step by Step Recipe Instructions:

Bring 4 cups of the gallon of water to a boil.
In a four cup measuring cup or something like it, mix the 4 cups of boiling water with the 6 tablespoons of chicken base. Whisk until the chicken base is completely dissolved.
Measure out and whisk in the garlic powder, onion powder, salt, smoked paprika, white pepper and liquid smoke.
Place your thawed turkey in a large stock pot. The one I use is a 20 quart capacity.
Pour the 4 cups of concentrated brine over the turkey.
Pour the remaining cold water from the gallon (12 cups) over the turkey.
Swish the turkey around a little to mix. The turkey should be completely submerged.
Place in the fridge and allow to brine for at least 2 days, 3 days if possible.
Please do not brine your turkey at room temperature or just a cool place. It absolutely needs to be in the fridge so make sure you've made enough space in the fridge to do this ahead of time.
Remove the turkey from the brine, let the excessive brine run off, discard the brine and cook your brined turkey as desired.
See here for.... Step by Step How to Cook a Turkey - walks you through the cooking process so you're ready for turkey day!
How to Roast Turkey - get out your roasting pan!
How to Grill a Whole Turkey - don't forget you instant-read thermometer!
How to Deep Fry a Turkey - gotta love that crispy skin!

Mix up the brine and pour over a thawed turkey.

Recipe FAQs and Expert Tips

What is a brine?

Brine is a flavored water salt mixture that you soak meat in to add flavor to it. This particular recipe is for a wet brine. For a dry brine click here.

How much brine will I need?

Roughly 1 gallon per 12 pounds of turkey. You want enough to completely cover the submerged turkey.

How long should you brine a turkey?

I usually brine mine for at least 2 but preferably three days in the refrigerator.

Do you rinse a turkey after brining?

Nope, just remove the turkey from the brine, let the excessive run off and cook your turkey.

How long is leftover turkey good for?

Please freeze or consume leftover turkey within 4 days. Click here for information from FoodSafety.Gov.

Food poisoning is not fun at all!!! Here's the safety fact sheet from FoodSafety.gov. Click here for more safety info from the CDC. There can be some really bad information out there about thawing, storing, roasting turkeys and their leftovers. So if you're unsure about something check out these resources.

Food safety sheet for turkey from food safety.gov. — The turkey fact sheet from **Food Safety.Gov**!

Recipes for Leftover Turkey

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