The roast turkey is the most important part of the Thanksgiving meal, so let's make sure we make the most delicious and moist turkey possible. Here's how to brine and roast a turkey in the oven.
10ounceskosher saltroughly 1¼ cups Morton’s or 1¾ cups Diamond Crystal
¾cupbrown sugar or maple syrup
5sprigs of fresh sage
5sprigs fresh thyme
2large sprigs of fresh rosemary
4bay leaves
5crushed garlic cloves
3 to 4dried chili peppers
1tablespoonblack peppercorns
the peel of 2 oranges
1 to 2gallonscold water
For roasting the turkey:
1/2cupButtermelted
Fresh herbs
Clovesof garlic
3cupsof chicken stockturkey stock, or white wine (or a combination)
15 poundWhole Turkeyor larger
Instructions
Combine the salt, sugar, fresh herbs, garlic, chili peppers, peppercorns and orange peel in a saucepan with about 4 cups of water. Bring to a boil to dissolve the salt and sugar and then remove it from the heat.
Cool the brine completely and then pour the brine over the turkey in a brining bag or large vessel that will fit into your refrigerator. Fill the vessel with cold water so that the turkey is covered and refrigerate.
Brine turkey for 8 to 18 hours. Then remove the turkey from the brine and discard the brine. Rinse the turkey well and dry with paper towels. Place the turkey on a rack in the roasting pan and refrigerate for several hours or overnight to dry.
Pre-heat the oven to 450ºF and remove the turkey from the refrigerator and let it sit on the counter while the oven pre-heats.
Do not season the turkey again before roasting. Brush melted butter on the turkey breast and legs, and stuff fresh herbs and smashed cloves of garlic inside the cavity of the turkey. Pour the stock or wine into the bottom of the roasting pan and transfer the turkey to the oven. Immediately turn the heat down to 350ºF. Roast the turkey for 13 minutes per pound, but start checking the temperature of the turkey at least 30 minutes before you expect it to be finished. Baste the turkey with the drippings every 45 minutes or so and add more water to the roasting pan if the dripping evaporate too quickly. If the breast starts to brown too quickly, simply tent it with aluminum foil. When the internal temperature of the turkey (taken in the breast meat, the inside thigh and the outside thigh) reaches 165ºF, remove the turkey from the oven and let it rest on the counter, covered loosely with aluminum foil for at least 30 minutes before carving.
Recipe Video
Nutrition Facts
Brined Roast Turkey
Amount Per Serving
Calories 635Calories from Fat 270
% Daily Value*
Fat 30g46%
Saturated Fat 11g55%
Cholesterol 310mg103%
Sodium 518mg22%
Potassium 902mg26%
Carbohydrates 1g0%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 87g174%
Vitamin A 460IU9%
Calcium 47mg5%
Iron 3.5mg19%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.