Best Apple Cider Brined Turkey

Total Time: 12 hrs Preparation Time: 12 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 2/3 cup kosher salt
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon black peppercorns
• 1 bunch fresh sage
• 4 garlic cloves
• 1 bunch fresh thyme
• 8 cups apple cider
• 2 cups cider vinegar
• 1 turkey, fresh or thawed
• 3 shallots, quartered
• 1 turkey, size oven cooking or brining bag
• 5 cups ice

Recipe

• 1 in a large saucepan, combine cider, vinegar, salt, and sugar; stir to dissolve salt and sugar.
• 2 bring to a low boil over medium heat; add in peppercorns, sage, garlic, thyme and shallots.
• 3 on low heat simmer for 5 minutes; remove from heat, add ice to brine mixture and set aside to cool.
• 4 remove the turkey from the wrapping, remove neck and giblets (set aside for giblet gravy), rinse and prepare bird by patting down with paper towels.
• 5 make a collar of the top of cooking bags (helps keep bags open), and slip bird inside, stand it upright (legs pointing up), and unfold the top of the bag.
• 6 once the brine is cooled to room temperature or less, pour the cooled brine over the bird, and add an additional cold water until bird is submerged in liquid.
• 7 squeeze out as much air as possible and secure with a twist-tie.
• 8 place the turkey, breast side down, in a roasting pan and refrigerate for 24 hours, turning over every 6-8 hours.
• 9 just prior to roasting, remove the turkey from the brine; discard the bags, brine, and all cured herbs, spices, and oranges remaining in the bird.
• 10 rinse the turkey under cold water and pat dry with paper toweling.
• 11 the turkey is now ready to be roasted. see cooking times for brined turkey as it will be less than typical cooking time.
• 12 before cooking the bird, i typically use a rub with olive oil or melted butter/margarine. i quarter an apple and stuff inside the cavity for cooking, tenting the bird until the last hour. this will be the best roasted turkey you’ve had, hands down! i even prefer this over deep fried turkey as it is about as moist and has much more flavor to it. i compliment this turkey by serving giblet gravy, sautéed herbed mushrooms and apple wine stuffing.