Alton Brown’s Turkey Brine

Good Eats expert, Alton Brown, teaches us the secret of turkey brine. This basic turkey brine recipe is sure to infuse your turkey with flavor and moistness.

Good Eats expert, Alton Brown, teaches us a basic turkey brine recipe sure to infuse your turkey with flavor and moistness.

In this episode of Good Eats, Alton Brown breaks down the science behind a juicy Thanksgiving Day turkey. Learn the best turkey brine recipe and how to brine a turkey just in time for the holidays.

Family tradition probably dictates that basting a turkey is the best—and only—way to give your bird the flavor and moisture you desire. But Alton Brown is here to tell you to throw out that ridiculous turkey baster!

Turkey brine (or the brining method) is a closely guarded secret that is guaranteed to give you the gourmet quality you want on your Thanksgiving table this holiday season.

Alton Brown teams up with food scientist Shirley Corriher to explain to us the power of brine. Through the property of osmosis, brines are able to infuse seasoning and moisture into the cells of your turkey. This replaces the previously bland cells that would have not contributed anything to the flavor party!

Alton Brown’s turkey brine recipe is simple, and can be prepared up to 3 days ahead of time. Brine your turkey on the night before or the day of (depending on what time dinner will be served), and then follow the cooking instructions for a golden, perfect turkey.

With this easy to use turkey brine recipe, everyone will demand to have Thanksgiving dinner at your house every year!

Alton Brown’s Turkey Brine Recipe Ingredients:

  • 1 gallon vegetable stock
  • 1 cup kosher salt
  • ½ cup light brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon black peppercorns
  • 1 ½ teaspoons allspice berries
  • 1 ½ teaspoons chopped candied ginger
  • 1 gallon water, heavily iced

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