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Original poster

To brine or not to brine..that is the question

25 replies

Flyingarcher · 19/12/2018 11:49

I have never brined. I am a turkey brining virgin. A colleague was raving about it. So, wise mumsnetters, do you bother brining the blessed bird? Is it worth the faff? And how do you go about doing it?

I've just managed to score one of the Aldi, freerange bronze, hand massaged by angels and fed by golden haired country folk birds and am eyeing it, sat cozily in it's posh box. Shall I convert to brining or does the process just make it watery?

OP posts:
myrtleWilson · 19/12/2018 11:52

I cooked turkey for the first time last year and brined using the Nigella recipe/method.

I thought it worked really well and I also cooked it using Nigella's timings - which seemed very short but actually were spot on well they would have been if I'd trusted them rather than go a bit over

Obviously as it was my first turkey cook I've little to compare with but I'd probably brine again...

Original poster
Flyingarcher · 19/12/2018 12:04

Thank you.

Woops! Apostrophe fail. Its box, obviously. Normally, I just shove my hand up them to put butter between skin and meat, then whack into oven and wander off to drink bubbly things.

OP posts:
myrtleWilson · 19/12/2018 12:08

I'm doing a rooster this year... I was under the misapprehension it was just like a chicken but bigger but it turns out it has a slightly more game-y flavour... I'm buying from a farm & they've said cook as normal (and this butcher says the same www.turnerandgeorge.co.uk/herb-fed-rooster.html but am slightly anxious....

abbsisspartacus · 19/12/2018 12:13

Rooster?

myrtleWilson · 19/12/2018 12:19

Yes, rooster or capon as it is also known as....

NeverHadANickname · 19/12/2018 12:23

We have brined twice now and it has always been moist and tender. We use the Nigella recipe too but have decided next time not to put many of the spices in because we weren't sure if it was worth it.

BiddyPop · 19/12/2018 12:23

I am trying to psych myself up for the Xmas Hmm faces if I tell DH and DD that I'm doing that to the turkey this year. But I want to, I think it would be nice to try at least once! (We even have a decent bucket - DD's sailing bucket for her wet gear, so it's already salty|!!! Xmas Grin)

myrtleWilson · 19/12/2018 12:24

oops...pressed send... a turkey was too big, we've had goose and beef in recent years and a chicken seemed not special enough!

Almostthere15 · 19/12/2018 12:33

I usually brine. It's frees up fridge space which is a big advantage. Over many years of doing it though I've realised that it doesn't matter if you don't have everything on nigellas list. Just use what you have and leave out what you don't

haggisaggis · 19/12/2018 12:34

I've brined - using Nigella's recipe but adapted depending what spices I have lying about as not convinced they make that much difference - for about last 10 years. To be honest, I'm a bit scared NOT to brine it now! Turkey always seems moist and does not take long to cook. I have a special plastic box which the tree baubles are kept in the rest of the year!

Original poster
Flyingarcher · 19/12/2018 14:38

Ooooooo. A plastic box! That's genius.

I might give it a go.

As an aside, can I recommend Waitrose orange and fig Christmas pud. Very light and rather nice.

OP posts:
halfwitpicker · 19/12/2018 16:37

Capron?

Hello darling Grin

halfwitpicker · 19/12/2018 16:37

As an aside, can I recommend Waitrose orange and fig Christmas pud. Very light and rather nice.

^^

You're fresh offa the cobbles, aren't you?

Original poster
Flyingarcher · 19/12/2018 16:49

They are reduced at the mo.

OP posts:
UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername · 19/12/2018 16:55

From what I've read online, a dry brine is just as effective (if not more so) at making the meat moist and flavoursome, and less messy to do. It's what I'd do if I wasn't doing a sous-vide and confit combo.

Original poster
Flyingarcher · 19/12/2018 20:49

That sounds very cheffy and grand. Will go and look up dry brining.

OP posts:
beachyhead · 19/12/2018 20:55

Ours gets put in the home brew tub with all Nigella's bits and bobs, taped up and left in the garage!

beachyhead · 23/12/2018 15:49

Mine has just gone in!
Locked in the garage to stop Mr Fox having it!

Childrenofthesun · 23/12/2018 15:56

I did it once but didn't think it made a noticeable difference considering how much effort it was.

FreeButtonBee · 23/12/2018 16:51

Thanks for the tip on dry brining. I have a turkey crown (a v good one) but was slightly concerned about adding some flavour. Dry brining took about 10 mins and will hopefully help it be moist and delicious!

Original poster
Flyingarcher · 23/12/2018 17:12

@FreeButtonBee, how did you do the dry brining? D

OP posts:
FreeButtonBee · 23/12/2018 17:37

www.askchefdennis.com/dry-brine-roast-turkey/

This recipe seemed the most straight forward. I used fresh thyme, dried sage, microplaned a satsuma and Maldonado salt and freshly ground pepper. I did loosen the skin from the breast and stuck it next to the meat - I normally do this for turkey and add a fuck ton of butter on the day. You just need to watch for the skin contracting back as it cools, exposing that part of the breast. A couple of cocktail sticks stuck through the skin helps hold it in place plus a bacon coat!

FreeButtonBee · 25/12/2018 20:48

So the dry brining was phenomenal - absolutely top class. The meat was good but this totally took it to another level. Everyone thought it was amazing. Given it was a crown it was most tender and so tasty.

Original poster
Flyingarcher · 27/12/2018 09:32

Thanks for the update. I decided not to brine in the end and Aldi turkey was fab - one of the best tasting ones we have had. However, I did bag a bronze turkey from Waitrose for £5 which is in freezer for Easter so I will dry brine with that.

OP posts:
PetuliaBlavatsky · 27/12/2018 09:40

I dry-brined this year too, it smelt absolutely amazing! Left it on for 12 hours as I was a bit nervous about it making it taste too salty but it was fab. I used this recipe www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2743667/christmas-turkey-with-clementine-and-bay-butter

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