Is anyone else brining their turkey?

[madamekoto]

Im gonna brine mine ala Nigella and wondered if anyone has done this and does it make a difference.

NO - yuck

what is brining a turkey?

Weeellll, probably misspelt and meant brineing?? Soaking in a bath of salt, sugar and aromatics to ensure a super scrummy fool proof moist turkey.

No

Basically you soak the turkey in water, salt, sugar and spices. Then you pat dry and roast with a maple syrup and butter glaze.

Its supposed to ensure a super moist turkey even if you overcook it.

like to recipe to get the correct measurements, please!?

I'm American, and did it for my Thanksgiving turkey, and it was WONDERFUL. When we took the turkey out of the pan, it was so tender, it partially carved itself. Have been doing this for my roast chickens, also, and DH has commented on what a huge difference it makes. I have my own bucket that is for brining purposes only.

Been thinking about it - does it make it salty?

share with the class, dooney.

what exactly do you do to it? as in, cups of water to cups of salt, measurements, that sort of thing.

Cali did it, and said hers was salty. I rinsed and rinsed and rinsed mine afterward before I cooked it, and didn't find it salty. I guess it must be up to individual taste. I've also messed about with the salt content, and greatly reduced it, and found the results to be the same.

I just remembered, I wouldn't do it with a frozen turkey, because they're often injected with a saltwater solution already.

Let me go look, Expat. I would have shared with the class, but I unfortunately cook American.

Well, its in the Nigella feast book (spiced and super juicy roast turkey) and sounded great! I am all for damage limitation.

In a bucket or largest cooking pot you put 6 litres of water, 375g salt, peppercorns, bouquet garni, mustard seeds, 200g caster sugar, 2 onions, ginger root, cinnamon stick, cloves, allspice berries, star anise, 1 orange (mushed) 4 tblsp syrup and 4 honey and parsley.

You can add whatever spices you like the main thing is the salt and sugar.

Then you chuck the turkey in and let it bathe.

Take out Christmas morning, pat dry then brush with melted maple syrup and butter.

I shall get back to you and let you know if it works!

i cook American, too, dooney .

complete with two sets of American measuring cups and spoons.

Sorry, had a separate the kids issue, there.

Alton Brown brining recipe, that I see on a lot of sites and used for Thanksgiving.

Other recipe I try when I don't have Juniper berries, as they aren't that easy to find close by.

I know you do, Expat. I just figured someone would come along with the British recipe earlier that would benefit more people.

Well, I was brave and brined for 48 hours and it was amazing! So juicy and moist and totally fool proof. I shall def be doing this one again.

Yay for brining.... my mum did our turkey al la Nigella and it was gorgeous and i loved the gravy.... mmmmm.... will definitely be doing this myself next year....

The funny thing was my nephew said it was an elephant having a bath - not quite sure why he thought that!

Oh and today I am doing the ginger ham and macaroni cheese but am having the girdle buster pie for afters instead of the cake :O

Wish me luck....

we did the turkey it was delicious, fun doing it with ds, I gave him the measuring spoon and wooden spoon and he pretended he was making the Christmas potion.

report back on the girdlebusterpie Auntiemaggie!