Want to learn the Alton Brown Turkey Brine technique? Discover how to replicate the famous Alton Brown Turkey brine recipe…
For the perfect Alton Brown Turkey brine recipe you should brine the turkey in the refrigerator three days before roasting it. You can also do this in a cooler with a temperature of 38 degrees F.
Alton Brown Turkey Brine Solution
To prepare the brine you will require 1 gallon of vegetable stock which should be seasoned with 1 cup of salt and half a cup of brown sugar. For a good dose of flavor add in 1 tablespoon of black peppercorns and one and half teaspoon of allspice berries along with 1 1/2 teaspoon of chopped candied ginger.
Cooking the Brine Solution
Place the seasoned stock in a large crock-pot and heat on medium to high flame till the solids are completely dissolved and the liquid is boiling. Remove the brine solution from the flame and cool it completely to room temperature. Refrigerate it till required.
Brining the Turkey
A day before you want to prepare the roast turkey, mix the Alton Brown turkey brine in 1 gallon of heavily iced water inside a five gallon bucket. Then put the thawed turkey with the breast facing downwards. Immerse it completely and refrigerate again for sixteen hours. Turn the turkey once after eight hours.
Washing the Turkey
Preheat your oven to 500 degrees F and remove the turkey from the Alton Brown turkey brine solution and wash it from the inside and outside with very cold water. Throw away the brine solution. Dry the bird very carefully with paper towels from the inside and outside.
Stuffing the Turkey
Mix one sliced red apple, half an onion sliced lengthwise, and one medium cinnamon stick. Pour in 1 cup of distilled water. Put this in a microwavable dish and microwave on high for exactly 5 minutes. Pour the mixture into the inside cavity of the turkey and stuff with six leaves of sage and four rosemary sprigs. Tuck the wings below the turkey and brush generously with vegetable oil on top so that the skin becomes golden brown when it is roasted.
Cooking the Turkey
Pre-heat your oven to 500°F when you start washing the turkey so that it is quite hot by the time you are ready for it with a stuffed turkey. At that point place the turkey on a pan with the breast facing upwards and insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the turkey breast. Bake in the lowest part of the oven for 30 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350° after 30 minutes.
Check the thermometer after one hour of cooking. When it reaches 161° F the turkey is ready to be served. Generally a 16 pound frozen turkey should take no more than 2 to 2 1/2 hours of total roasting time.
Remove it from the oven and set it aside to rest for 20 minutes. Make sure you cover it with foil so it doesn’t become too cold as it is resting on the kitchen counter. The turkey is ready to be carved and consumed immediately after that time.
