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Home/Recipes/Brown Sugar–Brined Turkey

Brown Sugar–Brined Turkey

Serves 10 with leftovers
Time 9 hr 30 min
A simple brown-sugar brine gives this turkey deep, rich flavor and beautifully burnished skin. You can make a simple gravy with the pan drippings, but remember that brining increases the saltiness of drippings, so use salt-free or low-sodium broth in your gravy and taste it before adding additional salt.
Special Diets:
Gluten-Free
Sugar-Conscious
Wheat-Free
Ingredients
  • 1 1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
  • 1 cup coarse sea salt
  • 4 bay leaves
  • 4 cloves garlic, smashed
  • 8 cups ice cubes
  • 1 (13- to 14-pound) turkey, neck and giblets removed and reserved for another use
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
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Method

Combine brown sugar, salt, bay leaves, garlic and 8 cups water in a large pot. Place over high heat and bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar and salt.

Remove from heat, stir in ice and cool completely. Very early on the day of cooking (or late the night before), pour brine into a 4- to 5-gallon pot or other clean container.

Add turkey and any additional cold water needed to just submerge it. Turn turkey a few times and then leave it breast-side down. Refrigerate for at least 5 hours and up to 8 hours.

Preheat oven to 475°F and adjust racks to fit the turkey.

Remove turkey from brine, pat dry and place on a rack in a large roasting pan. Brush with butter and sprinkle with pepper. Tie legs together with kitchen string, tuck wings under body and roast for 20 minutes.

Lower the oven temperature to 350°F and tent breast loosely with foil.

Roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh, without touching bone, registers 165°F or juices run clear (not pink) when you poke thigh with a paring knife, 2 to 2 1/2 hours more.

Transfer turkey to a carving board, tent with foil and let rest for 30 minutes before carving.

Nutritional Info:
Per serving: 290 calories (130 from fat), 15g total fat, 5g saturated fat, 110mg cholesterol, 780mg sodium, 2g carbohydrates (0g dietary fiber, 2g sugar), 36g protein.
Note: We've provided special diet and nutritional information for educational purposes. But remember - we're cooks, not doctors! You should follow the advice of your health-care provider. And since product formulations change, check product labels for the most recent ingredient information.
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Ingredients
  • 1 1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
  • 1 cup coarse sea salt
  • 4 bay leaves
  • 4 cloves garlic, smashed
  • 8 cups ice cubes
  • 1 (13- to 14-pound) turkey, neck and giblets removed and reserved for another use
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Shop recipe on Amazon

Exclusively for Prime members in select ZIP codes.