It takes extra effort, but brining a turkey produces a moister, more tender bird.

Brining is the process of soaking the turkey, for an extended period of time, in a liquid that contains salt and other flavorings. The salt in a brine draws the natural moisture out of a turkey and allows it to be replaced with the moisture of the liquid in which you are soaking it. Therefore, the flavorings and seasonings you add to your brine will become infused in your turkey.

Brining a turkey helps to tenderize it, which not only improves the eating experience, but also slightly cuts down on cooking time.

Brining is not to be confused with marinating: While they have similar functions, a marinade’s key components are acid and salt, whereas a brine in its simplest form can be nothing more than water, salt and sugar. But we have much more interesting brine ideas.

It takes time to brine a turkey,
but the results are worth it. Photo
courtesy Butterball.

Check out the full article, with easy-to-follow steps for brining your turkey.