Matt's Fried Turkey Brine

This deep-fried turkey brine is so simple to make, but it is guaranteed to add powerful and complex flavor to your feast. Plus, it'll keep the bird moist and juicy throughout the frying process. Try this deep-fried turkey brine this year for an unforgettable holiday meal.

Deep-Fried Turkey Brine Ingredients

These are the ingredients you'll need to add to your grocery list:

· Broth: This recipe calls for vegetable broth, but you could also use chicken or turkey broth.· Spices, seasonings, and herbs: Kosher and white sugar give this deep-fried turkey brine sweet and savory flavor. It's also seasoned with peppercorns, allspice, ginger, a cinnamon stick, fresh rosemary, and fresh sage.· Produce: A chopped red apple adds sweet fruitiness, while a diced onion adds savory flavor.· Water: You'll need a gallon (plus one cup) of ice water.

How to Make Deep-Fried Turkey Brine

You'll find the full, step-by-step recipe below — but here's a brief overview of what you can expect when you make this deep-fried turkey brine:

1. Boil: Combine vegetable broth, kosher salt, brown sugar, peppercorns, allspice berries, and candied ginger in a pot over medium-high heat. Stir to dissolve sugar and salt, then bring to a boil.2. Chill: Remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate for at least four hours or up to overnight.3. Finish: When the brine is well-chilled, add ice water, apple and onion slices, cinnamon stick, rosemary sprigs, and sage leaves. Stir in the remaining cup of water.

How to Brine Turkey for Deep Frying

Once your brine is ready, it's turkey time! Follow these simple steps for a perfectly brined turkey every time:

1. Pour the brine into a food-grade plastic bucket that’s big enough to hold the entire turkey.2. Place a thawed turkey, breast-side down, in the brine. Make sure it’s fully immersed.3. Cover and refrigerate for 8 to 16 hours, turning halfway through brining. Make sure the refrigerator stays at or below 40 degrees F throughout the brining process.4. Pat the bird dry and follow your favorite deep-fried turkey recipe, such as this Simple Deep-Fried Turkey recipe.

How Long to Brine a Turkey for Deep Frying

Cover and refrigerate the turkey for 8 to 16 hours. Ideally, you'll brine your turkey for about 45 minutes to one hour per pound.

Cookdap Community Tips and Praise

“This has to be the best tasting turkey we have made for Thanksgiving or Christmas. We had friends over later and the turkey was all eaten up,” says Andy del Rosal.

“Flavor was excellent, not overpowering, just a great flavor,” says Bridget Bentley. “Bird was juicy and tender and the skin was a beautiful brown.”