How much brine does a turkey need

Plan on enough to submerge the bird, roughly 2 gallons of water with 2 cups kosher salt and 1 cup sugar for a single XXL bag. Scale up and use a second bag for a large turkey.

Can one bag hold a whole turkey

Up to about 12 pounds, yes. Bigger birds should be brined in two bags or in parts, brining the breast and legs separately so each piece stays covered.

How long should a turkey brine

Twelve to twenty-four hours, kept below 40°F. Longer than a day risks an overly soft, salty texture.

Is a gallon bag too big for a turkey

On Thanksgiving the size is the reason it works, since smaller bags cannot hold a bird and gallons of brine. The rest of the year that same capacity is handy for big-batch marinades and freezing leftovers.

How to Brine a Thanksgiving Turkey

Name: Wet-Brined Thanksgiving Turkey
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 12 h
Yield: 1 turkey
Ingredients: 1 turkey, thawed; 2 gallons cold water; 2 cups kosher salt; 1 cup sugar; Garlic, onion, bay, peppercorns, herbs

Home / Silicone Bag Recipes / How to Brine a Thanksgiving Turkey

Brine & Marinate

How to Brine a Thanksgiving Turkey

Thanksgiving is the one day people wish their bags were bigger, not smaller. A wet brine for the turkey means gallons of salted water and a heavy bird, and a gallon silicone bag handles a big share of that. For a turkey up to about 12 pounds, one XXL Clear bag and a double batch of brine will do it; for a larger bird, brine it in two bags or brine the bird in parts. The see-through Clear bag lets you confirm the turkey stays submerged through the long overnight soak.

Brine12-24 h

Active20 min

Fitsup to ~12 lb

Bag1 gallon

What you need

1 turkey, thawed (up to ~12 lb per bag)
2 gallons cold water
2 cups kosher salt
1 cup sugar
1 head garlic, halved
2 onions, quartered
3 bay leaves, 2 tablespoons peppercorns
Fresh thyme, rosemary, and sage
Ice, to keep cold
1 or 2 XXL Silicone Food Storage Bags (Clear)

Directions

Make the brine: heat 1 gallon of water with the salt, sugar, and aromatics until dissolved, then stir in a second gallon of cold water plus ice to chill it down.
Remove the giblets and neck. Stand the Clear bag up inside a large pot, roasting pan, or cooler for support.
Lower the turkey in and ladle the cooled brine over it until submerged. For a bird over 12 pounds, split the brine and aromatics across two bags, or brine the legs and breast separately.
Press out the air, seal the airtight zipper, and keep the bagged turkey in the fridge or a cooler held below 40°F with ice.
Brine 12 to 24 hours, turning once so every side soaks evenly.
Lift the turkey out, discard the brine, and pat it completely dry. Air-dry uncovered in the fridge for a few hours before roasting for crisp skin.

Tips and notes

Keep the turkey below 40°F the entire time. A cooler with ice packs works when fridge space is tight.
Do not brine a self-basting or kosher turkey, which is already salted; you will oversalt it.
Standing the bag inside a pot or pan makes pouring the brine and moving the bird far easier.
Do not salt the bird again before roasting. The brine has already seasoned it through.

Get the XXL Silicone Bag

The Clear XXL bag holds a turkey up to about 12 pounds with a double batch of brine, and the leakproof seal keeps the whole thing tidy in the fridge or a cooler. See-through silicone confirms the bird stays under the brine.

See the Clear Bag

Albino Monkey XXL Silicone Food Storage Bag (Clear)

Common questions

How much brine does a turkey need: Plan on enough to submerge the bird, roughly 2 gallons of water with 2 cups kosher salt and 1 cup sugar for a single XXL bag. Scale up and use a second bag for a large turkey.
Can one bag hold a whole turkey: Up to about 12 pounds, yes. Bigger birds should be brined in two bags or in parts, brining the breast and legs separately so each piece stays covered.
How long should a turkey brine: Twelve to twenty-four hours, kept below 40°F. Longer than a day risks an overly soft, salty texture.
Is a gallon bag too big for a turkey: On Thanksgiving the size is the reason it works, since smaller bags cannot hold a bird and gallons of brine. The rest of the year that same capacity is handy for big-batch marinades and freezing leftovers.