Fruity Tutti Turkey Brine

Cook Time:
5 hrs

Additional Time:
3 days

Total Time:
3 days 5 hrs

Servings:
15

Yield:
1 whole roasted turkey

Ingredients

Directions

Stir the vegetable broth, candied ginger, dried cherries, dried pears, dried apples, brown sugar, kosher salt, black peppercorns, allspice berries, 3 cinnamon sticks, and 5 sage leaves together in a large stockpot until the brown sugar and salt dissolve completely; bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

Remove the brine from heat, add the ice water, and stir to melt ice and chill the brine; refrigerate until cold, at least 2 hours. Place the still-frozen turkey into the brine and refrigerate for 3 days. On the second day of brining, turn the turkey over in the brine.

On serving day (the third day of brining), preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Remove the turkey from the brine and place into a roasting pan. Discard the brine.

Place the onion, red apple, 1 sprig of rosemary, 2 more cinnamon sticks, and 1 sage leaf into a 5-cup microwave-safe measuring cup and fill the cup with enough water to cover. Place into microwave oven and cook on high power until hot, about 5 minutes. Pour the contents of the cup into the cavity of the turkey. Rub the skin of the turkey with the vegetable oil.

Roast in the preheated oven until the turkey is golden brown and the juices run clear, 4 to 4 1/2 hours. An instant-read meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a thigh should read 165 degrees F (75 degrees C).

Cook's Notes:

Don't worry about the giblets, you can take them out come time to cook turkey when the bird is defrosted. However, if you are bothered by them remaining in the turkey you can also let the turkey defrost before you soak it. I, on the other hand, leave them in there. You will be soaking the turkey for 3 days (one reason I leave it frozen).

I leave my turkey in the garage since it's cold enough to keep outside.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

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