Smoked Turkey Brine

Step 1

Fill a pot with 1 quart of water. Add the sugar, salt, garlic cloves, Bay leaves and peppercorns.

Step 2

Add the orange and lemon peel, being careful not to include too much of the pith (the white, bitter flesh below the outer peel). Finally, add the sprigs of rosemary and thyme.

Step 3

Let the mixture simmer over medium heat until the sugar and salt have completely dissolved.

Step 4

Once dissolved, pour the brine into a larger container (one large enough to hold the turkey, but small enough to fit in your refrigerator) that contains 1-2 quarts of very cold water. Pour the brine into the container with the cold water to cool down the brine.

Step 5

Place the turkey in the container with the brine, breast side down, making sure that the entire bird is submerged. If necessary, place a heavy plate or pot lid on top of the bird to keep it submerged.

Step 6

Cover the container and refrigerate for 1 hour per pound of turkey (or a maximum of 18-24 hours*) prior to cooking.

Step 7

If you're not ready to cook the turkey after the brining time is up, remove it from the brine, pat dry well, cover and refrigerate until ready to cook.

Step 8

Now you can smoke the turkey or cook it in the oven.