Oats Free Easy Turkey Brine
A perfectly juicy, flavorful turkey starts long before it hits the oven, and this brine is the secret weapon that makes it happen. Kosher salt and sugar dissolve into a fragrant base of garlic, onion, fresh thyme, rosemary, bay leaves, peppercorns, and bright lemon — aromatics that slowly work their way into the meat for deep, savory flavor all the way through. The ice-water finish brings the brine down to a safe temperature quickly, so you can get the bird submerged without any fuss or waiting around. Every single ingredient here is naturally free of oats and oat-derived additives, which can sneak into unexpected places in store-bought seasoning blends and pre-brined birds. Making it yourself means you know exactly what's going into your holiday centerpiece — no label-reading anxiety, no mystery ingredients. After a 12-to-24-hour soak, the turkey comes out incredibly moist with seasoning that goes beyond the surface, making every slice worth the wait.
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Learn more →Ingredients
1 serving
- 1 gallon cold water, divided
- 1 cup kosher salt
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 4 cloves garlic, smashed
- 1 medium yellow onion, quartered
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tbsp whole black peppercorns
- 1 lemon, halved
- 4 cups ice cubes
Instructions
- 1
Combine 4 cups of the water, the kosher salt, and sugar in a large stockpot over medium heat, stirring until the salt and sugar are fully dissolved, about 3–4 minutes. Remove from heat.
- 2
Add the garlic, onion, thyme, rosemary, bay leaves, peppercorns, and lemon halves to the hot brine. Let the mixture steep for 5 minutes, until fragrant.
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