Yeast Free Easy Turkey Brine
A beautifully brined turkey is the secret behind that impossibly juicy, flavorful roast that has everyone asking what you did differently. This brine relies on a clean, straightforward lineup — kosher salt, sugar, fresh herbs, garlic, onion, lemon, and peppercorns — with absolutely nothing that would introduce yeast or fermented ingredients into your holiday prep. Many store-bought brines and seasoning blends sneak in unexpected additives, so making your own from scratch puts you fully in control of what goes on your bird. The aromatics steep in the warm brine before the cold water and ice bring the temperature down safely, which means the turkey absorbs every bit of that herby, citrusy depth overnight. After 12 to 24 hours in the fridge, you pull out a turkey that roasts up tender and seasoned all the way through — not just on the surface. It's a low-effort step that makes an enormous difference, and the whole process is as straightforward as it gets.
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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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