Turkey Breast Brine – Budget Bytes

Whether you plan on making a big turkey for thanksgiving this year or a smaller turkey breast, taking the extra step to brine your turkey is pretty essential. This easy Turkey Breast Brine recipe will give you super flavorful and tender turkey breast meat every time! I’ll be honest, sometimes I’m tempted to skip this step especially when I’m running short on time. But the difference it makes is huge! The brine infuses the turkey with so much moisture and flavor. It’s seriously a game-changer for Thanksgiving, special holiday occasions, or if you simply enjoy cooking turkey breast meat to meal-prep throughout the week.

What Is A Brine?

A brine in most cases is simply a solution of salt, sugar, and water. Meat is then submerged in the salt water solution for several hours to help add moisture, flavor, and tenderize the meat. This process is called brining. Oftentimes brines are seasoned with additional herbs and spices to add even more flavor to the meat. Since turkey breast meat can sometimes be dry, I highly recommend taking the extra step to brine it first.

How Long Should I Brine A Turkey Breast?

The time it takes to brine a turkey breast will vary slightly depending on the size of the turkey. A good rule of thumb is to brine the turkey for roughly one hour per pound. I purchased a 5 ½ lb. bone-in turkey breast and brined it for 6 hours. That turned out to be the perfect amount of time for that size of turkey breast. A smaller, boneless turkey breast would need an even shorter amount of time in a brine solution.

Should You Rinse The Turkey After Brining?

Yes, you should definitely rinse and dry the turkey breast after it is done brining. This removes any excess salt from the turkey and prevents it from being too salty.

Tips For Brining A Turkey Breast

1. You will need a very large pot, a large container, or a turkey brining bag to brine your turkey breast. I prefer to use a large stainless steel pot that is big enough to hold the turkey breast and the brining solution. The turkey will also need to be fully submerged in the brine.
2. Make sure your brine has completely cooled down before you add the turkey breast. You can speed up the cooling process with ice cubes, more cold water, or by simply patiently waiting.
3. Don’t let the turkey breast sit in the brine too long. Trust me I’ve made this mistake before and the turkey just ends up being too salty. The texture of the turkey meat also breaks down too much and ends up being mushy. So always keep an eye on the time when brining your turkey.

Turkey Breast Brine

This easy Turkey Breast Brine recipe will give you super flavorful and tender turkey breast meat every single time!

Author: Marsha – Budget Bytes

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• 1 gallon cold water (16 cups), divided ($0.00)
• 1/2 cup kosher salt ($0.28)
• 1/2 cup white sugar ($0.36)
• 3 bay leaves ($0.45)
• 2 fresh rosemary sprigs ($1.00)
• 6 cloves of garlic, smashed ($0.48)
• 1 Tbsp whole peppercorns ($0.30)
• 1 lemon ($0.79)
• 5-6 lb. bone-in turkey breast

• Start by placing 8 cups of cold water in a container and place it in the freezer. You will use it later. Then in a large stock pot add the kosher salt, white sugar, and remaining 8 cups of water. Heat the pot over medium heat and stir to dissolve.

• Once the salt and sugar have completely dissolved add the bay leaves, rosemary, smashed garlic cloves, and peppercorns. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil. Boil for 3 minutes then remove the pot from the heat.

• Add the juice from the lemon and the entire squeezed lemon to the pot. Now allow the brine to cool down to room temperature (about 30 minutes).

• Once the brine has cooled down to room temperature add the remaining 8 cups of water from the freezer. Stir and allow the brine to completely cool down. About another 5-10 minutes.

• Now carefully add the turkey breast inside the pot with the brine. If your pot is not big enough to hold the turkey breast and the brine, then add it to a turkey size oven bag and pour the cooled brine over the turkey breast. Make sure the turkey breast is completely submerged in the brine, then cover the pot or seal up the bag.

• Place the pot in the refrigerator for 6 hours.*

• After the turkey has brined, remove the turkey breast from the brine and rinse it well under cold water. Then pat the turkey dry with paper towels.

• Now you’re ready to cook the most flavorful turkey breast that you’ve ever tasted. Let’s go!

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

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*Total brine time will depend on the size of your turkey breast. A good rule of thumb is to brine the turkey for roughly one hour per pound.

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How to Make A Turkey Breast Brine – Step by Step Photos

Start by gathering your ingredients. For this turkey breast brine I am using 1/2 cup kosher salt, 1/2 cup white sugar, 3 bay leaves, 2 fresh rosemary sprigs, 6 smashed garlic cloves (if some of them break in half like mine did that is fine), 1 Tbsp whole peppercorns, and 1 lemon.

Place 8 cups of cold water in a container and place it in the freezer. You will use it later. Then in a large stock pot add the kosher salt, white sugar, and remaining 8 cups of water. Heat the pot over medium heat and stir to dissolve.

Once the salt and sugar have completely dissolved add the bay leaves, rosemary, smashed garlic cloves, and peppercorns. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil. Boil for 3 minutes then remove the pot from the heat.

Add the juice from the lemon and the entire squeezed lemon to the pot. Now allow the brine to cool down to room temperature (about 30 minutes). Once the brine has cooled down to room temperature add the remaining 8 cups of water from the freezer. Stir and allow the brine to completely cool down. About another 5-10 minutes.

Now carefully add the turkey breast inside the pot with the brine. If your pot is not big enough to hold the turkey breast and the brine, then add it to a turkey size brining bag and pour the cooled brine over the turkey breast. Make sure the turkey breast is completely submerged in the brine, then cover the pot or seal up the bag. Place the pot in the refrigerator for 6 hours. *(total brine time will depend on the size of your turkey breast)

After the turkey has brined, remove the turkey breast from the brine and rinse it well under cold water. Then pat the turkey dry with paper towels.

Now you’re ready to cook the most flavorful turkey breast that you’ve ever tasted.