Brine Roasted Turkey

Total Time: 6 hrs Preparation Time: 2 hrs 30 mins Cook Time: 3 hrs 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 5
• 1/2 cup salt
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 gallon cold water
• 6 lbs whole turkey
• 4 tablespoons butter (2 1/2 softened, 1 1/2 melted)
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon parsley flakes
• 1/4 teaspoon thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon basil
• 1/4 teaspoon sage
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1 lemon
• 1 cup chicken broth

Recipe

• 1 remove giblets and neck from turkey.
• 2 rinse turkey with cold water.
• 3 combine salt, sugar and water in a large stockpot until completely dissolved.
• 4 place turkey in the brine until completely submerged.
• 5 cover and refrigerate for 2 to 2 ½ hours.
• 6 pre-heat oven to 350°f.
• 7 remove the turkey from the brine and pat dry with paper towel.
• 8 mix the softened butter with half of the pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, parsley flakes, thyme, basil, sage, paprika.
• 9 place turkey on rack in roasting pan.
• 10 squeeze lemon juice into the main turkey cavity.
• 11 put the squeezed lemon halves into the cavity.
• 12 rub the seasoned butter under the skin.
• 13 brush the skin with the melted butter and rest of seasonings.
• 14 pour the 1 cup chicken broth over the pan bottom to prevent drippings from burning.
• 15 loosely cover with aluminum foil to prevent over browning, remove foil during last 45 minutes of cooking.
• 16 roast turkey, basting with poultry stock every half hour or so.
• 17 continue to roast until thermometer registers 180°f in the thigh, or 170°f in the breast.
• 18 remove turkey from the oven and allow it to cool before carving.