Thrifty Thursday is hosted weekly at Amanda's Cookin'
Today's Thrifty Thursday tip is a turkey tip! Yes, I know it's not Thanksgiving, but my kids all love turkey, and I'll be making one this weekend.
You don't have to buy an expensive turkey to get a moist, juicy bird. Here's an easy way to get great results on the cheap. BUT it takes a little planning ahead, because the bird has to be completely thawed a whole day before you want to roast it.
1. Go to your nearest Big Box Home Improvement Store (orange or blue, doesn't matter) and buy a 5-gallon bucket with a lid. Wash it out.
2. Buy a store-brand frozen turkey. Nothing fancy needed.
3. Defrost the turkey.
4. Wash the turkey inside and out and make sure you remove all the giblets and other miscellaneous-in-a-bag that comes with the turkey.
5. Put the turkey in the 5-gallon bucket with the tips of the legs sticking up.
6. Sprinkle a cup of kosher (coarse) salt all over the turkey.
7. Pour water over the whole thing and keep adding water until the cavity is filled and there's plenty of water on the outside of the turkey too. Add lots of ice cubes, and cover.
8. Let this sit at least 8 hours or up to 24.
9. Remove directly to your roasting pan. Don't wash the turkey again. It was clean before you did the brining part.
10. Roast as usual!
Now if you want to get all complicated, Alton Brown does a brined turkey with lots of spices and stuff. But unless you have all of those in your house already, it's not a thrifty turkey. This way works just as well.
I have always wanted to try brining but haven't braved it yet. You make it sound very easy!
ReplyDeleteterrific post. Brining always assures a moist turkey. An alternative to the bucket is to use a small cooler chest to brine the turkey as well -- and this helps to keep everything safely cold while it brines. You can also get creative with the brine liquids and spices for different flavors. I have several turkey brines recipes at www.FabulousFoods.com if you're interested.
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