Beer Brined Turkey Recipe (2024)

Beer Brined Turkey. Brining your turkey in beer is a stellar idea. Not only does the beer tenderize the turkey but it makes for delicious subtle flavor addition. We smother it in herb butter for added flavor and that perfect crispy skin.

We love this amazing beer brined turkey recipe!

Turkey!!!!!

Oh my gosh let’s talk about this. Turkey=So. intimidating.

I was nervous and excited to finally tackle this project (and super glad no one was coming over to my house that night to eat).

Let’s start off with the basics: We need a defrosted bird. A tender juicy bird. Nice yummy crispy skin. And a fully cooked bird.

One at a time:

#1 A fully defrosted bird

You need to fully defrost your turkey. Be sure to give enough time for this. I did a cold water bath for several hours (changing the water every 30 minutes) and then put mine in the fridge for 24 hours the first time. The second time I just left it in the fridge for 3 full days. This was for a 12 pound turkey (A SMALL TURKEY) so be sure to calculate here how long yours will take. Cause a beer brined turkey is worth the wait.

#2 A tender juicy fully cooked bird.

The secret to this in my humble opinion is brining. With beer, if you can.

Brining forces the meat to absorb water and salt into itself which allows you to cook the turkey until the dark meat is cooked without drying out the white meat. Adding beer to the mixture is perfect because alcohol is a natural tenderizer.

Just to be curious and see if this really did make a difference we roasted two turkeys, one brined with our beer/salt/sugar solution and one straight out of the fridge. We treated them exactly the same and hands down the brined turkey won in terms of flavor and moisture content. Yay for beer!

You will need a bucket to submerge your turkey in and enough fridge space to handle the bucket. We used one of our large brewing buckets (available at a homebrew shop) which was overkill in terms of space for our turkey. These brining bags look super handy. Or you can totally use an ice chest with a frozen gallon of water in it to keep it at a cool enough temperature (40 degrees or cooler). I had read that using a metal container was not advisable but see lots of photos of folks doing it in their giant stockpots. Icannot comment to the advisability of that route (I read it could leach metal).

For my 12 pound turkey it took 2 gallons of water plus 4 (12 ounces) Worthy Brewing Lights Out Stoutsto submerge it.

#3 Crispy skin.

My secrets forthis are:

A) BoilingWater

A little known trick from food stylists involves pouring boiling water over poultry to help tighten the skin. This makes them prettier to look at and….turns out it makes them pretty darn delicious too!

It’s also ridiculously fun to watch the skin tighten right up as you do this so be sure to grab the kids/hubby/friends before you start.

I put the roasting rack right in the sink so the water just drains away (be sure to scrub your sink good afterwards!)

B) Herb butter

What isn’t better with butter? Fresh herbs and a stick of butter get slathered all over this baby.

#4 A fully cooked bird.

My secrets are:

A) Don’t Stuff It

Emotions have a way of coming out even when you repress them. Stuffing gets cooked separately. It just makes this whole thing work better. It slows the cooking of your turkey down and can harbor bacteria if it is not all the way cooked. Instead….drizzle some of the turkey drippings on top of the stuffing when it is finished.

B) Stop Opening The Oven!

The first time we cooked the turkey I hovered over it. I checked it. I prodded it. I tented it with foil. I worried. I KEPT OPENING THE DOOR. It took FOREVER.

Nowwe put it in and ignore it for WAY less time. It’s really that easy.

I do not baste as I see no reason to continually open the oven door and bring down the temperature.

C) Don’t Overcook It

Please….buy a digital thermometer. They are $10. You need one.

The food safety guidelines call for a temperature of 165 degrees. Not 180 degrees! Stick that turkey in the thigh with the thermometer and don’t touch the bone, easy paesy. You can aim for a few degrees under too since it will continue to rise some as it rests.

D) Let It Rest

20 minutes minimum covered loosely in foil up to 40 minutes for a big turkey (don’t tighten the foil or you will steam the skin). Use this time to get all your other dishes piping hot in the oven and any last minute tasks (like making gravy with all those delicious buttery drippings).

There you have it. All my tips and tricks to make this years turkey a knock out of the park.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Beer Brined Turkey Recipe (6)

Beer Brined Turkey Recipe

Brining your turkey in beer is a stellar idea. Not only does the beer tenderize the turkey but it makes for delicious subtle flavor addition. We smother it in herb butter for added flavor and that perfect crispy skin.

Prep Time 3 days days

Cook Time 3 hours hours

Total Time 3 days days 3 hours hours

Servings 1 Turkey

Print Pin Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 12 pound Turkey
  • For 2 Gallons of Brine:
  • 2 gallons water
  • 1 cup kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 4 12 ounce cans stout, I used Worthy's Lights Out Stout
  • For Herb Butter:
  • 1 stick 1/2 cup salted butter, room temperature
  • 2 sprigs fresh rosemary minced
  • 4-6 leaves fresh sage minced
  • 4 sprigs fresh thyme minced
  • 4 sprigs fresh oregano minced

Instructions

Brining

  • 1. Thaw turkey completely in the fridge or with a cold water bath, changing the water every 30 minutes.

  • 2. Combine salt and brown sugar with several cups of water from the 2 gallons into a saucepan. Heat, stirring continually until salt & sugar are completely dissolved into water.3. Pour the solution into the brining bucket and add the remaining water (if using a bag be sure to cool solution first so you don't melt it). Add beers.4. Remove giblet bag from the neck cavity of the turkey (often tucked up under a flap of skin) and the neck from the carcass cavity (reserve all for gravy).5. Submerge turkey in brine and soak, chilled, for 12-24 hours. (Turkey must be completely submerged. Increase brine if needed.)Cooking

  • 1. Boil teapot of water.2. Rinse turkey thoroughly and place it on a roasting rack in the sink. Truss legs if desired.3. Pour hot water all over turkey evenly. Dry thoroughly with a paper towel.4. Mix herbs and butter together. Using hands rub herb butter all over turkey skin evenly.5. Cook turkey at 350 degrees for 1 1/2 hours, reduce heat to 325 degrees and cook until turkey reaches 165 degrees in the deepest part of the meat (see turkey bag for approximate times for bird size). My 12-pound bird took 2 hours 45 minutes total. If you notice excessive browning on legs or wings they can be tented with foil.6. Remove turkey from oven and tent with foil (do not seal or you will steam skin to rubbery). Allow resting for 20-40 minutes (depending on size).Reserve drippings for turkey gravy.

Author: Dani Meyer

Course : *Easy Entertaining Dishes

Cuisine : American

holiday cooking, turkey, easy brined recipe, beer brined turkey, Thanksgiving meal, beer, herb butter, crispy skin

D

By Dani Meyer on November 23rd, 2014

Beer Brined Turkey Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Does beer make a good brine? ›

Water and fat don't mix, but fat and alcohol do. The alcohol is able to penetrate inside the fat-rich meat and carry flavors of the brining solution along with it. Because of its ability to break down fat, the addition of beer in the brine enhances the flavors of the dish in ways that water alone wouldn't.

What's the best beer to use for turkey? ›

The Best Beer for Thanksgiving Roasted Turkey:

A light lager or pilsner is a great option, as the refreshing carbonation will cut through the meat's richness. Alternatively, a malty amber or brown ale can be a good choice. These fuller-bodied beers will pair nicely with traditional stuffing and gravy.

How long should you brine a turkey? ›

As a general rule of thumb, you'll want to let the turkey brine for at least 1 hour per pound of turkey. Here's a breakdown of how long to brine a turkey based on size:
  1. 12–14-lb. turkey: 16–18 hours.
  2. 14–16-lb. turkey: 18–20 hours.
  3. 16–18-lb. turkey: 20–22 hours.
  4. 18–20-lb. turkey: 22–24 hours.
Oct 23, 2023

Do you rinse turkey after brining? ›

You should always rinse the turkey after wet or dry brining. Once rinsed, you can let the turkey air dry, uncovered, in the refrigerator for several hours, or pat it dry with a paper towel.

What does beer do in brine? ›

This beer brine does two things: First, alcohol is a natural meat tenderizer. Second, the brown ale gives a beautiful but faint flavor of the hazelnut and malt that Rogue took so much time crafting. Turkey cooking is tricky, while the dark meat should be cooked to 175°, the white meat is done at 165°.

What is the best beer for brine? ›

Best Beer Styles for Beer Brine

Porters and stouts – for hearty roasts or turkey meat. German lagers – the golden ones like pilsner are perfect for chicken, the darker like Dunkel, Bock or Marzen for pork. Wheat ales – especially Belgian wit and Hefeweizen.

Why do people put beer on turkey? ›

Essentially, you're taking all of the necessary steps needed to create the best bird and simply using a butter-infused beer for basting. This will create a great flavor on the bird and add to its natural juices, ensuring your turkey comes out nice and moist.

What is the most common beer in Turkey? ›

The best—and best-selling Turkish beer (80% of the market) is Efes Pilsen, brewed in İzmir. The same company brews Becks, Miller, Warstiener and Fosters under licence. Tuborg is also brewed in Turkey under license. Heineken is imported.

How many Lira is a beer in Turkey? ›

Cost of Living in Turkey
RestaurantsEdit
Water (1.5 liter bottle)12.33TL
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)300.00TL
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)57.85TL
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)81.00TL
62 more rows

Can a turkey be brined too long? ›

The amount of time will depend on the type of brine you use; however, do not brine any longer than two days and always keep the turkey and brine refrigerated (at 40°F or less). Remove turkey from brine after the recommended time.

What is the formula for brine? ›

Basic Brine

Place that volume of water in a container large enough to hold the brine and the meat. Add 1 tablespoon of salt for every cup of water you used and mix until the salt is completely dissolved. For example, if you are using 1 gallon (16 cups) of water, add 16 tablespoons (1 cup) of salt.

Does a turkey need to be refrigerated while brining? ›

Yes! Do not leave a turkey brining on the counter or it'll spoil. Treat it just like you would a raw turkey, because that's what it is—always refrigerate it!

What does vinegar do in a brine? ›

This master pickle brine calls for just four ingredients: white vinegar, sugar, salt, and water. The white vinegar provides a mild acidity that doesn't impart too much extra flavor on the fruit or vegetable you choose to pickle. A small amount of granulated sugar adds a balanced sweetness you'll love.

Does brining a turkey make it salty? ›

When the two samples were compared, the brining process added 270 milligrams of sodium. That's less than 1/8 teaspoon of added salt. How much sodium is absorbed into a brined turkey depends on how much salt is used and how long it is brined, say nutrition experts at the University of California at Berkeley.

Are butterball turkeys brined? ›

Butterball Fresh Whole Turkey is all natural*, never frozen, gluten free, and raised without hormones on American farms. Every fresh turkey is pre-brined before packaging for meat that's always tender and juicy. *All natural means minimally processed and no artificial ingredients.

Does beer actually tenderize meat? ›

Beers can add rich, caramel-like flavor to the meat with minimal cooking time. One of the most effective ways to tenderize your meat is by using beer. Beer contains alpha acids and tannins that help break down fibers in meat, making it more tender and flavorful. Marinate using beer for an hour or more before grilling.

Is it good to marinate meat in beer? ›

Cooking with beer is an excellent idea, not only for the bottle you're apt to crack open while a steak sizzles away. A beer marinade tenderizes meat and adds another layer of flavor—that you already knew—but a new study finds a beer marinade might also help combat nasty substances and help keep you healthy.

Can beer be used to marinate? ›

To prepare the marinade, whisk together the oil, beer, and lemon juice. Add the garlic, salt, pepper, bay leaves, mustard, basil, oregano, and thyme. Mix well.

Is beer good for marinating meat? ›

One of my favorite ways to incorporate beer into food is using it in a marinade. This particular marinade works well with pork or chicken, but can even be used with meatier fish.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Nicola Considine CPA

Last Updated:

Views: 6383

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (49 voted)

Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Nicola Considine CPA

Birthday: 1993-02-26

Address: 3809 Clinton Inlet, East Aleisha, UT 46318-2392

Phone: +2681424145499

Job: Government Technician

Hobby: Calligraphy, Lego building, Worldbuilding, Shooting, Bird watching, Shopping, Cooking

Introduction: My name is Nicola Considine CPA, I am a determined, witty, powerful, brainy, open, smiling, proud person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.