What I learned from Brine Time in Tennessee… aka, If there is no light in the fridge, is the turkey really brining?

The best plans can go awry – this scenario was slightly complicated by the fact that I had planned on ‘smoking’ the turkey breasts once they were brined for 8 hours. The smoking process is fairly involved for one person to do – as a super novice. Read is “first time smoker alone”.


Here is a blow-by-blow
My Original Plan Was:

• Get off work at 12:30PM because that is when my work traditionally sends us home the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.
• Feed the dogs so I do not have to do that after dark – thus lessening the chances for screaming “Help, I’ve fallen and I can’t get up”.
• Throw all the ingredients together in a pot and bring to a boil so it can be cooling.
• Head out to my mom’s for my family’s traditional “day before Thanksgiving” meal.
• Upon arriving home after Thanksgiving-eve dinner – I would rinse the turkey breasts, toss them into the food grade bucket – pour the brine and ice in and go to bed. Let the dark of night do the work.

I did not get off work until 4:15

New Plan:

• Gather the ingredients together, loaded the water with the cloves, peppercorns, salt and sugar then brought the start of the brine to a boil.  
• Feed and water the dogs without incident. 
• Boil then cool the brine solution.
• Head to mom’s. 

What Happened:
Came back and realized that if I put the turkey in the brine at 9pm, I would have to be up rinsing it by 5AM. NOT happening.

New Plan Part Deux:

• Set my alarm for 2AM thinking I will get up – set the brine bucket up and get up at 9AM to start smoking the meat. 
• Go to eat supper at mom’s. 
• Rinse and start smoking. 

What happened:

• Slept through alarm. 
• Woke up at 8AM, panicked

Plan Part Trois - The Final Destination: 

• Started brining at 8AM 
• Called mom – went to eat lunch instead of supper - allowing brine to work. 
• Came back after 8 hours and rinsed the turkey breasts. 
• Started the smoking process (another blog entry).

Decision on Brining:

DO IT! 

The meat was tasty and moist. I would not say juicy – but definitely not dry.
The best Turkey I have cooked – and I bought CHEAP BREASTS ($1 hooker breasts, not Playboy model breasts) so this is a huge deal – so to speak.

NEXT!