Thanksgiving table setting featuring a roasted turkey garnished with herbs and oranges, alongside side dishes like mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce. Morton's coarse kosher salt is prominently displayed, with decorative pumpkins and autumn foliage enhancing the festive atmosphere.
Main Course Kosher Salt Recipes

Brined & Roasted Whole Turkey

No dish has more riding on its success than the holiday turkey. Unfortunately, turkey loses its natural juices the longer it cooks. Fortunately, we have the solution- brining. Brining locks in a turkey’s natural juices, so it won’t dry out during the roasting process, ensuring the perfect centerpiece for a flavorful feast.
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Ingredients Instructions

Key Information

Dish Type

Main Course

Time

Prep: 13 hours, 20 minutes standing time

Cook: Varies

Difficulty

easy

Serves

10-12

Ingredient List

Ingredients and measurements.

  • 1 cup Morton Kosher Salt Flakes
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 gallons of cool water
  • 12 to 15 pound fresh, whole, bone-in-skin-on turkey, rinsed and patted
  • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided (5 tbsp softened. 3 tbsp melted)
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 cup white wine, chicken broth or water
  • Peels from 3 oranges
  • 2 tbsp black peppercorns
  • 2 tbsp pink peppercorns
  • 1 cup diced celery
  • 5 bay leaves
  • Several sprigs each of parsley, sage, and thyme

Cooking Instructions

Step-By-Step Cooking Information and Guidance

Step 1

Combine Morton Kosher Salt Flakes, sugar, orange peels, peppercorns, bay leaves, and herbs in cool water in a large, clean stockpot. Stir until the salt and sugar completely dissolve, then place whole turkey in the brine until completely submerged. Cover and refrigerate overnight, up to 14 hours.

Step 2

Remove the turkey from the brine, and rinse inside and out and under cool running water for several minutes to remove all traces of salt; pat dry with a paper towel.

Step 3

4-5 hour Brine: To brine your turkey in less time (4-5 hours), use 2 cups of Morton Kosher Salt Flakes and two cups of sugar. Cover and refrigerate for 4 to 5 hours.

Step 4

To Roast: Mix the softened butter with the pepper. Place turkey on rack in roasting pan. Rub the seasoned butter under the skin. Brush the skin with the melted butter.

Step 5

Pour the 1 cup liquid (wine, broth or water) over the pan bottom to prevent drippings from burning. Roast turkey at 450° F for 25 minutes, baste and then rotate the roasting pan.

Step 6

Continue roasting until the skin turns golden brown, an additional 25 minutes; baste again. Reduce oven temperature to 325° F; continue to roast, basting and rotating the pan once about halfway through cooking, until the minimum internal temperature reaches 165° F.

Step 7

Remove the turkey from the oven. Let stand 20 minutes before carving.

Thanksgiving table setting featuring a roasted turkey garnished with herbs and oranges, alongside side dishes like mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce. Morton's coarse kosher salt is prominently displayed, with decorative pumpkins and autumn foliage enhancing the festive atmosphere.
Hand sprinkling Morton coarse kosher salt into a glass bowl with marinated ingredients, showcasing the product packaging against a blue background, highlighting culinary use and flavor enhancement.
Tips For Success
  • Internal temperature guidelines courtesy of USDA Food Safety Facts.
  • Do NOT brine turkey if it includes “basting” liquids that contain salt.
  • If you purchase a turkey with a pop-up timer, leave it in place and ignore it. If removed, the timer will leave a gaping hole for juices to escape.
  • Optional- add herbs and seasoning to your brine. Stuff the turkey cavity with lemon, garlic and more herbs.

Morton Products USED IN THIS RECIPE

Our products that bring this dish together
Morton Kosher Salt Flakes packaging, 48 oz (3 lb), featuring the brand logo and a graphic of a girl with an umbrella, highlighting trusted quality since 1848. Ideal for cooking and seasoning.

Kosher Salt Flakes 48 oz

Textured Salt To Enhance The Flavor In Any Dish.   Long enjoyed by chefs for its taste, texture and ease of use, Morton Kosher Salt Flakes is considered a fundamental ingredient that can be used to bring out the natural flavors of a wide variety of dishes. The coarse texture of Morton Kosher Salt makes it easy to grab and sprinkle just the perfect amount, allowing you to easily control the amount of salt you add to all your cooking. The compact flakes perfectly adhere to food for ideal flavor enhancement. Morton Kosher Salt Flakes is Kosher certified for use in preparing kosher meals.

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Morton Salt
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