The Best Cider & Citrus Turkey Brine Recipe that is Keto Friendly (2024)

You might be wondering if you need to brine your Thanksgiving turkey. I’m here to tell you that, yes, yes you do. You absolutely need to brine your turkey before you put that bird in the oven. You do not want a dry, bland tasting turkey after you worked so hard to make it taste great. Rather, you want people to ooh and ahh over how moist and full of flavor the meat is. Here is my tried and true easy Cider & Citrus Turkey Brine Recipe that is Keto Friendly. Yep, this Keto Friendly Turkey Brine doesn’t use any sugar, just Apple Cider Vinegar and lemons and oranges!

The Best Cider & Citrus Turkey Brine Recipe that is Keto Friendly (1)

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First Published: 11/23/2014 Updated 10/23/2018

Table of Contents

What exactly is brining you may ask?

The process of brining means soaking meat in a solution of water and salt before cooking. Yes – it really is that simple. As it soaks, the meat absorbs the brine, then retains it during cooking. Follow this easy turkey brining recipe for a moist, delicious turkey this Thanksgiving! You might also like My Famous Drunken Turkey Recipewhere both you and the turkey get to drink a bit of wine while cooking. 😉

The Best Cider & Citrus Turkey Brine Recipe that is Keto Friendly (2)

I’m often asked if you should defrost your turkey first or if you can defrost it in the brine. Unless you bring home a fresh turkey from a local farm or farmer’s market, more than likely, it will be frozen. You can, and should, defrost your turkey in the brine. If you do, add 12-24 hours to the brining time. You can leave the turkey in the brine for 24-72 hours, the magic number I’ve found is 36 hours.

WeightWaterSaltTime
Turkey 12-17 lbs2 gallons1 cup table salt or
1.5 cups Kosher salt
12-24 hours
Turkey 18-24 lbs3 gallons1.5 cups table salt or
2.25 cups Kosher salt
12-24 hours

*Important to remember, cup for cup, table salt is stronger than Kosher salt. If you use Kosher salt (which is recommended over table salt) in a brine, multiply the amount of salt called for by 1.5 times. The best tasting salt for a brine, in my opinion, is Pink Himalayan Salt.

Why It’s Keto Friendly

Most brining recipes call for sugar, brown sugar, maple syrup, or other sweeteners. This recipe uses citrus and Apple Cider Vinegar instead making it a keto friendly turkey brine. The citrus is added to this brine as it not only adds a layer of flavor, but it also tenderizes the meat. The mild acid of the lemon carries the citrus flavors deep into the meat and the Apple Cider Vinegar sets a really great base for the drunken turkey recipe I shared down below.

This Cider & Citrus Brine + My Drunken Turkey Recipe = Most Amazing Turkey EVER

Ingredients

1 Tbsp black peppercorns
2 Bay leaves
2 cups organicchicken stock, optional
1 onion, quartered
4 garlic gloves
2 Rosemary twigs, slightly crushed to release the oils from the rosemary
1 tsp allspice
1 tsp cloves
1lemon, quartered
1 orange, quartered
1.5 cupsPink Himalayan Salt
4 cupsApple Cider Vinegar

Directions

Heat one gallon of water, pour in all of the ingredients including the salt, and stir thoroughly until the ingredients are completely dissolved. Refrigerate, or leave outside for 20 minutes if you live in a cold climate or in Alaska like me, until the brine has cooled down. In the largest stock pot that you have or a clean ice chest, place your turkey directly in the brine or you can put your turkey in a large plastic bag and then place it into the pot or cooler.

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Then add in the brine mixture. Ensure that the entire turkey is submerged for the full brining period. Refrigerate the bird fora minimum of 8-12 hours and no longer than 72. The sweet spot is around 24-36 hours. Last year, I left it in there for 48 hours and it was superb. I also typically thaw out the turkey in the brine – brilliant idea as I have a small kitchen and this saves on space!

Once the turkey has brined overnight, remove it from the brine solution, rinse it off, and pat it dry. You are now ready to prep your turkey for the oven. Luckily, I have My Famous Drunken Turkey Recipe for you. It is simply the best turkey recipe out there. I might be biased, but the amount of people that ask me to make this every year is quite high!

Want an Easy-to-Print Recipe Card for this Easy Turkey Brining Recipe? Here you go!

The Best Cider & Citrus Turkey Brine Recipe that is Keto Friendly (5)

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 12 hours

Total Time: 12 hours 30 minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Heat one gallon of water with the salt, onion, and garlic then stir thoroughly until the salt is completely dissolved.
  2. Remove from heat and add in the remaining ingredients.
  3. Refrigerate or leave outside for 20 minutes if you live in a cold climate or Alaska like me, until the brine is cold.
  4. In the largest stock pot that you have or a clean ice chest, add your turkey directly in or you can put your turkey in a large plastic bag and then place it into the pot or cooler.
  5. Then add in the brine mixture. Ensure that the entire turkey is submerged for the full brining period.
  6. Refrigerate the bird fora minimum of 8-12 hours and no longer than 72. The sweet spot is around 24 hours. Last year, I left it in there for 48 hours and it was superb.
  7. I also typically thaw out the turkey in the brine - brilliant idea as I have a small kitchen and this saves on space!
  8. Once the turkey has brined overnight, remove it from the brine solution, rinse it off, and pat it dry.
  9. You are now ready to prep your turkey for the oven. Luckily, I have My Famous Drunken Turkey Recipe for you. It is simply the best turkey recipe out there. I might be biased, but the amount of people that ask me to make this every year is quite high!

Notes

You can now buy Organic Turkey on Amazon. Who knew?

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.



Pin it for Later – There’s a few pins to choose from.

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The Best Cider & Citrus Turkey Brine Recipe that is Keto Friendly (11)

The Best Cider & Citrus Turkey Brine Recipe that is Keto Friendly (12)

The Best Cider & Citrus Turkey Brine Recipe that is Keto Friendly (13)

You can now buy Organic Turkey on Amazon. Who knew?

I also useThrive Marketplace when I’m cooking in the Lower 48 as my Go To Place for organic, sustainable food that won’t break the bank! Unfortunately, the do not ship to Alaska. Sad, really.

The Best Cider & Citrus Turkey Brine Recipe that is Keto Friendly (14)

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The Best Cider & Citrus Turkey Brine Recipe that is Keto Friendly (2024)

FAQs

Can I put apple cider vinegar in my brine? ›

Citrus Apple Cider Vinegar Brine will make your turkey moist and full of flavor! This turkey brine is easy to make and worth the extra step to make a delicious turkey for Thanksgiving! Brine turkey for 8-12 hours.

What does sugar do in turkey brine? ›

Along with salt, sugar (either brown or white granulated) is a dry-brine must-have, essential both for its browning capabilities and flavor-enhancing properties. Breaking out the sugar is my favorite way to ensure that my turkey comes out perfectly tender and golden brown every November.

Does vinegar tenderize turkey? ›

When Top Chef winner Kristen Kish took over the responsibility of cooking Thanksgiving dinner, she gave her brother the job of roasting the turkey. This recipe, which she taught him, uses cider vinegar as the brine, which tenderizes it and yields flavorful drippings perfect for pan jus.

What is the difference between dry brine and wet brine for Thanksgiving turkey? ›

Turkeys that have been wet brined often yield slightly less brown skin due to more water in the skin. Dry brines work by drawing out moisture in the turkey at the beginning of the brining process, but then the moisture will redistribute with the infused flavors towards the end of the process and during cooking.

What happens when you soak meat in apple cider vinegar? ›

Today, marinades are generally used to bring out the flavor of the meat. An ideal ingredient for this purpose (among many other uses!) is apple cider vinegar. As a powerful bactericide, it helps eliminate any impurities in the meat.

What does soaking in water and apple cider vinegar do? ›

ACV's antibacterial traits may target and counteract bacteria causing body odour. Regular ACV baths may offer lasting freshness all day by creating a healthier skin environment. Along with odour control, ACV baths may also soothe inflammation, which might lower the risk of bacterial overgrowth.

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.

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 is the ratio of sugar to water for brine? ›

As a general starting point, take one gallon of water and add 3/4 cup (preferable - but you can use up to a cup) of salt (Kosher is best), 1/2 cup of sugar and then the rest is up to you. Sliced onions are nice, a few cloves of crushed garlic add a nice flavor and then there's the spices and herbs.

Can turkeys drink apple cider vinegar? ›

Feeding, Watering & Care

Be sure that the waterers are always full! Dehydration is a major stressor. During the heat of the summer, you might consider adding one tablespoon raw organic apple cider vinegar or trace mineral salt to each gallon of water. This helps improve hydration and digestion as well.

What does baking soda do to turkey? ›

Using an overnight dry brine and pairing it with ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda—applied directly to the turkey before roasting—is a good way to tenderize your turkey and create a crispy, brown exterior. Conversely, wet brining involves dissolving salt in water and then submerging your cuts of meat.

What vinegar is best for soaking meat? ›

Balsamic vinegar is a good marinade for red meats because it helps to tenderize them. The acid in the vinegar helps to break down some of the protein and fat in the beef, which makes it softer. The balsamic vinegar also adds a sweet flavor while tenderizing, without having to add any sugar.

What is the downside of brining turkey? ›

Second, brining robs your bird of flavor. Think about it: Your turkey is absorbing water, and holding on to it. That means that that extra 30 to 40% savings in moisture loss doesn't really come in the form of turkey juices—it's plain old tap water.

What is the best brine method? ›

Dry-brining is our preferred method for seasoning both large and small pieces of meat, poultry, and sometimes even seafood. Along with producing juicy, flavorful results, dry-brining also helps us get better Maillard browning and crispy skin.

Does turkey need to be fully submerged in brine? ›

To wet brine, Youngman says you'll need "either a cooler or a really big fridge," since you'll have to contain the turkey, keep it fully submerged in the brine, and keep it cold and covered.

Can you mix apple cider vinegar with salt water? ›

yes, you can mix it with salt, sugar,pepper etc. but never consumed it directly. Apple Cider Vinegar is safe when consumed in a diluted form, like 1–2 tbsp in 1 glass of water.

Is apple cider vinegar good for pickling? ›

Apple cider vinegar made from fermented apple juice is a good choice for many pickles. It has a mellow, fruity flavor that blends well with spices. But it will darken most vegetables and fruits. Cider vinegar may be substituted for white vinegar of the same acidity.

Can we use apple cider vinegar for fish pickles? ›

Apple cider vinegar is an amazing preservative and can be used to create a pickle base. It will give your pickle the perfect tanginess and will preserve it for a long time. Just mix apple cider vinegar with salt, chilli powder, oil and your pickle base is ready.

What can I add to wet brine? ›

To create a wet brine, it's as easy as combining the salt and water together. To add more flavor into the brine, try adding some of the following ingredients: Sugar, brown sugar or molasses.

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