I am Brining my Turkey for the first time, most of the recipes call for sugar or molasses or even syrup. Will this make my turkey taste sweet?

My wife hates sweet tasting meat, this would be a big problem

Michael J Hudson
  • 2487 views
  • 3 Comments

3 Comments

drbabs November 25, 2015
If you want your turkey to taste like turkey (and not watered down turkey meat), The Food Lab's J. Kenzi Lopez Alt recommends dry brining with just salt. The other flavors probably won't penetrate the meat anyway, and the salt will help the turkey retain moisture. Here's his article about brining (if you're in a food nerd mood) http://www.seriouseats.com/2012/11/the-food-lab-the-truth-about-brining-turkey-thanksgiving.html and here's a guide: http://www.seriouseats.com/2014/11/quick-and-dirty-guide-to-brining-turkey-chicken-thanksgiving.html

There's a wonderful dry brined turkey recipe here on Food52: https://food52.com/blog/2713-russ-parsons-dry-brined-turkey-a-k-a-the-judy-bird (I've made this and it's terrific.)

Have fun!!
 
Caroline L. November 25, 2015
hi michael! it shouldn't make your turkey sweet. (if you're feeling very nervous, you could reduce the amount of sweetener/sugar that you use.) here are a couple of articles that might help you decide!

https://food52.com/blog/9061-everything-you-need-to-know-about-brining

https://food52.com/blog/9018-to-brine-or-not-to-brine
 
Michael J. November 25, 2015
Thanks!
 
Recommended by Food52