The Perfect Turkey Brine

Ingredients:

• 3 cups apple cider (unfiltered apple juice without sugar)
• 2 cups brown sugar
• 1 cup coarse salt
• 3 tbsp. mixture of three peppercorns
• 5 whole bay leaves
• 5 cloves garlic, crushed
• 4 sprigs of rosemary, leaves picked
• Zest three large oranges, peeled into wide strips
• 1 turkey

Preparation:

1. In a large saucepan, combine 7.5 quarts of cold water with the apple juice, brown sugar, salt, pepper, bay leaf, garlic, rosemary, and orange peel. Stir until the salt and sugar dissolve. Bring to a boil, then turn off the heat and cover.
2. Allow the brine to cool completely, then refrigerate. Place the raw turkey in the cooled brine and refrigerate for 16-24 hours.
3. When ready to roast, remove the turkey from the brine. Place the bird in a saucepan or sink filled with fresh, cold water. Let it sit in the clean water for 15 minutes to remove any excess salt from the outside.
4. Discard the brine. Remove the turkey from the water, pat dry, and roast according to your favorite recipe.
   
   Recipe Classic turkey.