Our Favorite Way to Marinate Turkey
Texas Pepper Jelly is always trying new and different things. Over the years we have tested different marinade recipes and ways of incorporating our Bird Bath™ into them. After many tests and plenty of failures, we have fallen in love with our take on turkey marinade. It is for all you poultry lovers and cooks who generally run short on time.
Our suggestion is to marinate with one of our Bird Baths. Crazy sounding, we know.
Too simple you say? We thought so, too. However, it is true and it is the easiest thing you will ever do to your turkey!
You’ll need four things to complete this “recipe” –
- A ___ lb turkey thawed (or turkey breast) (we’ll leave the size up to you)
- A large food-safe container (one large enough for your entire bird to be submerged) or a turkey brining bag
- 1 bottle of your favorite Bird Bath flavor, we chose Peach Mango Habanero Bird Bath
- Cold water (tap water works just fine)
If you’re making a whole turkey you will use nearly the entire bottle (we hold some back to glaze the bird during the last 15 minutes). A turkey breast will only need half the bottle.
Note: You’re working with raw meat, so be sure to wear gloves or wash your hands and your prep surface when you are done.
Place your thawed bird in the container or bag. Pour most of the bottle of Bird Bath over the entire thing (don’t forget to hold some back) and then add enough cold water to cover it. Cover and refrigerate the entire thing for 12 to 24 hours.
Marinate your turkey overnight for great flavor
The longer you marinate the better (this goes for any poultry). If you are short on time, it’s still worth doing because even a quick marinate will improve the turkey. Be sure you keep the turkey refrigerated and covered while in the marinade.
This is the best marinade for grilling or baking
Once you are ready to cook it, place it in a roasting pan and throw it in the oven or put it directly on your smoker grate at 325°F – 350°F. You can use the turkey juice to baste throughout its oven or smoker time. If you saved some of the glaze be sure to use it in the last 10-15 minutes of the cooking process. This will give it time to heat up and give your turkey a beautiful shine.
According to the FDA, your turkey is safe to eat when the internal temperature is 165° F in the thickest part of the best and thigh. This is from their site – “To check a turkey for safety, insert a food thermometer into the innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast.”
Some will argue that you only need to brine a turkey and others will say you need to both brine and marinate. Good news! Marinating your bird can add a boost of flavor and moisture to your poultry that a brine alone can’t do. And why do both brining and marinating if you don’t have to?
A good marinade gets into all the nooks and crannies which will prevent your bird from drying out. And our products give any poultry the most beautiful shiny golden brown skin. Your eyes will love how it looks and it just might make the entire family want to devour it right then and there.
All of these things combined make, in our opinion, Texas Bird Bath the best turkey marinade ever.
When you create your next poultry dinner and use Bird Bath, be sure to take lots of pics, share with your friends, and don’t forget to tag us! Until next time foodies, follow us and definitely, keep that pit smoke rollin’!