HOW TO BRINE A TURKEY BREAST RECIPES

Steps:

• Bring cider, cooking wine, and next 8 ingredients to a boil in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes until salt and sorghum are dissolved. Remove pot from heat, stir in ice. Cover and place in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
• Place turkey in the brine. (Brine should mostly cover turkey. If it doesn’t, find a smaller pot. If the turkey still isn’t fully covered, you’ll need to turn it over in the brine about halfway through the process.) Cover and chill in the refrigerator for 5 to 12 hours. (Do not over brine your turkey or you’ll end up with salty meat!)
• Prepare your smoker according to the manufacturer's directions, bringing the internal temperature to 225 degrees F using your favorite type of wood chips.
• Remove the turkey breast from the brine. Pat dry with paper towels. Place turkey low in the smoker and cook for 3 to 3 1/2 hours or until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest portion registers 165 to 170 degrees F.
• Remove cooked turkey breast, cover loosely with aluminum foil, and let stand 10 to 15 minutes before slicing.

Steps:

• Remove the legs and wings from the turkey, or have your butcher do it. Reserve for stock.
• Put turkey breast into a large pot or doubled up clean plastic bag. When brine mixture is completely cooled, pour over turkey and place in refrigerator for 12 hours.
• Rinse under clear cool water for 5 minutes, drain well and pat dry with paper towels.
• In a small bowl, combine dried spices and lemon zest. Rub turkey with canola oil, lightly sprinkle rub on turkey, any extra rub can be placeed in cavity. Cover loosely, refrigerate for 4 hours.
• Remove from refrigerator and let rest on counter for 15 minutes
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F while turkey is resting.
• In a large, deep baking pan, fitted with a rack, place turkey breast side down and roast for 35 minutes. Carefully turn turkey over and reduce heat to 375 degrees F. Continue to roast turkey for 1 hour 45 minutes or until temperature at the deepest part of the breast reads 170 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer. Make sure to check bird every 15 minutes after first hour has passed.
• Take out of oven, loosely tent with foil, let rest in pan for 10 minutes. Carve and serve immediately.
• In a large stock pot, combine 3 quarts water, 1 cup kosher salt, brown sugar, molasses, sage leaves and peppercorns. Heat until salt dissolves, remove from heat. Add in 3 quarts cool water and 8 cups ice.