As Thanksgiving approaches turkeys are thawed and prepped for the big feast. For moist, flavorful meat many cooks choose to brine their birds. But finding a container large enough can be a hassle. Why not use a trusty trash bag instead? Though unconventional, brining a turkey in a garbage bag is a surprisingly common, safe, and easy method.
How to Brine in a Trash Bag
Brining turkey requires just a few simple steps:
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Choose a new, clean trash bag rated for food use. Do not use scented or recycled bags.
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Place thawed turkey inside and add your brine solution – typically water, salt, sugar, and spices
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Tie the bag securely closed so no liquid can escape. A twist tie works great
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Refrigerate for 8-12 hours per pound, flipping occasionally. Keep the bag in a tray to catch potential leaks.
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Once time is up, remove turkey and pat dry. Discard used brine bag.
And that’s it! The turkey is ready for roasting per your recipe. It’s that easy.
Benefits of Using a Trash Bag
Brining in a trash bag offers several advantages:
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Large capacity – Trash bags come in sizes fitting turkeys from 12 to 24 pounds. No need for multiple containers.
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Full submersion – The turkey breast can be fully submerged in brine, allowing for thorough flavor infusion.
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Minimal cleanup – Simply toss the used bag when finished. No washing pots or buckets.
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Space saving – A trash bag conforms to the turkey shape with less wasted room. Great for small refrigerators.
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Low cost – Trash bags are an budget-friendly option compared to fancy brining bags.
For an efficient, mess-free brining vessel, a basic trash bag does the trick beautifully.
Trash Bag Brining Tips
Follow these tips for best results when brining in a trash bag:
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Use new, food-grade bags only to avoid contamination.
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Tie bag securely – a loose seal can cause leaks and spills.
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Place bag in a tray or bowl as a precaution. Accidents happen!
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Turn bag over periodically to evenly expose all areas to brine.
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Pat turkey dry thoroughly before roasting to help achieve crispy skin.
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Never reuse a brining bag. Toss it after use.
Brining Creates Flavorful, Juicy Meat
So why go through the trouble of brining at all?
The salt in the brine solution helps break down muscle proteins. This allows the turkey meat to retain more moisture during cooking, keeping it incredibly juicy and tender.
The water and flavorings infuse deep into the meat, seasoning it from the inside out. Sugar in the brine also promotes crispy browned skin.
Overall, brining leads to the most flavorful, foolproof turkey possible. A trash bag offers an easy vessel for the job.
An Unconventional Yet Effective Method
While a trash bag might seem an odd choice, it’s a smart brining method used by many experienced holiday cooks. The benefits of large capacity, full submersion, and no-fuss cleanup make trash bags ideal over buckets, pots, or pans.
As long as basic safety and cleanliness guidelines are followed, brining your turkey in a trash bag is an efficient, sanitary option. This simple shortcut frees up time and energy to focus on the rest of your Thanksgiving meal.
So don’t be afraid to try this unorthodox technique for your next holiday bird. Your guests will be delighted with moist, delicious turkey brimming with flavor. A brined bird is a tasty bird – no matter the brining vessel!
Downright unsafe ways to cook your turkey – Part 2
Jeannie Nichols, – November 14, 2013
Cooking the holiday bird in a bag is nothing new. It is important to know that there are safe and unsafe bags.
Unique regional methods of preparing holiday birds can be downright unsafe. These unique methods are designed to tantalize the senses and produce the perfect turkey – moist breast meat, tender legs and thighs, golden brown skin and memorable flavor.
Michigan State University Extension food safety wants you to have a safe, nutritious and delicious bird for your holiday meals. Two of these unsafe, non-traditional methods are cooking turkey in a brown paper bag or trash bag. Alternative resources can be used to make them safe.
Brown paper bag method
This method involves placing the turkey in a grocery type brown paper bag and cooking the bird at a very low temperature. Brown paper bags were never intended to be used for cooking. The glue, ink, chemicals and other materials used in recycling grocery bags may give off poisonous fumes. Paper grocery type bags are not sanitary and may cause a fire. Intense heat may cause a bag to ignite, causing a fire in the oven and ruining the turkey.
Make it safe – Replace the brown bag with a turkey-size oven-cooking bag. A whole turkey is done and safe when cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit, as measured with a food thermometer. Check the internal temperature in the inner most part of the thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast.
Trash bag method
A whole turkey is placed in a large trash bag and marinated in salt brine, herbs and spices for several hours at room temperature. It is never recommended to use non-food grade materials as holding containers for food. Chemicals and non-food colors may leach into the food. MSU Extension, along with the United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety Inspection Service recommends marinating meat in the refrigerator, not at room temperature.
Make it safe – Replace the trash bag with a large oven-cooking bag. Refrigerate the turkey during the marinating process and the results will be safe and delicious.
The moral of this article is: If you choose to cook your holiday bird in a bag – make sure it is food grade commercial cooking bag; then you know it is safe for you and your family.
For more information on preparing turkeys read Downright unsafe ways to cook your turkey – Part 1.
Can you cook a turkey in a galvanized trash can?
Can You brine a Turkey in a garbage bag?
But when it comes to brining a turkey many of us become confused because the same task can be done in various methods. You can brine in containers, slow cookers as well as in trash or garbage bags. Many people ask surprisingly, can I brine a turkey in a garbage bag? Yes, you can but it sounds rough, isn’t it?
How do you brine a Turkey?
Place a large plastic trash bag inside a cooler. Put the clean, dry turkey inside the cooler and pour the brine over the turkey. Periodically check the temperature of the cooler. It should remain between 35 and 40 degrees F. Leave the turkey in the brine for 24 hours.
Can You brine a Turkey in a refrigerator?
You may not have enough room in your refrigerator to keep the turkey and brine cold for the entire brining process. Brining Turkey is simple using a cooler and a trash bag! Solution: Place the brine in a trash bag inside a cooler.
What happens if you brine a Turkey?
The brine solution is a pungent-smelling one. Consequently, the proteins in the meat will separate as a result of the salt and water. This will result in a turkey that is more delicate, mushy, and delectable. You may also add a lot of taste by adding different items like flavors. More importantly, you should place it in a food-safe bag.