Crispy baked turkey wings in the oven with a dry rub, brined or just simple salt and pepper turn out great. Enjoy as an appetizer or meal.
We oven baked turkey wings the other night after breaking down a whole turkey earlier that day. I wanted to be able to share how long each piece took in the oven to get juicy and moist. Now we’re here to share how to cook the drummettes and wingettes perfectly. (affiliate links present)
Brining turkey wings before cooking is a great way to ensure moist, flavorful meat But how long should you brine the wings for the best results? When it comes to brining time, there are several factors to consider. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk through everything you need to know about brining turkey wings, including how long they can stay in the brine
What is Brining and Why Brine Turkey Wings?
Brining is the process of soaking meat or poultry in a saltwater solution (known as a brine) before cooking. For turkey wings, brining offers two main benefits:
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It helps the meat retain moisture during cooking, keeping the wings juicy and tender. The salt in the brine allows the turkey to hold onto more moisture.
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It infuses the wings with flavor. The brine penetrates deep into the meat, seasoning it throughout. Any added herbs, spices, or aromatics also impart their flavors.
Turkey wings specifically benefit from brining since they can easily dry out during cooking due to their leanness. The brining process helps counteract this yielding wings that are juicier more seasoned, and less likely to turn out dry or bland.
How Long Can You Brine Turkey Wings?
When it comes to brining time, longer is not necessarily better. There is a sweet spot when brining turkey wings
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Minimum brining time: At least 12 hours of brining is recommended so the brine has enough time to fully penetrate the meat. Any less and you won’t get the full effects.
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Maximum brining time: Don’t brine for longer than 24 hours or the wings may become too salty. The meat can only absorb so much brine.
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Ideal brining time: For best flavor and moisture, brine turkey wings for 18-24 hours. This gives enough time for the brine to properly season the wings without making them overly salty.
Keep in mind that the larger the wings, the more brining time they may need since it takes longer for brine to diffuse into thicker cuts of meat.
Tips for Successful Turkey Wing Brining
Follow these tips for flawlessly brined turkey wings:
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Use a properly concentrated brine. The salt concentration impacts brining time. A good starting ratio is 1 cup salt to 1 gallon of water. Adjust to taste.
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Cool the brine before adding wings. Heat causes the turkey to absorb brine quicker, leading to over-salting. Cool brine to room temp before submerging wings.
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Brine in the fridge. To prevent bacterial growth, always brine wings in the refrigerator. Use a container big enough to fully submerge them.
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Rinse after brining. Rinsing removes excess surface salt for better flavor balance. Pat wings dry before cooking.
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Season additionally before cooking. The brine only penetrates so deep, so seasoning the exterior before cooking adds extra flavor.
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Account for carryover cooking. Brined meat retains moisture, so pulled from the oven a little underdone. The temperature will continue rising as it rests.
How to Make a Simple Brine for Turkey Wings
Here is an easy basic brine recipe perfect for turkey wings:
Ingredients:
- 1 gallon water
- 1 cup kosher salt
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon black peppercorns
- 2 bay leaves
- 4-6 lbs turkey wings
Instructions:
- Combine all ingredients except turkey wings in a pot. Heat over medium-high, stirring occasionally, until salt and sugar dissolve.
- Remove brine from heat and let cool completely. Transfer to a container large enough to hold wings.
- Add wings to cooled brine. Cover and refrigerate for 18-24 hours.
- Remove wings from brine. Rinse under cold water and pat dry. Cook as desired.
This simple brine delivers juicy, well-seasoned wings every time. Feel free to customize with your favorite herbs and spices too.
Brined Turkey Wing Cooking Methods
Brined turkey wings pair well with various cooking methods. Here are some of our favorites:
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Roasted – Roast in the oven at 350°F until browned and cooked through, basting with pan juices.
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Grilled – Get nice char marks by grilling over medium-high heat, turning occasionally.
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Air fried – Cook in an air fryer at 400°F for 25-35 minutes until browned and 165°F.
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Braised – Braise in sauce or stock until fall-off-the-bone tender.
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Fried – Fry in oil at 350°F until golden brown and cooked through.
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Smoked – Impart delicious smoky flavor by smoking for 1-2 hours at 225°F.
No matter how you cook them, brining is the secret to plump, seasoned turkey wings bursting with flavor. Now that you know exactly how long you can brine them, you’re on your way to finger-licking success!
How Long to Cook Turkey Wings in Oven
These actually don’t take much longer than if you were to cook it’s smaller counterpart. It’s going to take about 1 hour covered, then a few more minutes at the end to broil until crisp for about 3-4 minutes. This is what you’re going to need before getting started;
- Cook as many turkey wings as you’d like on your baking sheet without overlapping them, we had 4 on hand
- You’ll need some olive oil at the beginning and brush on later to get crispy turkey skin
- Ideally you will choose to use one of the below ways to season these, or just sprinkle with salt and pepper
- Our sweet and savory turkey dry rub is fabulous
- OR soak for a few hours to overnight in our simple turkey brine
Baked Frozen Turkey Wings
We shared with you how to bake frozen chicken wings before, it isn’t much different than that. The only difference is you will likely need to increase the timing by 5 minutes to reach the proper internal temperature of 165 degrees. Other than that you’ll be good to go!
How To Brine And Smoke Turkey Wings pt. 1
FAQ
Can turkey be brined too long?
How long can you brine wings?
How do I brine my turkey wings?
Can you brine a turkey for 72 hours?
How do you brine Turkey wings?
Add the vegetable stock and seasonings to a large saucepan. Bring the brine ingredients to a boil (make sure all the kosher salt has dissolved). Remove from the heat and let the brining mixture cool for 15 minutes. Add the ice to the brine mixture and pour into a container large enough to hold the turkey wings.
Do Turkey wings need to be brined?
Brined until plump and juicy, braised until meltingly tender, and covered in a rich gravy, these turkey wings have all the flavor of the holidays, and none of the dry boringness. A wet brine plumps up the wings and seasons them thoroughly throughout.
How long does it take to cook Turkey wings?
Cover baking dish tightly with aluminum foil, then bake, turning once halfway through so wings are top side up, until turkey wings are fork-tender, about 1 hours 15 minutes. Turn oven up to 375°F (190°C) and remove foil from baking dish.
How do you brine a Turkey?
Turkey roasts more quickly when it’s broken up into individual pieces. These turkey thighs, drumsticks, wings and breasts are brined in a salt solution prior to roasting to ensure a moist and flavourful meat. Yield: Serves 10. 16 cups water To prepare brine, combine water, salt, sugar, onions, lemons, peppercorns and bay leaves in a stockpot.