Brining A Turkey

[Tyrion44]

I have heard a lot of cooks advocating brining to keep your turkey moist so I decided to have a trial run today with a turkey crown in preparation for Christmas. I did everything it said in the recipe. The result was very moist meat but too salty to eat. So is it a cheffy fad or could I try just soaking it in water or stock overnight and leaving out the salt? Thanks.

[EDDIE51]

No need for that, just cook the turkey upside down! The breast at the bottom.
That way the juices run down into the breast and keep it moist .
Not sure it would work with a turkey crown though, it's the juice from the rest of the bird that bastes the breast meat.

[Tyrion44]

Thanks EDDIES. I will try it that way.

[Jackdaw33]

But how do you balance a bird upside down? Surely it will topple over.

[EDDIE51]

Link here
http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-roast-a-turkey-upside-down-237555
Jackdaw you can buy special roasting racks to cook an upside down turkey. Some recipes recommend cutting a ciabatta loaf in half lengthways and use the 2 halfs to support the turkey
I don't bother, you can just wedge it in the rack held by some balls of crunched up cooking foil. Even if you just put it in the oven upside down but 'lopsided' it does not matter. The beast may look a bit 'squashed' but once it is carved no one will be any the wiser except that the meat will be moist and tender.
I have been doing the turkey this way for around 10 years, since I worked in a 'carvery' kitchen for the whole Christmas period. The chefs did all the turkeys upside down all 2 tonnes of them!

[FrillyPancake]

Good tip. Although would the skin still go crispy doing it like that? I may try that on Christmas Day!!??

[EDDIE51]

No the skin does not go crispy but who eats the skin? Ours goes in the dogs bowl . If the skin has gone crispy then the breast meat under it has been overcooked!

[Mamyalynne]

I love crispy skin, butter under the skin and roast upright for last twenty minutes.

[EDDIE51]

^ Yes that would do it if you want to eat crispy skin.
Some upside down turkey recipes say to turn it 'right way up' for the 2nd half of the cooking time, but I do it all upside down.

[gollob]

Easy way is to put the turkey on a rack on a tray. Put water on the tray and if you like a few veggies at the bottom of the tray. As the turkey cooks the water at the bottom of the tray will keep the turkey moist throughout the cooing

[FrillyPancake]

I love the crispy skin too mamya, it's the best bit!!!