How to Brine a Boneless Turkey Breast So It's Moist and Tender

Just like whole turkeys, boneless turkey breasts come in a variety of sizes, ranging from about 2 to 3 pounds to more than 20 pounds. No matter the size, one benefit of making a turkey breast is that it takes less time to cook than a whole turkey, and you can use the leftovers for recipes for days after.

You can brine turkey legs and really any part of the bird for more flavor, but it's especially useful to brine turkey breast meat, as this part of the bird can be challenging to cook.

A brine is a solution of water, salt and spices which is used to soak meats like boneless turkey breast before cooking. The brine imparts moisture and added flavor to the turkey meat, which is prone to drying out during cooking because it's so low in fat.

For best results, you should brine turkey breast for 12 to 24 hours before cooking it.

When you brine a boneless turkey breast, it helps the meat come out juicy and tender. The salt in the brine helps the liquid soak into the meat, which tenderizes it and adds moisture.

If you add other spices to your brine, the meat comes out even more flavorful. Using brine before cooking a boneless turkey breast allows you to get more creative with an otherwise bland cut of meat.

Line your container with a brining or oven-roasting bag. The brining bag keeps the water contained and helps to prevent it from leaking in the refrigerator, making for easy cleanup. The container should be large enough to submerge the turkey breast in water; try a large stockpot or bucket.

Pour 1 quart of water into a saucepan. Add ½ to ¾ cup of coarse salt. Salt is a key ingredient in brining, acting as both a tenderizer and a seasoning. Though salt normally draws moisture out of meat, as in a dry rub, when it's combined with water the opposite effect happens: The salt solution hydrates the turkey and helps it to retain its moisture.

Add any additional seasonings and spices to the water that you like. Common choices are bay leaves, onion, garlic, thyme, coriander seed and mustard seed. Heat the mixture to a simmer; cook until the salt has dissolved. Remove the seasonings from heat and allow the mixture to cool for 5 minutes.

Place the turkey breast into the brining bag. Pour the seasoning mixture over the turkey. Cover the turkey breast completely with additional cold water.

Tie the bag so that it is securely shut. Place the pot or bucket with the turkey into the refrigerator and allow the turkey to soak in the brine for 12 to 24 hours. 12 hours is long enough to brine turkey breast, but don't brine turkey breast for too long (over 24 hours), as it may affect the quality of the meat.

Remove the turkey from the refrigerator and brining bag 1 hour before roasting as desired. Do not rinse your turkey after taking it out of the brine. You do not need to baste a turkey breast that has been brined, as the salt soak is usually good enough to moisten the meat.