turkey brine question

**scrap_candles** · 11-17-2011, 06:40 PM

last year was the first year that I used a brine on my turkey. I plan on doing it again this year however it took a lot of room in thr fridge that I really needed and this year I have gotten rid of the extra fridge.

Here is my question, Can i put the turkey in the brine inside a food safe 5 gallon bucket with a lid and leave it safely on my porch overnight? The warmest it is supposed to get between now and thanksgiving is about 44. Will it hurt it? I dont want anyone to get food poisoning or anything but I really dont have any other place to put it

**brennasmom** · 11-17-2011, 07:08 PM

We are brining our turkey this year (1st time) and we are going to use a small cooler with ice.

**moasmom** · 11-17-2011, 07:13 PM

Like brennasmom said, using a cooler works well. You can even do inside a garbage bag in the cooler, if you don't feel you can get your cooler clean enough.

I have no idea about the safety leaving it on your porch over night.

Kara

**scrap_candles** · 11-17-2011, 07:37 PM

thanks. It was kind of about not being sure the cooler is clean enough. Think I will just use a cooler then. Or sit the bucket inside a cooler of ice

**MaryCarney** · 11-17-2011, 08:26 PM

I bought a round drink cooler (like they dump Gatorade onto football players with

) only smaller and ONLY use it for brine (got it cheap at a yard sale) One bag of ice will keep it cold for a couple of days. I wrote BRINE ONLY all over it with a marker so no one would fix lemonade in it.

**Contrary Housewife** · 11-17-2011, 08:54 PM

We've done that when it was cold enough with no issues. As long as you don' have prowling animals it should be fine.

**OOwl** · 11-17-2011, 10:25 PM

I did it last year in a five-gallon, food-grade bucket with lid, which I put in my sink, and then surrounded the bucket with ice, then laid a towel over the top. By morning, the ice was barely melted and the turkey was VERY cold. Brined turkey was the single best turkey I've ever made OR even HAD anywhere. Good luck with yours this year. I bet it will be fantastic!

**brennasmom** · 11-18-2011, 12:00 AM

Yes... I am going to put it in a bag with the brine and then set that in the cooler. Not sure about what kind of bag to use. Gotta figure that out soon!