How do you inject a turkey without an injector?

Category: food and drink barbecues and grilling
4.7/5 (1,741 Views . 40 Votes)
How do you inject a turkey without a injector? It's a lot easier to use an injector, but you can inject a turkey without one. Simply take a fork and poke holes into the skin of your turkey. Then, place the turkey in a large food service bag and pour the marinade over it.



Keeping this in view, where do you inject a turkey with injectable marinade?

Place the uncooked turkey in a pan and load your favorite marinade into a hypodermic meat injector. Inject the marinade in multiple places on the turkey, especially through the breast, thighs, thick part of the wings, and legs. Do this by carefully lifting up the skin, rather than poking the needle through it.

One may also ask, when should you inject a turkey before frying? Traditionally, a fried turkey is injected with a marinade before it's cooked; how long before cooking is a subject of debate. You can inject the turkey anywhere from 24 hours to 5 minutes before frying. We had good results injecting two hours before frying.

Consequently, can you inject a turkey before baking it?

Remember to use injection marinades several hours before you start cooking. The earlier the meat is injected before baking, the better the flavor will be in the end. If you're choosing to brine the bird and then inject it, do not add salt to the injection mixture because you end up with too much.

Should I inject my turkey before smoking?

Advantages of injecting turkey: Injecting works faster than brining. You can inject the bird immediately before cooking. Fats like melted butter, duck fat, or olive oil can be delivered deep into the breast meat, increasing its succulence.

39 Related Question Answers Found

Should I inject turkey the night before?

Cover the turkey and refrigerate overnight to allow the injected liquid to impart its flavor throughout the layers of meat. Remove the turkey from the refrigerator and allow it to stand at room temperature for approximately 2 hours before cooking.

Can you inject brine into a turkey?

Injecting the brine into the meat leaves the skin dry, so it will crisp up and brown. Neater: No lugging around a huge pot of brine, contaminated by raw turkey juices. You only need two cups of brine, and after injecting, they are inside the turkey. No mess, no fuss.

How long do I bake a 15 lb turkey?

If your turkey weighs 15 to 16 pounds, roast it at:
  1. 425°F for 3 to 3 1/4 hours.
  2. 400°F for 3 1/4 to 3 1/2 hours.
  3. 350°F for 3 1/2 to 3 3/4 hours.
  4. 325°F for 3 3/4 to 4 hours.

Can I brine and inject turkey?

While injecting adds more flavor to meat than brining, it isn't quite as good at keeping the meat moist. You can inject a brine and let it sit overnight, but it's not quite as effective as soaking the meat. Injecting can also be more work.

How long should you brine a turkey for?


Keep the Turkey Cold and Let It Brine for 8 to 18 Hours
Pop the turkey into the fridge and let it brine for at least 8 hours (and up to 18 hours). Just don't leave the turkey in the brine for longer than recommended—over-brining can render the bird too salty and turn the texture spongy.

Which is better dry or wet brine turkey?

The turkey only picks up salt and water from the wet brine, which means any flavor impact from aromatics is minimal. A dry brine, however, imparts far more flavor directly into the meat because of the close contact between the spice mixture and turkey meat. The flavor is much richer and more intense.

How long do you deep fry a 20lb turkey?

Fry turkeys that are 10 to 13 pounds for 3 minutes per pound, and for turkeys from 14 to 20 pounds, cook for 3 1/2 minutes per pound. A 10-pound turkey will take about 30 minutes. A 20-pound turkey will require about 1 hour, 10 minutes. Cook until the internal temperature reaches between 180 and 190 degrees Fahrenheit.

Does injecting meat work?

The truth is that rubs, mops, marinating, brining, and sauces can deliver a lot of flavor to the surface of meat, but if you really want to get salt or flavor deep into meat, the solution is injecting (see my articles on marinating and brining and curing). The secret to injecting is to go easy.

What do you put in a turkey for flavor?

The secret to adding extra flavor to your Thanksgiving turkey is to season it liberally. To make sure that your favorite herbs permeate every bit of your bird, stuff a small bundle into the turkey cavity. Thyme, sage, parsley and a bit of rosemary are a great combination—but feel free to customize to your taste.

How long does it take to thaw a turkey?

According to the USDA, when thawing your turkey in the refrigerator, you'll need to allow 24 hours for every four to five pounds.

How long does it take for a turkey to thaw?
  1. 4 to 12 pounds: 1-3 days.
  2. 12 to 16 pounds: 3-4 days.
  3. 16 to 20 pounds: 4-5 days.
  4. 20 to 24 pounds: 5-6 days.

Do you brine a turkey before frying?

Deep-Fried Turkey. Place the hot water, kosher salt and brown sugar into a 5-gallon upright drink cooler and stir until the salt and sugar dissolve completely. Remove the turkey from the brine, rinse and pat dry. Allow to sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes prior to cooking.

Should I brine my turkey before frying?

Get the magazine
Cover and refrigerate for 8 to 16 hours, turning the bird once halfway through brining. Keep brine at or below 40 degrees F (4 degrees C) while marinating. Pat turkey dry before frying!

What temperature do you cook turkey at?

Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh. The thermometer should point towards the body, and should not touch the bone. What temperature to cook a turkey: Place the bird on a rack in a roasting pan, and into a preheated 350 degree F (175 degrees C) oven (or follow recipe instructions).

How long does it take to cook a turkey?


The general rule for cooking a turkey is 20 minutes per pound, but that can vary depending on whether or not your turkey recipe calls for a stuffed or unstuffed bird.

How do you Spatchcock a turkey?

How To Spatchcock A Turkey
  1. Begin with the breast side down. Cut along both sides of the backbone with the poultry shears.
  2. Cut along the breast bone in the centre. Flip the turkey over (breast side up) and begin to fold it apart.
  3. Pull the thighs out to help flatten the bird even more.

How do you prepare a turkey?

Here's How to Prep a Turkey for Thanksgiving
  1. Remove Turkey from the Fridge or Freezer. Take the turkey out of the fridge an hour before you plan on cooking it—it'll cook more evenly when it's not super-chilly.
  2. Clean it up.
  3. Season the turkey inside and out.
  4. Stuff it.
  5. Truss the bird.
  6. Now roast it!