How to Brine a Turkey in a Cooler (And Free Up Your Fridge)
Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and for hosts everywhere, that means one thing: the annual battle for refrigerator space. Between the side dishes, pies, and ingredients, the fridge is prime real estate. So where are you supposed to fit a giant turkey submerged in a massive pot of brine for 12-24 hours?
We’re going to let you in on the ultimate holiday hosting secret: you can brine a turkey in a cooler.
Your Cubix cooler is the perfect tool for the job. It's insulated, food-safe, and large enough for the biggest bird, allowing you to complete this crucial step while keeping your refrigerator completely free for everything else. Here’s how to do it.
Why Brine a Turkey?
Brining is the key to a juicy, flavorful, and forgiving turkey. The salt solution not only seasons the meat deep down but, more importantly, it helps the bird retain moisture during the long cooking process. It’s the single best way to guarantee you won't serve a dry turkey.
What You'll Need
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A large Cubix cooler (our 46-Quart Wheeled Cooler is perfect for this)
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Your turkey (12-20 lbs), fully thawed
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Your brine (a basic recipe is below)
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A brining bag or large, unscented, food-safe trash bag
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Ice
Step-by-Step: How to Brine Your Turkey in a Cooler
Step 1: Deep Clean Your Cooler
This is the most important step. Even if your cooler looks clean, you must sanitize it. Our coolers are built with high-quality, food-safe materials designed for easy cleaning and durability. It's a piece of gear that's built to last, which is why we back it with a lifetime warranty.
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Wash the entire interior with hot, soapy water (dish soap is fine).
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Rinse thoroughly.
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Sanitize with a mild bleach solution (1 tablespoon of unscented bleach per gallon of water) or a food-safe sanitizer.
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Rinse again and dry completely.
Step 2: Prepare Your Brine
You can use a pre-made brine mix or a simple homemade one.
Basic Turkey Brine Recipe:
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1 gallon of water
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1 cup of kosher salt
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1/2 cup of brown sugar
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Optional: 1 tbsp black peppercorns, 3-4 bay leaves, a few sprigs of thyme and rosemary.
Bring 1 quart of the water to a boil and dissolve the salt and sugar. Add your herbs. Let it cool, then add the remaining 3 quarts of cold water. Crucially, your brine must be completely cold before you add the turkey.
Step 3: Bag the Bird
Place the (fully thawed, unwrapped) turkey into your brining bag. We strongly recommend using a bag for two reasons: it ensures the turkey stays fully submerged in the brine, and it makes cleanup an absolute breeze.
Place the bag inside your clean, empty cooler before pouring in the liquid.
Step 4: Add Brine and Ice
Place the bagged turkey in the cooler. Pour your cold brine over the bird, inside the bag. Add enough extra cold water to ensure the bird is fully submerged.
Now, pack bags of ice around the outside of your brining bag. The ice will keep the liquid in the bag at a consistent, food-safe temperature (below 40°F / 4°C). The cooler's insulation will do the rest, holding that temperature for the 12-24 hours it takes to brine.
Step 5: Brine, Rinse, and Cook
Let the turkey brine in the cooler for the recommended time (typically 1 hour per pound). When it's done, lift the entire bag out of the cooler. Rinse the turkey thoroughly inside and out under cold water, pat it dry, and proceed with your favorite roasting recipe.
Your cooler can now be quickly washed out, and your fridge is still perfectly organized for the big day.
It's just one more way to use your gear all year long. A Cubix cooler isn't just for camping - it's a tool for a lifetime of better experiences, from the trail to the Thanksgiving table.
From all of us at Cubix, we wish you a happy and delicious Thanksgiving!
Ready to invest in a cooler that's backed for life? Explore our 46-Quart Wheeled Cooler.