2-3 days before
1.Begin thawing the turkey in the refrigerator or in a cooler kept at 38 degrees F.
2.Combine the vegetable stock, salt, brown sugar, peppercorns, allspice berries, and candied ginger in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Stir occasionally to dissolve solids and bring to a boil. Then remove the brine from the heat, cool to room temperature, and refrigerate.
Early on the day or the night before you’d like to eat it
1.Combine the brine, water and ice in the 5-gallon bucket. Place the thawed turkey (with innards removed) breast side down in brine. If necessary, weigh down the bird to ensure it is fully immersed, cover, and refrigerate or set in cool area for 8 to 16 hours, turning the bird once half way through brining.
2.When you are ready to cook the bird, remove the it from brine and rinse inside and out with cold water. Discard the brine. Once thoroughly rinsed pat dry with paper towels
3.Combine the apple, onion, cinnamon stick, and 1 cup of water in a microwave safe dish and microwave on high for 5 minutes. Add steeped aromatics to the turkey’s cavity along with the rosemary and sage.
If you are going to use an oven, following the instructions below.
1.Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
2.Place the bird on roasting rack inside a half sheet pan.
3.Tuck the wings underneath the bird and coat the skin liberally with canola oil.
4.Roast the turkey on lowest level of the oven at 500 degrees F for 30 minutes. Insert a probe thermometer into thickest part of the breast and reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Set the thermometer alarm (if available) to 161 degrees F. A 14 to 16 pound bird should require a total of 2 to 2 1/2 hours of roasting. Let the turkey rest, loosely covered with foil or a large mixing bowl for 15 minutes before carving.
1 (14 to 16 pound) frozen young turkey
For the brine:
1 5 Gallon Bucket with lid
1 c. kosher salt
1/2 c. light brown sugar
1 gallon vegetable stock
1 T. black peppercorns
1 1/2 t. allspice berries
1 1/2 t. chopped candied ginger
1 gallon heavily iced water
For inside the bird:
1 red apple, sliced
1/2 onion, sliced
1 cinnamon stick
1 cup water
4 sprigs rosemary
6 leaves sage