When Thanksgiving arrives, turkey rules the kitchen. Therefore, to make your turkey burst with Thanksgiving flavors this year, try out this turkey injection recipe. It pairs wonderfully with spice rub.
The general rule is one ounce of injection liquid for every pound of turkey. There are many ways to make a turkey injection using different ingredients. However, the recipe that we are going to use will feature ingredients like chicken broth, unsalted butter, lemon juice, garlic powder, black and white pepper, and kosher salt.
One key point to keep in mind is that the injection mix must be absolutely smooth so that it comes out easily. Make sure the butter is melted properly, and the spices used for the recipe are finely ground. Moreover, if you brine your turkey, avoid adding salt to the turkey injection.
Wondering why is turkey injection used? Besides turning turkey into the most flavorful meal, it also helps to keep the turkey moist.
In the sections below, I will tell you how to make the turkey injection, how to use it to make a flavorful turkey dish, and how to bake your turkey. So, let’s get started and make the most delicious turkey ever.
What Equipment Will You Need To Make Turkey Injection?
- Saucepan – A saucepan will be required to make the turkey injection mix.
- Ladle – A ladle will help to mix the ingredients.
- Meat Injector – A meat injection will be required to inject the mix into the turkey.
How Much Time Will You Need To Make Turkey Injection?
| Preparation Time | Cook Time | Marination Time | Total Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Minutes | 2 Minutes | 3 Hours | 3 Hours 12 Minutes |
What Ingredients Will You Need To Make Turkey Injection?
- Chicken Broth – To make the turkey injection, we will need half cup of chicken broth that will lend delicious flavors and act as the base of the mix.
- Butter – Two tablespoons of unsalted butter will add a rich flavor to the turkey.
- Lemon Juice – One tablespoon of lemon juice will add a zesty flavor.
- Garlic Powder – Half teaspoon of garlic powder will add a garlicky note to the taste of the turkey.
- Ground Pepper – Half a teaspoon of finely ground black pepper and one-fourth teaspoon of finely ground white pepper will add some spice to the mix.
- Salt – Half teaspoon of kosher salt will balance the savory flavor.
- Turkey – We will need one turkey to inject this flavorful mix.
Steps To Make Turkey Injection
1. Prepare the Marinade
In a saucepan, add chicken broth, lemon juice, garlic powder, black pepper, and white pepper. Mix well until the butter is completely melted. Add salt and taste if more is needed. Remove the mixture from the heat and allow it to cool until just warm for about 5-10 minutes.
2. Fill The Meat Injector
Fill the marinade into a meat injection and slowly inject it into the turkey in various spots. Fill the bird until the fluid starts oozing out. Massage all the injection sites to distribute the mixture throughout the bird.
3. Marinate The Bird
Cover the turkey and let it rest in the fridge for several hours or overnight, if possible, before cooking. Turn on the oven to 325 F and roast the turkey for 15 to 20 minutes. Check for the doneness of the turkey using a meat thermometer in the thickest part of the meat. The temperature should read a minimum of 165 F. Let the turkey rest for 30 minutes before carving.
How Do You Properly Clean the Injector?
- Fill a pan or bowl with hot and soapy water.
- Insert the tip of the injector into the soapy water. Slowly pull back the plunger to fill the injector cylinder.
- Push the plunger down to eject the soapy water through the needle into the sink. Do this several times until it is thoroughly clean.
- Rinse with clear hot water.
Nutritional Information
How Will Turkey Injector Look and Taste Like?
The turkey injector marinade is a flavorful mix of chicken broth, butter, lemon, garlic, pepper, and salt that adds moisture and flavor to the whole meat. It also enhances the texture and taste of dark meat. This injection can be used for any kind of poultry.
Recipe Card
Turkey Injection Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon Unsalted Butter
- ½ cup Chicken Broth
- 1 tablespoon Lemon Juice
- ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ½ teaspoon Finely Ground Black Pepper
- ¼ teaspoon Finely Ground White Pepper
- ½ teaspoon Kosher Salt
Instructions
- In a saucepan, add chicken broth, lemon juice, garlic powder, black pepper, and white pepper. Mix well until the butter is completely melted.
- Add salt and taste if more is needed. Remove the mixture from the heat and allow to cool until just warm for about 5- 10 minutes.
- Fill the marinade into a meat injector and slowly inject it into the turkey in various spots. Fill the bird until the fluid starts oozing out. Massage all the injection sites to distribute the mixture throughout the bird.
- Cover the turkey and let it rest in the fridge for several hours or overnight, if possible, before cooking. Turn on the oven to 325 F and roast the turkey for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Check for the doneness of the turkey using a meat thermometer in the thickest part of the meat. The temperature should read a minimum of 165 F. Let the turkey rest for 30 minutes before carving.
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How much time does it take to prepare turkey injections?
You will take 12 minutes to make the turkey injection recipe.
What ingredients are used to make a turkey injection recipe?
To make a turkey injection, you will need chicken broth, salt, white and black ground pepper, garlic powder, lemon juice, and butter.
What should we do with the leftover turkey injection?
Leftover turkey injector marinade should be discarded. Once the injection has been put inside the bird, it is prone to transmit bacteria such as salmonella to the rest of the injection increases the risk of foodborne illness.
How long before cooking should you inject a turkey?
You can inject the turkey up to 36 hours in advance before cooking it. The turkey should sit for at least 12 hours after injecting flavor. This allows the flavors a chance to penetrate the turkey meat. Turkey should always be left to marinate in the refrigerator.
Conclusion
Turkey injection is used to make turkey more flavorful. It is an easy process that hardly takes you any time. Try out this recipe and let me know in the comments sections how did it work out for you.
