Should You Brine Your Thanksgiving Turkey?

Everyone knows the turkey is a Thanksgiving dinner staple. If you're hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year, you've no doubt already started to consider the steps you'll need to take to ensure that your turkey is juicy and flavorful. Brining the turkey (soaking it in a salt solution that can be flavored with sugar, herbs, and spices) can be an easy way to add flavor and moisture.

When you submerge a Thanksgiving turkey into brine, the salt solution begins to permeate the meat and break down its protein structure. Not only does this tenderize the meat, but it also allows more moisture to be absorbed back into the turkey as well. And, because the brine is flavored with sugar, herbs, and spices, it will help flavor the Thanksgiving turkey.

If you've never brined your Thanksgiving turkey before, or are looking for a new brine recipe to try this Thanksgiving, check out our best brined turkey recipes.

Kristie Collado is The Daily Meal's Cook Editor. Follow her on Twitter @KColladoCook.