# Can/should you cook a brine-soaked turkey breast in a crock pot?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-should-you-cook-a-brine-soaked-turkey-breast-in-a-crock-pot/381358>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [November 21, 2006, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-should-you-cook-a-brine-soaked-turkey-breast-in-a-crock-pot/381358 "2006-11-21T23:18:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-should-you-cook-a-brine-soaked-turkey-breast-in-a-crock-pot/381358/1 "2006-11-21T23:18:39Z")

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Last year we crocked a couple of game hens. This year we’re doing a bone-in turkey breast. I like to use the crock pot because it is so easy and it frees up the oven for cooking other things.

I’ve always wanted to try brining, and I’ve found a few delicious-seeming brined turkey breast recipes, but none of them include instructions or indications for anything other than roasting in the oven.

Are these two mutually exclusive practices?

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**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-should-you-cook-a-brine-soaked-turkey-breast-in-a-crock-pot/381358/2 "2006-11-21T23:21:34Z")

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The purpose of brining is to add moisture (and flavor) to roasted/grilled meat. But if you’re braising in a crock pot, there’s no need to brine as far as I can see.

I guess the only way to be sure is the Straight Dope Method. Try it and see.

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**Author:** ![ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-should-you-cook-a-brine-soaked-turkey-breast-in-a-crock-pot/381358/3 "2006-11-21T23:33:38Z")

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It’s the enhanced flavor that I’m hoping for, and I can’t imagine turkey that is “too moist”, as long as it is cooked all the way through.

I may just have to give it a whirl…

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**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-should-you-cook-a-brine-soaked-turkey-breast-in-a-crock-pot/381358/4 "2006-11-21T23:44:11Z")

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[QUOTE=ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies]  
It’s the enhanced flavor that I’m hoping for, and I can’t imagine turkey that is “too moist”, as long as it is cooked all the way through.

I may just have to give it a whirl…  
[/QUOTE]

Turkey is not a meat that really benefits from slow cooking, but you can give it a shot and see what happens. I would miss crispy turkey skin, though.