# Turkey brining: Regular salt OK? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 21, 2012, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkey-brining-regular-salt-ok/641688 "2012-11-21T03:58:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkey-brining-regular-salt-ok/641688/1 "2012-11-21T03:58:18Z")
I want to brine my turkey breast, but I just discovered that I’m out of kosher salt. Can I use regular (iodized) salt instead? Do I need to make any adjustments? ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkey-brining-regular-salt-ok/641688/2 "2012-11-21T04:04:03Z")
Yes, you can use table salt, but you’ll need less by volume. Hang, on,let me find the conversion…okay, looks like half. Kosher salt is bigger and more irregular, so doesn’t sit as densely in the measuring cup/spoon. [http://www.smoking-meat.com/kosher-salt.html](http://www.smoking-meat.com/kosher-salt.html) ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkey-brining-regular-salt-ok/641688/3 "2012-11-21T04:06:09Z")
Yeah, all different salts work fine. I think most of the time people use Kosher because it’s cheaper. Just use less of it because it’s not as flaky, so if measure by volume, you get more salt per cup when using table salt. Or, what **WhyNot** said, when he posted 1/2 second before me. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkey-brining-regular-salt-ok/641688/4 "2012-11-21T04:08:50Z")
Yes, like the link says, 1 part fine grain salt = 2 parts Kosher salt. ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkey-brining-regular-salt-ok/641688/5 "2012-11-21T04:10:46Z")
The (Cooks Illustrated) guide I use says the following are equivalent (for a basic brine using 1 quart of water and 1/2 cup of sugar) 1/4 cup table salt 1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp Morton’s Kosher salt 1/2 cup Diamond Crystal Kosher salt ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Bird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Little\_Bird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Bird)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkey-brining-regular-salt-ok/641688/6 "2012-11-21T04:37:17Z")
I have always found the iodine in table salt bitter. I worry that using it in brining would lend an off flavor to the meat. ---
**Author:** ![D-bear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@D-bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D-bear)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkey-brining-regular-salt-ok/641688/7 "2012-11-21T09:02:53Z")
Measure your salt [by weight and not by volume.](http://bbq.about.com/od/spicesseasonings/a/aa102007a.htm) I would have never thought of this. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkey-brining-regular-salt-ok/641688/8 "2012-11-21T09:37:29Z")
Even better, measure your salt by percentages. A 2 - 2.5% brine is an equilibrium brine, meat can hang out in there for as long as you want without getting oversalted. A 5% brine is a strong brine and you should only put meat in there for a few hours. Measure the amount of water you put in the brining vessel, then multiply by the percentage to get the weight of salt. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkey-brining-regular-salt-ok/641688/9 "2012-11-21T16:16:01Z")
Thanks, everyone. I found some NON iodized table salt, so I’ll be using it. ---
**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, 2012, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkey-brining-regular-salt-ok/641688/10 "2012-11-21T16:23:05Z")
> [@D-bear](#): > > Measure your salt [by weight and not by volume.](http://bbq.about.com/od/spicesseasonings/a/aa102007a.htm) I would have never thought of this. Yeah, that’s the only way to be absolutely right. As noted above, different brands of kosher salt scale differently due to their size and way they pack. Honestly, I can’t tell the difference between non-iodized and iodized table salt, but there are those who apparently can. I usually use kosher salt to brine, but, if it’s not around, I’ve used regular salt to no apparent ill effect. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkey-brining-regular-salt-ok/641688/11 "2012-11-21T16:27:17Z")
> [@D-bear](#): > > Measure your salt [by weight and not by volume.](http://bbq.about.com/od/spicesseasonings/a/aa102007a.htm) I would have never thought of this. I don’t keep a scale in the kitchen. Maybe if I was a baker I would. But using 2 to 1 Kosher salt for table salt isn’t going to screw up a turkey brine even if it’s a little off. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkey-brining-regular-salt-ok/641688/12 "2012-11-21T16:27:42Z")
> [@Shalmanese](#): > > Measure the amount of water you put in the brining vessel, then multiply by the percentage to get the weight of salt. Please expand on this - are you measuring both the salt and water by weight? So for example how much salt in 1 gallon of water for a 2% brine? I had wanted to brine my turkey, but my wife bought a Butterball that already included up to 8% “solution” and I was worried about over-salting it, but it sounds like with an equilibrium brine I wouldn’t have to worry. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkey-brining-regular-salt-ok/641688/13 "2012-11-21T16:32:32Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > Please expand on this - are you measuring both the salt and water by weight? So for example how much salt in 1 gallon of water for a 2% brine? > > I had wanted to brine my turkey, but my wife bought a Butterball that already included up to 8% “solution” and I was worried about over-salting it, but it sounds like with an equilibrium brine I wouldn’t have to worry. You don’t have to measure the water by weight, you can derive it’s weight from the volume. One gallon of water weighs 8 pounds. But you would have to weigh the salt to get the proportions right. Well actually you could use volume for the salt. If you have a one pound container of salt, you could get pretty close to the right weight by measuring the volume of the whole thing and dividing it up by volume. But I’m just going to put 1 cup of Kosher salt in one gallon of water like I always do. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkey-brining-regular-salt-ok/641688/14 "2012-11-21T17:59:23Z")
I have a kitchen scale so weighing the salt is easy. So 1 gal of water = 8 lbs = 128 onces by weight. So I want about 3 oz of salt per gallon for equilibrium. Hmm, this just might work after all. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkey-brining-regular-salt-ok/641688/15 "2012-11-21T18:34:49Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > Please expand on this - are you measuring both the salt and water by weight? So for example how much salt in 1 gallon of water for a 2% brine? > > I had wanted to brine my turkey, but my wife bought a Butterball that already included up to 8% “solution” and I was worried about over-salting it, but it sounds like with an equilibrium brine I wouldn’t have to worry. [weight of 1 gallon of water \* 2%](http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=weight+of+1+gallon+of+water+*+2%25) Also, you don’t want to brine butterballs, they’re pre-brined. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkey-brining-regular-salt-ok/641688/16 "2012-11-21T18:47:22Z")
> [@Shalmanese](#): > > [weight of 1 gallon of water \* 2%](http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=weight+of+1+gallon+of+water+*+2%25) > > Also, you don’t want to brine butterballs, they’re pre-brined. This is why, if you want to cook the turkey, don’t trust your spouse to do the shopping. At least my math was right. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkey-brining-regular-salt-ok/641688/17 "2012-11-21T21:22:59Z")
I called up the Butterball hotline. You don’t want to brine the frozen birds or frozen parts, but it’s the cook’s choice as to whether or not to brine a fresh bird. I have a fresh, never-frozen breast. My husband is howling that he doesn’t WANT it brined…so I won’t brine it. This time. Next time I’ll brine it and not tell him about it until after it’s cooked and he’s eaten some. As for salt flavor differences, I can’t tell the difference between iodized and non-iodized salt, but I DO taste the difference between table salt and sea salt. Sea salt always tastes dirty to me. I can’t describe it any other way. I’ve taken to carrying a small camping spice shaker filled with regular table salt in my purse, because so many places now have only sea salt, and it always tastes nasty. ---
**Author:** ![Uther\_Penguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Uther\_Penguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uther_Penguin)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2012, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkey-brining-regular-salt-ok/641688/18 "2012-11-22T22:00:54Z")
I would like to try brining as well. Since finding kosher salt would be a real hassle hereabouts, it sounds great that I can use regular salt instead. But I always get something wrong when converting gallons and ounces: Can someone post the ratio of grams of regular salt to litres of water, please? Do I have to make brines of different strengths for different types of meat and poultry - stronger for beef or turkey, weaker for chicken? Or can I use the same recipe? ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2012, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkey-brining-regular-salt-ok/641688/19 "2012-11-22T22:32:34Z")
Assuming you’re not joking about the ratio question - 20 grams of salt per litre of water will give you a 2% brine. A litre of fresh water at 20 degrees C weighs a kilogram (almost by definition). ---
**Author:** ![Uther\_Penguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Uther\_Penguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uther_Penguin)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2012, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkey-brining-regular-salt-ok/641688/20 "2012-11-23T01:52:54Z")
Thank you, lisiate. Yeah, i should have seen the simple way to figure it out - but somehow my brain shuts down when these nonmetric measurements are involved. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkey-brining-regular-salt-ok/641688.md?page=2)