Curing time with Pop's brine??? Updated with Q-View

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red dog

Smoking Fanatic
Original poster
Jul 24, 2011
702
38
Central Oregon
I have 4 boned out turkey breast fillets curing in Pop's brine. Each one is probably between 2-3 inches thick at the thickest part. Will a solid 48 hours be long enough for curing time? I would like to do the smoke tomorrow if possible. I will post Q-view.
 
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Red I can't really say that it would be enough for sure. I know the Turkey will cure twice as fast as red meat, so I will be watching this.
 
Just to clarify, I'm wanting a full cure resulting in a ham or bacon like effect. I do plan to smoke to fully cooked and slice for cold cuts.
 
Mine came out very "hammy". Everyone commented how good it tasted, it made me wonder if anyone actually likes turkey lol... My 2 bone in breasts were in the brine from Monday night until early Thursday morning.

If you're worried you won't get enough penetration in 48 hours, you could always inject some brine to work from the inside out too.
 
I didn't inject because the fillets just weren't very thick. they were actually pretty small breasts. In fact when I opened these up I kinda thought I got ripped off because they were basically whole birds without the legs, thighs, and wings. Ended up making stock out of the backs and breast bones. Turned out O.K. because we got six quarts of good stock, a nice pot of very meaty turkey noodle soup, and about 2 lbs of cooked boneless meat.
 
 
I didn't inject because the fillets just weren't very thick. they were actually pretty small breasts. In fact when I opened these up I kinda thought I got ripped off because they were basically whole birds without the legs, thighs, and wings. Ended up making stock out of the backs and breast bones. Turned out O.K. because we got six quarts of good stock, a nice pot of very meaty turkey noodle soup, and about 2 lbs of cooked boneless meat.
Winner!!!!
 
popcorn.gif
 
O.K., Took the breasts out of Pop,s brine, rinsed, and dried. I stuck with the basic brine but added. a tablespoon of garlic powder. Then rubbed with a pastrami type rub of cracked black pepper, ground coriander, paprika, ground mustard seed, and ground juniper berries.


In the smoker after about 30 minutes at 225. Smoke being generated by the MECS with Todd's pitmasters pellets. The MECS was putting out a little more smoke than I like so I shut it off and opened it's ash drawer about 3/8 inch. It continued to put out a nice TBS for another 2 1/2 hours until the pellets all burned.

I added a few more pellets and turned it back on and got it smoking again.


Lousy shot through the window. I will add another shot when I take them out


Pulled out of the smoker at 163 IT. Will tent with foil, then into the fridge for slicing in the morning. It smells incredible.

 
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The final sliced product. Great smokey flavor. This was my first use of Pop's brine and I am sold. I am looking forward to using this again and will be watching for some turkey legs to do.

 
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