How cold does brine need to stay?

[Huntnfreak]

I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to brine a few turkeys for a grad party.  Typically I brine them in a food safe 5 gallon bucket.  Normally I have set them outside over night when it is cold out.  Warm weather is here now and I don't think that is going to work.  I'm wondering if anybody has any ideas or just how cool I have to keep them?

[BuyLowSellHigh]

32-40 °F.  You can use a cooler (or coolers) and either mix your brine using ice as a partial replacement for some of the water -- use weight, 1 pt water = 1 lb ice -- or use ice packs or blocks (milk jugs of frozen water, ziplocks with ice cubes, etc).  I would not use the frozen gel packs - if one leaks it could contaminate your brine and render your turkey unfit for consumption.

[Huntnfreak]

Sounds like I'm going to have to invest in some more coolers!!  I have four turkeys to do.  Thanks.

[Habanero Smoker]

The closer you keep it to 40°F without going beyond that temperature is better. I like to brine at 38°F. If I am using a cooler I make the brine as directed and cool it down to 38°F before adding the meat or poultry, then I will place the blocks of ice or ice cubes in a sealable bag so it does not dilute the brine when it melts, and replace the ice as needed.

[Quarlow]

The boys got you covered with this. But hey why go buy coolers when you must have relatives with coolers. Just don't tell them you are going to float raw meat in them or they might not lend them to you. ;D ;D ;D

[VI_Smoker]

A question for the experts - could you not put the turkey and brine in a leak-proof bag and have that in the cooler with ice?  That way the relatives might not have a fit when they see a turkey bobbing in their cooler.

Any way you do it you are going to be busy preparing 4 turkeys  :)

[Quarlow]

 :D :D :D

[Habanero Smoker]

A question for the experts - could you not put the turkey and brine in a leak-proof bag and have that in the cooler with ice?  That way the relatives might not have a fit when they see a turkey bobbing in their cooler.

Any way you do it you are going to be busy preparing 4 turkeys  :)

You could but you should avoid regular garbage bags and use a food safe bag.

[BuyLowSellHigh]

There are large heavy duty zipper bags sold for brining turkeys.  That's what I use, but then I only do one at a time and stash it in my 2nd fridge for the duration.