the Hobie Outback front hatch bucket. 2nd use. hahahha

I'll probably get torched for this. 

my wife bought me the Outback Hobie front hatch bucket as a gift once.  the sweet sweet lady didnt know I store my battery up front leashed to the mast tube.  so basically we use the bucket to store laundry bags.  haha..

plus my outback is water tight like a frog butthole and I didnt want to introduce anything to distort that front hatch seal. 

soooooo...I needed a bucket to brine my holiday turkey...if I only had a bucket that fit my 11lb bird, and also fit in my refrigerator....hmmm..

my wife this morning: " what about that kayak bucket I bought for you and you never ever ever used???"

I aint proud...this is better than going to a restaurant supply place and buying a pro-vat I will use only a few times in my life. 

hahahha...quite literally SALT LIFE.  a brine!  get it.?

Merry Christmas people.  Happy holidays and I hope next year kick sass!! for all of us.

Ha, this is funny.  If it works, right?  Did you use a brine bag too? 

I discovered a 5 gal bucket fits in one of our ice chests, so my brine method is: bird and seasonings go in the brine bag, the bag goes into a bucket, and bucket goes into the ice chest.  Plenty of room for ice around the edges, good to go.  Easy clean up with the brine bag, just drain the juice into the garage sink and toss the bag with other aromatics. 

Ha, this is funny.  If it works, right?  Did you use a brine bag too? 

I discovered a 5 gal bucket fits in one of our ice chests, so my brine method is: bird and seasonings go in the brine bag, the bag goes into a bucket, and bucket goes into the ice chest.  Plenty of room for ice around the edges, good to go.  Easy clean up with the brine bag, just drain the juice into the garage sink and toss the bag with other aromatics.

no brine bag.  my ice chest game is weak.  nothing big enough.

I just did a dry run and the smaller bird actually fits in a stainless steel hotel pan I own.  I am kinda bummed!!  hahaha.. might still use the Hobie part since it will hold way more brine. 

Ha, this is funny.  If it works, right?  Did you use a brine bag too? 

I discovered a 5 gal bucket fits in one of our ice chests, so my brine method is: bird and seasonings go in the brine bag, the bag goes into a bucket, and bucket goes into the ice chest.  Plenty of room for ice around the edges, good to go.  Easy clean up with the brine bag, just drain the juice into the garage sink and toss the bag with other aromatics.

no brine bag.  my ice chest game is weak.  nothing big enough.

I just did a dry run and the smaller bird actually fits in a stainless steel hotel pan I own.  I am kinda bummed!!  hahaha.. might still use the Hobie part since it will hold way more brine.

Haha, I got lucky for sure, definitely didn't plan the ice chest bucket trick.  It's a basic Igloo cube with wheels.  Honestly, holds ice better than my Yeti too... 

I highly recommend a brine bag for three reasons:
1. A lot of plastics aren't food safe and can "flavor" your bird a little
2. Onions, garlic, and turkey fat will permeate into your bucket - that smell will never go away
3. The whole thing is a lot easier to manage and contain if it is in a bag - no sloshing/spilling/creating a giant mess just moving it around

Most grocery stores should have brine bags, my local Safeway does.  Very easy to use - I just put the bag in my bucket, put the bird in, then add liquid and aromatics.

ohhh...#2 is a good one.  didnt think about that!  great tip.  I'll follow your lead.  thanks.