290943 Thu Nov 21 17:57:45 -0800 2002 6 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 1581199 Has anyone had any experience brining a pre-basted turkey like a Butterball? I called the Butterball Turkey-Hotline and they said NOT to brine the turkey because it has already been "treated". I'm brining this year so I guess I'll have to find either a free range or organic turkey to cook. Thu Nov 21 17:57:45 -0800 2002 0 Scagnetti 1 1581204 A butterball brand turkey, for better or worse, has already been injected with a salt and flavoring solution. Brining it would probably make it inedible. Thu Nov 21 18:17:25 -0800 2002 1581199 0 JudiAU 2 1581239 I disagree . Nobody says your brine HAS to be real salty , in fact , I have better luck with a not too salty solution . If the bird is pumped up with salt and chemicals , immersing it in water would actually draw out some of the salt as chemical equilibrium is reached . Besides , a pretreated turkey isn't seasoned with spices , only salt solutions and god knows what else . Butterball just wants you to keep buying their " convienent " turkeys . All that said , your're probably better off with a fresh tom regardless . Thu Nov 21 21:39:22 -0800 2002 1581204 0 GoalieJeff 1 1581213 Just get one of the fresh turkeys (Never frozen, just chilled down to almost frozen which is less than 32 for turkey flesh) commonly available in supermarkets today. Thu Nov 21 19:12:54 -0800 2002 1581199 0 the rogue 1 1581224 I brined a Kosher turkey for Canadian Thanksgiving. It was great and not especially salty. Thu Nov 21 20:07:39 -0800 2002 1581199 0 Lindsay B. 1 1581249 Everything I have read suggests NOT brining a "treated" turkey like a Butterball. We usually get a cheap untreated turkey, frozen or not, whatever is available and cheap, brine it and enjoy it. IMO, a lot of the "fresh," "organic," etc is nonsense. Thu Nov 21 23:11:34 -0800 2002 1581199 0 Tom Hall 2 1581269 Interesting you should mention the hoopla about organic and fresh turkeys. Rick Rodgers, noted turkey guru, says some interesting stuff about organic and free range turkeys. Link: http://eat.epicurious.com/holiday/thanksgiving/index.ssf?/holiday/thanksgiving/turkey101/turkey101_types.html Fri Nov 22 09:36:26 -0800 2002 1581249 0 Scagnetti