brining in trash bag?

[sanglier]

OK, I'm down to the wire: the turkey is fully defrosted and needs to be cooked. I can't find any "specialty bags" designed just for brining a turkey. What do you guys think of using a Glad trash bag? Would it impart a nasty taste or be neutral? Anyone who's done it, good or bad, please let me know!

Thanks!

[LUV_TO_EAT]

If you know anyone who has a water cooler and buys those 15 litre bottles of water, they're good for brining turkey's, soaking smoked hams etc.. I cut the top off 1/4 or so and use the bottom for brining or anything else I need a large container for.

Very good way to recycle these giant water bottles.

[CCSPRINGS]

Do you have a really big pot like a lobster pot? I used a gallon size freezer bag and my turkey just squeezed in. A food grade 5 gallon bucket. Im sure if you had one you would not have written this post. Never did the trash bag thing but in a pinch, why not.

[jaykayen]

It should be fine, but.... why not dry brine turkey next time?

[c oliver]

Could you talk more about that please? I have a couple of really small turkeys in the freezer and the idea of dry brining (I'm picturing Zuni chicken) is appealing. TIA.

[jeanmarieok]

I've done it - we line our big cooler with a cheap dollar store trash bag. Not scented, or treated, just cheap plastic. It was fine. We didn't notice any odor in the bag to start with, and no odor or taste afterwards.

[c oliver]

I'm curious why you bothered with the bag rather than just the cooler.

[MikeG]

To make it easier to clean the cooler afterward?

[Indirect Heat]

"It was fine."

Haven't developed cancer. Yet.

[CanadaGirl]

I wouldn't; mine specifically state they are not for food.

[momskitchen]

What kind of cooler isn't safe to store food in? I would be hesitant to put anything in a cooler that isn't food safe, even if it was a can of beer.

[c oliver]

I think CanadaGirl was referring to garbage bags not coolers.

[CanadaGirl]

Yep! I was referring to the bag

[momskitchen]

I always brine mine in a cooler.

[Indirect Heat]

They smell kinda gnarly, I'm not sure you'd want that smell smothering your turkey... Plus, they're not really food-grade, therefore they don't have to be as careful in what compounds they put in them... I wouldn't do it.

[nothingswrong]

the FDA issued a statement last thanksgiving which i thought was funny... they warned not to brine or cook (duh!) your turkey in garbage bags because they are not food-grade and not considered safe to use.

[dave_c]

I've used oven roasting bags made by Reynolds. Also, a lot less expensive than brining bags.

Trash bags, I've read, aren't designed to handle foods so some of the chemicals used may leach out.

[alitria]

I'll second this completely. I always just use the oven bags. I'm not even sure I knew you could get special brining bags, I just grab the cooking ones from the Dollar Store. I've heard the same about trash bags and always avoided using them because mine always have a very chemical-y smell when I open them that I didn't want near food. Also, I know some have chemicals to prevent the growth of bacteria or limit odor which I'm sure isn't something you'd want to eat.