ICYMI: Utah Officials Issue Warning Against Brining Thanksgiving Turkeys in Salt Lake
A Utah family’s Thanksgiving turkey goes from the dinner table to the beach after a brining mishap in the Great Salt Lake. š #News #SaltLakeCityUT #Utah #Thanksgiving
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – Thanksgiving is a time for family, food, and a good turkey. But for one Utah family, this yearās holiday took an unexpected turn when their Thanksgiving turkey ended up as an unlikely shore visitor in the Great Salt Lake. Officials are now warning others to skip the unconventional turkey brining method that led to the fowl mishap.
The Great Turkey Brine Failure
The family had a creative ideaābrining their turkey in the Great Salt Lake. However, their plan quickly went awry when the bird was swept away by powerful waves. The turkey ended up on Silver Sands Beach, leaving the family turkey-less for their Thanksgiving feast.
The Great Salt Lake Park and Marina shared the cautionary tale on Facebook, posting a photo of the damaged turkey and advising against the idea. “It’s the time of year again! Just your annual reminder not to use Great Salt Lake to brine your turkey,” the post read. “Not only is the salinity too high for a proper brine, the waves can be very strong and there’s a good chance you could lose the entire turkey as this person did.”
Why the Great Salt Lake Isnāt the Right Brining Solution
Brining involves soaking meat or fish in saltwater to break down proteins, making it more tender and moist when cooked. A standard brining solution calls for 3ā6% salinity. This can typically be achieved with about two cups of kosher salt per gallon of water.
However, the Great Salt Lakeās salinity is much higher. According to Utah State Parks, salinity levels can range from 5% to 27%, depending on the lake’s water levels. In contrast, the ocean has an average salinity of just 3.5%. These extreme salinity levels make the Great Salt Lake an ineffective, and potentially disastrous, place to brine a turkey.
Official Warnings About Using the Great Salt Lake
Officials have repeatedly cautioned against using the Great Salt Lake for brining or other culinary experiments. The Great Salt Lake Park and Marina highlighted that the lake’s waves are strong enough to carry away even a turkey, and the salinity makes it unsuitable for the intended purpose.
“You could easily lose your bird in the waves, and the high salinity simply doesnāt work for brining,” they added in their Facebook post. This advice is backed up by experts at Utah State Parks, who explain that the lake’s fluctuating salinity makes it unpredictable and dangerous for such an endeavor.
Enjoy Your Thanksgiving Feast!
So, as you prepare your Thanksgiving feast, take note: the Great Salt Lake may be a beautiful sight, but itās not the place for brining your turkey. Stick to more conventional methods to ensure your holiday meal stays intact. After all, you want to end up with a perfectly brined bird on your table, not washed up on a beach. Happy Thanksgiving!
RELATED TOPICS: Food | Thanksgiving | Utah
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