Turkey Brining Bags

Brining a turkey is a great way to ensure a moist, fully seasoned bird, but where do you put a 5-gallon bucket when the refrigerator is already stuffed to the gills with holiday foods? A turkey brining bag seemed like a nice idea; it should be a lot easier to make room for a flexible container that isn't much bigger than the turkey. Unfortunately, the specially designated turkey brining bags we tried were fraught with problems—slippery, floppy, and tough to fill with turkey and brine.

We found a better option: Although designed for storing sweaters and pillows, Ziploc Big Bags XL ($5.79 for four) are foodsafe and, at 2 feet by 1.7 feet, they're the perfect size for turkey brining. In addition, the flat bottom keeps the bag steady during filling, and a handle provides a tighter grip on the slippery plastic.