I’ll never forget the Thanksgiving when the turkey didn’t finish in time for dinner. As a professional recipe developer, I knew how long to cook a turkey, but my experience must have made me flippant.

It's basically impossible to do if you're just trying to eyeball it. Nearly all of your guests will bring a bigger appetite than usual, piling their plates with turkey and half a dozen side dishes.

Our Thanksgiving motto is brine baby, brine! After experimenting from year to year with methods and recommendations for a satisfying bird, brining consistently delivers us a bird that cooks faster, is ...