{"id":1906,"date":"2014-11-25T20:00:00","date_gmt":"2014-11-25T20:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.willclower.com\/blog\/2014\/11\/a-tasty-t-day-turkey-riddle-please-solve-this-for-me.html"},"modified":"2016-09-19T11:18:48","modified_gmt":"2016-09-19T15:18:48","slug":"a-tasty-t-day-turkey-riddle-please-solve-this-for-me","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?p=1906","title":{"rendered":"A Tasty T-Day Turkey Riddle. Please solve this for me."},"content":{"rendered":"

Brining your turkey violates a basic law of science. Help me out with this. <\/span>

<\/span>To explain what I mean, we’ll have to do the “Tasty T-Day Turkey Test”. But first, let’s establish what we know.<\/span>

<\/span>Fact #1, in “science-speak”: <\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. \n
    \n
    Osmosis<\/b> <\/span>is the spontaneous net movement of solvent molecules through a partially permeable membrane into a region of higher solute concentration, in the direction that tends to equalize the solute concentrations on the two sides.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
  2. A Science-to-English Translation:<\/u><\/li>\n
  3. <\/a>Osmosis<\/b> is an example of what happens when nature equalizes things out. Check out this classic picture on the left. <\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  4. The left-hand “U” is filled with salt water, and separated by a little membrane at the bottom. But the left side is saltier than its right side (the amount of salt is represented by the little red dots). <\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Osmosis makes the salt on the left side balance with the right side by going across the membrane in that direction (see how the dots equalize on the right side?). It also makes water on the right side travel to the left side by moving in THAT direction (see that there is more water on the left U?). <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  6. Because of this basic law of science, the “Final State” happens when the concentration of the salt water is the same on both sides.  <\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  7. Fact #2: Brining your turkey makes the most amazingly juicy turkey you’ve ever had! It’s amazing, but Fact #2 also seems to violate Fact #1!<\/span><\/li>\n
  8. \n
  9. So let’s just test whether this whole osmosis theory holds water. <\/span><\/li>\n
  10. In theory, like in the little tube-tutorial above, the concentration of salt is higher in the water than it is in the turkey meat (by a lot). Thus, the salt should leave the water bath and enter the turkey. <\/span>At the same time, the water should leave the turkey and enter the bath.  <\/span><\/li>\n
  11. IF that were true …<\/span><\/li>\n
  12. THEN …<\/span><\/li>\n
  13. you would end up with a turkey that is dryer and saltier.<\/span><\/li>\n
  14. However, what you get when you brine the bird is moister meat that isn’t salty at all! <\/span><\/li>\n
  15. I HAVE to share this with you. In a brilliant book called “What Einstein told his cook”, Dr. Robert Wolke explains brining like this. When talking about the mechanism of osmosis and diffusion during brining he states, “There, by a mechanism that still isn’t completely understood, it increases the protein’s ability to hold water. The result is a seasoned, moister piece of meat.<\/i>“<\/span><\/li>\n
  16. By a mechanism that still isn’t completely understood! That’s hilarious. In other words, it happens, but we have no idea why it happens. <\/span><\/li>\n
  17. I wonder if some of my brilliant science friends can help me out here. And, n<\/span>ow that we have destroyed your faith in science forever, be sure to brine your turkey this Thanksgiving, and share it with your wonderful family this holiday season!<\/span><\/li>\n
  18. Follow @willclower<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n


    <\/span>For more information: <\/span>     Click here to visit Will Clower’s website.<\/a>

    <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Brining your turkey violates a basic law of science. Help me out with this. To explain what I mean, we’ll have to do the “Tasty T-Day Turkey Test”. But first, let’s … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[494],"tags":[293,294,52],"class_list":["post-1906","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-articles","tag-cooking-method","tag-thanksgiving","tag-turkey"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7Qv5g-uK","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1907,"url":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?p=1907","url_meta":{"origin":1906,"position":0},"title":"Wild Turkey VS Supermarket Turkey: Who’s the better bird?","author":"Will Clower","date":"November 24, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Wonderful graphic from the World Science Festival.Follow @willclowerThey've made them gigantic, but at what cost? If you want to learn more about these amazing birds, here's a PDF by the USDA on our remaining wild turkeys.As with all game, the meat will be richer, less likely to have been treated\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?cat=494"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/mlcmmqmgggev.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.willclower.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/a-tale-of-two-turkeys_graphic.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2275,"url":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?p=2275","url_meta":{"origin":1906,"position":1},"title":"The 5 Biggest Thanksgiving Turkey Mistakes & How To Avoid Them","author":"Will Clower","date":"November 10, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Great article about the upcoming T-Day and Turkey!! I would like to add to this, that brining the turkey the day before is a great idea to pump up the flavor and to help keep it moist. Osmosis rules!!Read the Article at HuffingtonPost","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1904,"url":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?p=1904","url_meta":{"origin":1906,"position":2},"title":"Does T-Day Turkey Put You Into a Narcoleptic Coma?","author":"Will Clower","date":"November 25, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"I\u2019ve honestly had someone ask me whether they should be concerned.\u00a0\u201cI\u2019m going over to my parent\u2019s house for Thanksgiving. I\u2019ll have a lot of turkey, but then I have to drive home. Won\u2019t this make me go to sleep?\u00a0Should I just plan to stay there for the night?\u201d, as if\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?cat=494"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/mlcmmqmgggev.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.willclower.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Rowan2BNarcolepsy2BSleep2BRat2BRace.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":13355,"url":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?p=13355","url_meta":{"origin":1906,"position":3},"title":"Dont Gobble Like a Turkey ;)","author":"Will Clower","date":"November 20, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"When Thanksgiving arrives, we are faced with truckloads of turkey, these potatoes, those potatoes, cranberry sauce, stuffing with OH so much lovely gravy \u2026 and that\u2019s before those pies even happen! We know we need to eat less, but who is going to deprive themselves, really, at the T-day table?\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?cat=494"},"img":{"alt_text":"Pixar style thanksgiving table with a turkey at the head of it","src":"https:\/\/mlcmmqmgggev.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Untitled.jpeg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/mlcmmqmgggev.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Untitled.jpeg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/mlcmmqmgggev.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Untitled.jpeg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/mlcmmqmgggev.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Untitled.jpeg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/mlcmmqmgggev.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Untitled.jpeg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1975,"url":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?p=1975","url_meta":{"origin":1906,"position":4},"title":"Thanksgiving “Myth-conceptions”","author":"Will Clower","date":"November 20, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Okay, here's whopper number 1: \u00a0Turkey makes you tired.Here's the theory. Turkey has a lot of tryptophan. Tryptophan in your body can be converted to serotonin and then melatonin, both of which play roles in your sleep cycles.\u00a0But serotonin is also involved in positive emotions, but no one is calling\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?cat=494"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/mlcmmqmgggev.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.willclower.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/sleepy-turkey.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":373,"url":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?p=373","url_meta":{"origin":1906,"position":5},"title":"Brining the Turkey","author":"Will Clower","date":"November 19, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 To properly brine a turkey you need to start the night before you plan to cook. 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