Brining chicken, turkey, and other poultry is a great way to add flavor and moisture to the meat before cooking it. This easy brine recipe can be used for brining a whole turkey breast, a whole chicken, or a whole turkey. In its simplest form, brine is a solution of salt in water. Generally, for brining chicken, turkey and other poultry, we add sugar and a few simple spices. When you add your poultry to the brine solution, the liquid should be icy. Room temperature brine can be a food safety hazard.