Best Brining Solution For Poultry And Meat Recipes

CLASSIC BRINE FOR POULTRY, SHELLFISH AND PORK

Steps:

• Bring water to a boil and add the salt and sugar and allow both to completely dissolve. If you are going to add herbs or seasonings add them now so the hot water will cause them to release their essence. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Place the meat (except for whole birds) into a one-gallon zip-lock bag. Add the cooled brine and press baggie to remove excess air and seal. Place in fridge for recommended time.
• Use 1 quart of brine solution per pound of food, not to exceed 2 gallons of brine. Brine for 1 hour per pound, but not for less than 30 minutes or for more than 8 hours.
• HOW LONG TO BRINE.
• The thickness of the muscle, the strength of the brine.
• and your own taste determine how long to brine an item. For a moderately strong brine (1 cup salt to 1 gallon water), the following brining times are rough guidelines. If you aren't ready to cook at the end of the brining time, remove the meat from the brine, but keep the meat refrigerated.
• Shrimp: 30 minutes.
• Whole chicken (4 pounds): 8 to 12 hours.
• Chicken parts: 1 1/2 hours.
• Cornish game hens: 2 hours.
• Turkey (12 to 14 pounds): 24 hours.
• Pork chops (1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inch thick): 1 to 2 days.
• Whole pork tenderloin: 12 hours.
• Whole pork loin: 4 hours.

BASIC ALL PURPOSE BRINE FOR MEATS, CHICKEN, AND TURKEY

Steps:

• Makes 1 quart- make up additional amounts of brine if needed until meat is submerged.
• Stir ingredients together in a saucepan and bring to a boil.
• Continue stirring until sugar is dissolved.
• Allow to cool.
• Place meat or poultry in a food safe plastic bag inside another container for support and leakage control (oven roasting bags are a fine choice- NOT garbage bags).
• Pour cooled brine into bag, and squeeze out as much air as possible and seal with a twistie tie.
• Refrigerate for 3-4 hours for 3 pounds meat (such as pork ribs), 5-6 hours for a nice roasting hen, or 12-24 hours for a turkey, 12 hours being for a small one and the longer time for those turkeys around 20+ pounds.
• Discard brine before using and pat meat dry.
• If using poultry, you may want to add citrus fruit such as oranges or lemons, additional fresh herbs, or cloves of garlic into the cavity.
• Prepare meat as desired- roast, bbq, etc.

ALL-PURPOSE MILD BRINE FOR POULTRY AND PORK

Steps:

• Mix cold water, salt and sugar and stir to dissolve.
• In a non-reactive container, immerse food in brine, seal and refrigerate.
• Use 1 quart of brine per pound of meat, not to exceed 2 gallons.
• Brine for 1 hour per pound (when brining multiple items, time is based on weight of a single item), but not less than 30 minutes or more than 8 hours.
• WILL NOT WORK IF MEAT IS FROZEN.

SIMPLE CHICKEN BRINE

Steps:

• Pour the warm water into a container that is twice the volume of the water. Pour in the salt, sugar, soy sauce, and olive oil. Stir until the sugar and salt have dissolved, then allow the brine to cool to room temperature.
• To use, place chicken in the brine, cover, and refrigerate two hours for skinless breasts, 4 hours for bone-in pieces, and 4 hours to overnight for whole chickens. Drain and pat the chicken dry before cooking. One gallon of brine is enough for 6 pounds of whole chicken or bone-in chicken pieces, and up to 10 pounds of skinless, boneless chicken breasts.

BRINING SOLUTION FOR POULTRY AND MEAT

Steps:

• Mix salt with water and stir to dissolve salt.
• Cut up Chicken, brine for 8-12 hours.
• Whole chicken for roasting, brine 8-24 hours (after 24 hours the chicken can become too salty).
• Whole turkey, brine 24-48 hours.
• Pork Chops or Pork Steaks, brine for 2 hours.
• Pork Loin, brine for 8 to 24 hour.
• Pork Butt or Shoulder, brine for 24 hours.
• Mix enough brine to cover the meat completely.
• To brine use plastic bag or non-reactive bowl or pot.
• Store in refrigerator for the specified time.