Brine Technique and Brine Recipes

Brining is an ancient method used to improve the flavor and texture of meat.

What is brining?

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Brining is like a vacation bath for your meat, it can come out more relaxed, juicier and tastier (okay, reading back to me that's really creepy as a description but I assume the description stays the same).

More seriously, the process of brining a meat consists of immersing the piece of meat in a salty, often sweet, and aromatic solution a few hours to a few days before cooking it.

Although brining is often associated with Thanksgiving turkey, it can also be used for other meats such as pork, chicken, and even fish.

Why brine your meat? The Benefits

There are several advantages to brining meat.

First of all, it adds flavor to the meat. The ingredients in the brine can be customized to create different and unique flavors.

Also, brine helps retain moisture in the meat during cooking, making the meat juicier and more tender.

Finally, the brine can help soften the fibers of the meat, making it easier to cut and chew.

How do you brine pork tenderloin, turkey or even smoked salmon?

It's a simple food preparation, and generally hassle-free. The only difficulty is to calculate the quantities according to the size of the container used to brine the meat, not always easy to do math in the kitchen!

To make a brine, you will need salt and water. Here are the steps to follow :

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1. Measure the amount of water you need based on the amount of food you want to brine. It is generally recommended to use an amount of water equal to the amount of food you want to brine.

2. Add salt to the water according to the concentration of brine you want to achieve. For standard brine, use about 60 to 80 grams of salt per liter of water. If you want a more concentrated brine, add more salt. If you want a less concentrated brine, use less salt.

3. Stir well to dissolve the salt completely in the water.

4. Add the food you want to brine to the brine.

5. Make sure the food is completely immersed in the brine to prevent the growth of bacteria and mold.

6. Place the container in a cool, dark place, such as a cellar or refrigerator, and let the food brine for the recommended time. The length of time you can brine will depend on the type of food you are using and the concentration of the brine.

7. Once the brining period is over, remove the food from the brine, rinse it with cold water to remove excess salt and dry it before eating.

Brine Recipes

Like dryrubs, which each have a "standard" recipe by type of region, brines have the same kind of rules but a little less rigid, with more room for interpretation. American barbecue uses a wide variety of brine types to add flavor and tenderness to the meat, and both the time and ingredients vary greatly from place to place.

Here are some examples of liquid and dry brines commonly used for American barbecue:

1. Basic Brine: This brine contains water, salt, sugar, garlic and herbs. It is often used for poultry, especially smoked turkey.

2. Pork Brine: This brine is similar to the basic brine, but often contains apple juice, orange juice or apple cider vinegar to help soften the pork. It is often used for pork ribs and shoulders.

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3. Dry brine: This brine simply contains salt and dry spices, such as paprika, black pepper and cumin. It is often used for red meats like beef and lamb.

4. Marinade: A marinade is an aromatic brine that often contains oil, vinegar or lemon juice in addition to water and spices. It is often used for meats that require quick cooking, such as steaks and burgers.

Kansas City Style BBQ Brine Recipe

Kansas City BBQ brine is a classic recipe used to add flavor and tenderness to grilled meats. Here is a recipe for Kansas City BBQ brine:

Ingredients:

• 2 quarts of water
• 1 cup sea salt
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup smoked paprika
• 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 10 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed

Instructions:

1. In a large saucepan, combine water, salt, brown sugar, ground black pepper, smoked paprika, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar and crushed garlic.

2. Heat the pan over medium heat and stir until the salt and sugar are completely dissolved.

   

   Photo by Gaelle Marcel on Unsplash

3. Allow the brine to cool completely to room temperature.

4. In a large glass or plastic container, place the meats you wish to brine. Pour the cold brine over the meats to cover them completely.

5. Cover the container and place it in the refrigerator. Let the meats marinate in the brine for at least 4 hours, or overnight for best results.

6. After the marinating period, remove the meats from the brine and rinse them thoroughly with cold water to remove excess salt.

7. You can now grill or smoke the meats in your preferred method, using Kansas City BBQ sauces to baste them while cooking.

This brine is perfect for ribs, pork shoulders, chicken breasts, whole chickens and other grilled meats to get authentic Kansas City BBQ flavor.

Texas Style BBQ Brine Recipe

Texas style BBQ brine is another popular recipe used for cooking grilled meats. Here is a recipe for Texas style BBQ brine:

Ingredients:

• 2 liters of water
• 1 cup sea salt
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup ground allspice
• 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
• 6 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed

Instructions:

1. In a large saucepan, combine water, salt, brown sugar, ground black pepper, ground allspice, Worcestershire sauce, distilled white vinegar and crushed garlic.

   

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2. Heat the pan over medium heat and stir until the salt and sugar are completely dissolved.

3. Allow the brine to cool completely to room temperature.

4. In a large glass or plastic container, place the meats you wish to brine. Pour the cold brine over the meats to cover them completely.

5. Cover the container and place it in the refrigerator. Let the meats marinate in the brine for at least 4 hours, or overnight for best results.

6. After the marinating period, remove the meats from the brine and rinse them thoroughly with cold water to remove excess salt.

7. You can now grill or smoke the meats in your preferred method, using Texas style BBQ sauces to baste them while cooking.

This brine is perfect for beef meats such as steaks, ribs and briskets. It gives meats a rich, spicy flavor that is characteristic of Texas style BBQ.

Memphis Style BBQ Brine Recipe

Memphis style BBQ brine is a classic recipe used to add flavor and tenderness to grilled meats. Here is a recipe for Memphis style BBQ brine:

Ingredients:

• 2 liters of water
• 1 cup sea salt
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup smoked paprika
• 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 6 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed

Instructions:

1. In a large saucepan, combine water, salt, brown sugar, smoked paprika, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard and crushed garlic.

2. Heat the pan over medium heat and stir until the salt and sugar are completely dissolved.

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3. Allow the brine to cool completely to room temperature.

4. In a large glass or plastic container, place the meats you wish to brine. Pour the cold brine over the meats to completely cover them.

5. Cover the container and place it in the refrigerator. Let the meats marinate in the brine for at least 4 hours, or overnight for best results.

6. After the marinating period, remove the meats from the brine and rinse them thoroughly with cold water to remove excess salt.

7. You can now grill or smoke the meats in your preferred method, using Memphis BBQ sauces to baste them while cooking.

This brine is perfect for ribs, pork shoulders, chicken breasts and other grilled meats for authentic Memphis BBQ flavor.

North Carolina Style BBQ Brine Recipe - Delicious for Pork Ribs

North Carolina style BBQ brine is a popular recipe for grilled pork in the area. Here is a recipe for North Carolina style BBQ brine:

Ingredients:

• 2 quarts of water
• 1 cup sea salt
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 cup mustard powder
• 6 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
• 2 tablespoons ground black pepper

Instructions:

1. In a large saucepan, combine water, salt, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard powder, crushed garlic and ground black pepper.

2. Heat the pan over medium heat and stir until the salt and sugar are completely dissolved.

   

   Photo by Monika Grabkowska on Unsplash

3. Allow the brine to cool completely to room temperature.

4. In a large glass or plastic container, place the meats you wish to brine. Pour the cold brine over the meats to cover them completely.

5. Cover the container and place it in the refrigerator. Let the meats marinate in the brine for at least 4 hours, or overnight for best results.

6. After the marinating period, remove the meats from the brine and rinse them thoroughly with cold water to remove excess salt.

7. You can now grill or smoke the meats in your preferred method, using North Carolina BBQ sauces to baste them while cooking.

This brine is ideal for pork shoulders and ribs to get authentic North Carolina BBQ flavor.

Conclusion: What is the best brine?

There are many other variations of brines used in American barbecue, depending on the ingredients and flavors you are looking for. You can add ingredients like bay leaves or cloves to add your own personal touch and create your own brine recipe to flavor your fish or meat.

The choice of brine will depend on the type of meat you are cooking and the flavour you want to achieve.

Don't hesitate to experiment and add exotic ingredients to your brines as well, why not try an Indian or Piri-Piri brine the next time you fire up your smoker? You'll be able to treat your guests with success, we guarantee it!

To learn more about bbq, check out these other smoker primer guides:

• BBQ Cooking Techniques in Quebec
• Cold Smoking Techniques in Quebec
• Hot Smoking Techniques in Quebec
• DryRub Technique and DryRub Recipes
• Types of wood for smoking
• Types of smokers
• Best vegetables for smoking
• Most Popular Smokehouses
• BBQ Sauce Styles
• How to start your smoker
• How to clean your smoker