Brining question??

Gato · January 2012

I want to try and brine a chicken that I am planning on spatchcocking. I have never brined anything before. My questions??

1. Will it make much difference in a spatchcocked chicken?
2. Any simple brine mixtures you recommend?

Thanks for any help.

Mike8it · January 2012

I can not comment on if brinning will make a difference on the spatch-cocked chicken or not but here is a very good basic brine that works well. I have used it with great success in the past for chicken and pork on my weber. Haven't brined anything for the egg just because everything is so moist without brinning. You can add garlic, spices whatever you like to this brine.

1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup kosher salt
1 quart water

Some people get the water hot to make mixing the ingredients easier, I do not. Just remember if you do get the solution hot you will need to cool it down to 40 degrees before putting the chicken in it

Gato · January 2012

Thanks mike8it. Think I will give it a try. Hopefully this weekend

rbm4017 · January 2012

I agree with the recipie listed above. You don't need to get the water hot to mix everything together, the Kosher Salt will easily disolve. I would recommend soaking the chicken in the brine solution at least 8hrs or so. Make sure the whole chicken is covered completely.

JerkChicken · January 2012

You must rinse off the brine before cooking or it will be too salty!

genwmull · January 2012

You must rinse off the brine before cooking or it will be too salty!

Thank you for adding that comment JerkChicken......saved me from a butt chewing from my wife. I wouldn't have washed it.

GrannyX4 · January 2012

Gato

Why don't you cook two chickens - brine one and just season the other and compare?

Gato · January 2012

Thanks x 2 for the rinse off tip. Might not have done that either.

Good idea grannyx4. Have you done the experiment already? Results?

GrannyX4 · January 2012

I just did it with pork loin roasts. Brined one with kosher salt, brown sugar, garlic, sage, and peppercorns. The other just rubbed with seasoning. We liked the brined one better.

I am planning on doing it with chicken just as soon as I can get the husband off his beef kick. It seems every meal he wants cow on his plate.

bghiii · January 2012

After you rinse do you add a rub or other seasoning(BGE,Dizzy Pig,etc)?

grannynanny · January 2012

Watch the length of time you brine and make sure that you read the package that your chicken came in. Most chickens now have already been enhanced with a solution that is salt based. I like to brine but for only about two hours or so. It really works well on thighs. I use less salt only 1/4 cup of regular table salt and 1/4 cup of plain white sugar and garlic for a different flavor. Make sure you rinse before smoking. Really like bacon wrapped boneless chicken thighs.

JerkChicken · January 2012

After you rinse do you add a rub or other seasoning(BGE,Dizzy Pig,etc)?

Yes, rinse off the brine, as it has already served it's purpose anyways. Dry the bird completely, then add your seasonings however you like.

Another tip is to run your finger up between the skin and flesh, careful not to tear the skin, and apply rub/seasonings under the skin as well. With some practice you will be able to apply seasoning under most of the breast, drums and thigh skin. A light coating of evoo on the outside will help crisp the skin. Others suggest a light brushing of corn starch. Briefly cooking breast side down towards the beginning or end of the cook will also help with crispier skin if you are cooking direct.

dunnharr · January 2012

My guide says to brine a whole chicken four hours to overnight. I did a whole pork loin and the recipe said from at least 12 to 24 hours. Definitely rinse well, pat dry, and season as you normally would, but with less salt.

Gato · January 2012

Quick update, and I didn't take pictures so I know this may not have happened. Brined a whole chicken in about a gallon of water with 1 cup kosher salt,1/2 cup sugar, a little garlic and celery. Just mixed it all together without heating it. Brined it about 5 hours, rinsed, patted dry, rubbed just a touch of oil on skin, and seasoned with lemon pepper. Spatchcocked cook on a raised direct setup took right at 48 minutes. It was great! Very moist. I have to believe the brining did make a difference. Thanks for the help and guidance...

GrannyX4 · January 2012

Gato,

Sounds good. I'm brining mine Monday. One will be brined and one will be rubbed for a side by side test to see if brining makes a difference. More later.......

Gato · January 2012

Can't wait to hear the results.

Austin Egghead · January 2012

Gato, pay attention to what grannynanny said and read the food labels before you brine. Both prepackaged chicken and pork tenderloins are already packed in a salt solution. Brining those will just make the meat mealy...and definitely not a good eat.

Gato · January 2012

Thanks Austin Egghead. I had forgot about that and meant to look on the packaging. It turned out great though, eating leftovers as we speak. Tastes just as good cold as it did last night, maybe better...

GrannyX4 · January 2012

I wet brined one chicken in water, sugar, kosher salt, and pink salt for 24 hours. Rinsed and air dried in fridge. Second chicken was dry salt brined with kosher salt, thyme, rosemary and bay leaves. Rinsed and back in fridge to air dry. I'm going to cook them direct, 400, raised grate. More later on the outcome......

GrannyX4 · January 2012

The result is both chickens were very moist however, we prefered the brined. It had a lot more flavor but was a little salty. I think it needed more than a rinse and might have needed a little soak. The brined chicken also looked like a Better Homes and Garden chicken - pretty good...

JerkChicken · January 2012

Thanks for sharing Granny. Any reason you added the pink salt? I would think that might be overkill

Gato · January 2012

Nice, thanks for sharing the info. Were the chickens packaged in a solution as you mentioned earlier?

GrannyX4 · January 2012

JC, it was in my new cookbook and I wanted to see what it was like. It needs a little soaking. The heavy salt taste was mostly close to the skin and closer to the bone was just right.

Cato, I don't think they had any solution. I checked the packaging but sometimes the old eyes fail me.

Gato · January 2012

Yes I forgot to check the packaging also, really wasn't even thinking about it. But I will say it was some of the best chicken thats come of my egg.

GrannyX4 · January 2012

Yep, they are good and I really like them but the husband is a cow and baked potato kinda man. So now I have lots of leftover chicken for the freezer for when I can't face another moo on the plate.

Gato · January 2012

Can't fault a man for that in my book!

Brining question??

Comments

Categories