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How do you brine?

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bhugg
bhugg Posts: 317
in EggHead Forum
I am a firm believer in brining my poultry before i smoke them.  I have a large bucket for turkey and a smaller plastic tupperware dish for a single chicken.  I am thinking of doing a couple of spatchcocked chickens this weekend, and I got to thinking what would i use to brine them.  The turkey bucket would be too big, and the tupperware is too small.  

My question for my fellow eggheads is this: What container do you use to brine your meat?
Large BGE Dallas, TX
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  • fadax
    fadax Posts: 32
    edited February 2014
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    www.thebriner.com
    Milano-ITALY
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  • LBC Dawg
    LBC Dawg Posts: 116
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    +1 on the briner. get the regular and the Jr. 
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  • bhugg
    bhugg Posts: 317
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    I am assuming the regular will hold a turkey, but will the JR hold more than one chicken?
    Large BGE Dallas, TX
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  • LBC Dawg
    LBC Dawg Posts: 116
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    yeah you can get probly 3 big chickens i'd say. 
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  • LBC Dawg
    LBC Dawg Posts: 116
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    maybe not 3 big ones. maybe 2. could get a few of the organic style birds in it. 
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  • billyray
    billyray Posts: 1,275
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    For one chicken I use a plastic 1 gallon pitcher, works well.
    Felton, Ca. 2-LBGE, 1-Small, PBC, PK360, Genesis Summit, Camp Chef Flattop, Smokefire 24, Traeger Pro Series 22 Pellet with a Smoke Daddy insert, Gateway 55 Gal. drum, SNS Kettle w/acc.
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  • bettysnephew
    bettysnephew Posts: 1,188
    edited February 2014
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    I have a package of large zip lock bags that work well.  Put them in a pan in the fridge in case of leaks.  If the bird had salmonella contamination it goes away when the bag is trashed.  No issues with cleaning container.
    A poor widows son.
    See der Rabbits, Iowa
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  • RRP
    RRP Posts: 25,888
    edited February 2014
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    Stay with me on this...when I brine a turkey or a turkey breast or multiple yard birds I use this large water cooler, but not the way you think. Instead I place the poultry in a food safe plastic bag, pour in my brine mixture, seal and then place in this cooler. Then I fill the cooler with cold water and ice if need be depending on the time of year. That way the meat and brine are suspended in the brine inside the bag(s) further suspended in the cold water. Then to make it easy to monitor the water temperature I tape the tip of a cable type thermometer inside the cooler, put the lid on and place the thermometer brains outside. This method has been working for me for years and saves having to make so much brine!
    image
    Re-gasketing America one yard at a time.
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  • tarheelmatt
    tarheelmatt Posts: 9,867
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    I use a cooler.
    ------------------------------
    Thomasville, NC
    My YouTube Channel - The Hungry Hussey
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  • yellowdogbbq
    yellowdogbbq Posts: 389
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    Just curious what solution everyone is using?  Do you ad spices or just straight salt and water?  How long?  I've never done it and going to try it soon.  Thanks for the help.
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  • laserdoc85
    laserdoc85 Posts: 577
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    Im using Oakridge game changer brine on about 40 wings as we speak. They are in a big ziplock.
    Then secret weapon rub goes on for an hour than onto the egg!!
    Jefferson .GA.  
    Been egging since 1985 on a medium egg
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  • Botch
    Botch Posts: 15,467
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    RRP said:
    Stay with me on this...when I brine a turkey or a turkey breast or multiple yard birds I use this large water cooler, but not the way you think. Instead I place the poultry in a food safe plastic bag, pour in my brine mixture, seal and then place in this cooler. Then I fill the cooler with cold water and ice if need be depending on the time of year. That way the meat and brine are suspended in the brine inside the bag(s) further suspended in the cold water. Then to make it easy to monitor the water temperature I tape the tip of a cable type thermometer inside the cooler, put the lid on and place the thermometer brains outside. This method has been working for me for years and saves having to make so much brine!  
     
    That makes a lot of sense, thanks!  
    _____________

    Remember when teachers used to say 'You won't have a calculator everywhere you go'?  Well, we showed them.


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  • laserdoc85
    laserdoc85 Posts: 577
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    I have to ask??  Why not just stick the bird in a zip lock bag(2.5 gallon ones) pour your brine in and stick it in the frig? Why use all that cooler mess
    Jefferson .GA.  
    Been egging since 1985 on a medium egg
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  • GrannyX4
    GrannyX4 Posts: 1,491
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    2 or 2.5 gal zip loc plastic bags is what I use. ;;)
    Every day is a bonus day and every meal is a banquet in Winter Springs, Fl !
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  • laserdoc85
    laserdoc85 Posts: 577
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    Me to,thats why I asked why the other.
    Jefferson .GA.  
    Been egging since 1985 on a medium egg
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  • RRP
    RRP Posts: 25,888
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    I guess you guys must be pimping me so please go back and reread my post. I said when brining a turkey or even a breast or multiple chickens then obviously I'm talking about potentially taking up a lot of space in the refrigerator. That's why the separate cooler comes into play. Besides I might already have the frig full with beef that I am aging or side dishes. I don't drag it out for a single yard bird and like you I just use a large ZipLoc for one bird. 
    Re-gasketing America one yard at a time.
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  • GrannyX4
    GrannyX4 Posts: 1,491
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    RRP said:
    I guess you guys must be pimping me so please go back and reread my post. I said when brining a turkey or even a breast or multiple chickens then obviously I'm talking about potentially taking up a lot of space in the refrigerator. That's why the separate cooler comes into play. Besides I might already have the frig full with beef that I am aging or side dishes. I don't drag it out for a single yard bird and like you I just use a large ZipLoc for one bird. 

    Not quit sure what you mean. OP asked what we eggheads use. ;;)
    Every day is a bonus day and every meal is a banquet in Winter Springs, Fl !
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  • Botch
    Botch Posts: 15,467
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    laserdoc85 said:
    I have to ask??  Why not just stick the bird in a zip lock bag(2.5 gallon ones) pour your brine in and stick it in the frig? Why use all that cooler mess
     
    Because you haven't snagged the ziplock bag on that damn chrome piece on the front of the frig shelf, creating a small leak that you don't notice that night.
     
    Yet.

    ;)
    _____________

    Remember when teachers used to say 'You won't have a calculator everywhere you go'?  Well, we showed them.


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