Best 6 Perfect Chicken Brine Recipes
Preparing a perfect chicken brine is an art form that combines flavors and textures to create a delectable dish. Brining chicken adds moisture, tenderness, and enhances the taste of the meat, making it a popular technique among culinary enthusiasts. Whether you prefer a classic brine or a more adventurous infusion, this article will guide you through the essential steps and provide you with tips to achieve the perfect chicken brine. From selecting the right ingredients to determining the optimal brining time, we'll explore the secrets of creating a flavorful and juicy chicken that will impress your taste buds.
Let's cook with our recipes!
SIMPLE CHICKEN BRINE
This simple chicken brine will help make the meat more tender and juicy.
Provided by Jay
Categories Side Dish Sauces and Condiments Recipes
Time 1h10m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 5
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.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 182.5 calories, Carbohydrate 24.7 g, Cholesterol 0 mg, Fat 9 g, Fiber 0.3 g, Protein 2 g, SaturatedFat 1.2 g, Sodium 13209.3 mg, Sugar 22.7 g
CHICKEN BRINE
Chicken Brine is the perfect way to add moisture and flavor to your roast chicken. Made with garlic, sage, peppercorn, apples, and onions.
Provided by Sabrina Snyder
Categories Dinner
Time 5h
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- In a very large stockpot add the water, kosher salt (do not use table salt), sugar, garlic, sage, basil, black peppercorns and bay leaves and bring to a boil on high heat.
- Stir well until sugar and salt have dissolved.
- Turn off heat and let cool naturally until water is at room temperature.
- Add chicken to the pot and cover.
- Refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours, up to 8 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
- Remove chicken from brine and rinse under a very slow stream of water (sanitize your sink after rinsing).
- Dry the chicken with paper towels inside and out and stuff the chicken cavity with apple and onion.
- Place into baking pan and cook for 15 minutes, then lower heat to 375 degrees and cook for 40-45 minutes or until the middle of the thigh reads 165 degrees on a probe thermometer.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 269 kcal, Carbohydrate 9 g, Protein 21 g, Fat 17 g, SaturatedFat 5 g, TransFat 1 g, Cholesterol 82 mg, Sodium 3229 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 6 g, ServingSize 1 serving
PERFECT ROAST CHICKEN
For the perfect roast chicken dinner every time, try this popular recipe from Ina Garten, Food Network's Barefoot Contessa.
Provided by Ina Garten
Categories main-dish
Time 2h10m
Yield 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
- Remove the chicken giblets. Rinse the chicken inside and out. Remove any excess fat and leftover pin feathers and pat the outside dry. Liberally salt and pepper the inside of the chicken. Stuff the cavity with the bunch of thyme, both halves of lemon, and all the garlic. Brush the outside of the chicken with the butter and sprinkle again with salt and pepper. Tie the legs together with kitchen string and tuck the wing tips under the body of the chicken. Place the onions, carrots, and fennel in a roasting pan. Toss with salt, pepper, 20 sprigs of thyme, and olive oil. Spread around the bottom of the roasting pan and place the chicken on top.
- Roast the chicken for 1 1/2 hours, or until the juices run clear when you cut between a leg and thigh. Remove the chicken and vegetables to a platter and cover with aluminum foil for about 20 minutes. Slice the chicken onto a platter and serve it with the vegetables.
PERFECT CHICKEN BRINE
Brining chicken adds tons of flavor and keeps the meat moist. Several years of experimenting with ingredients and method and I finally found the right combination for my perfect chicken brine.
Provided by Kate Leifker
Categories Side Dish Sauces and Condiments Recipes
Time 2h30m
Yield 20
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Mix water, kosher salt, white sugar, garlic, sage, basil, peppercorns, and bay leaf in a large pot over medium-high heat; bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the salt and sugar are dissolved completely, about 20 minutes.
- Remove pot from heat and cover with a lid. Cool brine at room temperature for 2 hours before refrigerating to cool completely.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 37.8 calories, Carbohydrate 9.2 g, Fat 0.1 g, Fiber 0.6 g, Protein 0.6 g, Sodium 3422.9 mg, Sugar 6.7 g
BASIC BRINE FOR JUICY, TENDER CHICKEN OR TURKEY
I never make any sort of chicken/turkey without brining it first. Once you try this recipe, you won't either. This is my standard brine that I use most often. This allows me to add any flavoring, dry rub, or sauce to my chicken without competing with the brine flavors. The brining process forces water into the muscle tissues of the meat by a process known as diffusion and osmosis. This additional moisture causes the muscle tissues to swell and hold more water. The resulting water in the muscle tissues will make the meat more moist and tender. Any spices herbs or other flavorings you add to the brine solution will get taken deep into the meat with the water.
Provided by Brandess
Categories Chicken Breast
Time 5m
Yield 1 gallon
Number Of Ingredients 3
Steps:
- Mix brine together well with a whisk.
- Place 1 whole chicken (thawed or frozen- you may also use chicken parts.) in brine for 2 hours up to over night. Cover and store in the refrigerator.
- Remove chicken from brine and rinse chicken well. You are now ready to make a tender juicy chicken dish of your choosing.
- NOTES: You can do this with turkey, as well. Also, you will notice that your leftovers, even after refrigerated overnight, are so tender and juicy whether eaten cold or reheated. The moisture retention really helps to make a chicken meal morph into a second meal when it holds its moisture. If doing a whole turkey, use the recipe servings changer to up the servings to 6-10. Put your turkey in an insulated cooler with enough water to cover and add in a 5 pound bag of ice. Brine overnight.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 557.6, Sodium 56741.4, Carbohydrate 143.9, Sugar 142.4, Protein 0.2
QUICK & EASY CHICKEN BRINE
This comes from an episode of "Cooking for Real" with Sunny Anderson. The brining portion is all that is listed here; however, if you are interested in the chicken recipe in it's entirety, it's called "Grilled Chicken with White Wine Mushroom Sauce". I needed a brine for a smaller amount of poultry.
Provided by SugaJ
Categories Very Low Carbs
Time 45m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- In a large bowl mix together water, lemon juice, sugar and salt until dissolved.
- Add lemon quarters and chicken.
- Marinate for 30 minutes.
- Remove from marinade and pat dry.
- Chicken is now ready to be used in your favorite recipe.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 345.1, Fat 15.8, SaturatedFat 4.5, Cholesterol 108.9, Sodium 28408, Carbohydrate 13.8, Fiber 0.4, Sugar 12.8, Protein 35.6
Tips for Perfect Chicken Brine:
- Choose the right chicken: Use a whole chicken, chicken breasts, or chicken thighs. Avoid using frozen chicken, as it will not absorb the brine as well.
- Make a flavorful brine: Use a combination of water, salt, sugar, and herbs and spices. The salt and sugar will help to season the chicken, while the herbs and spices will add flavor.
- Brine the chicken for at least 4 hours, or up to 24 hours: The longer you brine the chicken, the more flavor it will absorb. However, do not brine the chicken for more than 24 hours, as it can become too salty.
- Rinse the chicken before cooking: This will remove any excess salt from the surface of the chicken.
- Cook the chicken according to your preferred method: You can bake, grill, fry, or roast the chicken. Make sure to cook the chicken to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Conclusion:
Brining chicken is a simple technique that can result in incredibly flavorful and juicy chicken. By following these tips, you can create a perfect chicken brine that will take your chicken dishes to the next level.
Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »
You'll also love