Best 5 Simple Chicken Brine Recipes
Chicken brine is a flavorful solution that helps keep chicken moist and tender during cooking. It is commonly used for whole chickens, chicken breasts, chicken wings, and chicken thighs, but may be used with any other cut of chicken as well. Brining also helps to infuse the chicken with flavor from the brine ingredients, allowing it to stay moist and juicy throughout the cooking process. This article will provide you with a simple recipe for chicken brine, as well as tips on how to brine chicken properly.
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 a simple way to make sure your chicken recipes are always moist, juicy, and perfect. This easy brine recipe is only three basic ingredients!
Provided by April Woods
Categories Marinade
Time 5m
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- If water is cold, heat it for about 90 - 120 seconds in the microwave (you want it very warm, but not hot). You can also do this on the stove top if you prefer.
- Stir salt and brown sugar into water. Stir until salt and sugar are completely dissolved and liquid is translucent.
- Add chicken to a watertight bowl or bag. Pour brining liquid over chicken and seal bag or cover bowl tightly. Make sure brine covers chicken completely; prepare additional brine if necessary.
- Allow chicken to brine in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours and up to 24 hours. Pat chicken dry with a clean towel or cloth before cooking.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 178 kcal, ServingSize 1 serving
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:
- Choose the right chicken. Use a whole chicken, chicken breasts, or chicken thighs. Avoid using chicken that has been frozen and thawed.
- Make sure the brine is cold. The cold brine will help to keep the chicken moist and juicy.
- Use a variety of seasonings. Salt, pepper, garlic, and herbs are all great options. You can also add other spices, such as chili powder or paprika.
- Brine the chicken for at least 4 hours. The longer you brine the chicken, the more flavor it will absorb.
- Rinse the chicken before cooking. This will remove any excess salt from the brine.
- Cook the chicken according to your preferred method. You can bake, roast, fry, or grill the chicken.
Conclusion:
Brining chicken is a great way to add flavor and moisture to your chicken dishes. It's a simple process that can be done ahead of time, making it a great option for busy weeknights. So next time you're cooking chicken, try brining it first. You won't be disappointed!
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