Chicken Brine Recipe
This chicken brine recipe adds flavor and moisture, making every bite tender and juicy. With simple ingredients like salt, sugar, and herbs, it enhances the chicken's natural taste while keeping it succulent during cooking. Ideal for grilling, roasting, or frying, this brine elevates your chicken dishes!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup kosher salt
- 1/2 cup sugar or brown sugar
- 4 cups water
- Optional: spices such as black peppercorns, garlic, bay leaves, or herbs like rosemary and thyme
Instructions
- Prepare the Brine: In a large pot, combine the salt, sugar, and water. Heat over medium until the salt and sugar fully dissolve.
- Cool the Brine: Remove from heat and let the brine cool to room temperature. You can speed this process by adding ice cubes.
- Brine the Chicken: Submerge your chicken in the cooled brine solution. Ensure it’s entirely covered. For whole chickens, brine for at least 4 to 12 hours in the refrigerator. For pieces, 1 to 3 hours is sufficient.
- Rinse and Dry: After brining, rinse the chicken under cold water to remove excess salt and pat dry. This helps achieve that crispy skin!
- Tip: Always remember to adjust the brining time based on the size and type of chicken.
Notes
Nutritional information includes the whole chicken, which is essential for understanding the dietary value it provides. Make sure the liquid is completely cooled before you add the chicken for food safety reasons. This step is crucial to prevent any potential bacterial growth that could occur if the chicken is added to hot liquid. You can add ice cubes to help speed the process along and ensure that the temperature drops quickly enough to make the brining safe.
I pour additional cool water over the chicken to make sure there is enough liquid to fully submerge the chicken completely. This ensures that every part of the chicken absorbs the brine, leading to a more flavorful and moist final dish. I brine my chickens in a pot, which is usually adequate for most sizes. However, if your chicken is larger than the biggest pot in your house, you can always use a brining bag as an alternative solution. A brining bag allows for a more flexible approach to brining large poultry, ensuring that it remains well-coated in the brine solution.