Brining

Neil · Jul 29, 2004

Do you fellas brine chicken for smoking or grilling or both? Planning on throwing a couple of birds on this weekend and I've never brined before. In the past I've always injected before smoking. Turned out pretty darn good but the skin was always rubbers and inedible. Maybe that's a good thing, helps keep the cholesterol intake down!

Bill-Chicago · Jul 29, 2004

I moved this from Woodpile Neil

You'll get better answers here.

There is also a thread on brining in the past day or two, either here or I think in the Competition thread under "Thighs" topic.

parrothead · Jul 29, 2004

If you are smoking always brine. Did I say always brine? Cause I meant to say always brine. Helps make that chicken moist and juicy.mmmm.

KOSHER salt in that brine.

racer_81 · Jul 29, 2004

Brine, definitely brine.

There's brine recipes running around here somewheres.

Brining also allows you to add in Special Flavorings to the chicken.

Check out the syrup thread for some ideas.

But don't forget to brine.

midnight · Jul 29, 2004

Sorry to disagree guys, but the only thing I ever brine is salmon. If you want a crisper skin just increase your temp a little.

No bird of mine will ever touch a brine, but I do inject my turkeys.

parrothead · Jul 29, 2004

Last time I cooked for a bunch of people was the first time I did not brine. I just didn't have the time. ( that or I was too drunk and forgot). Everybody liked it, but I could tell an absolute difference. It was way dryer than any other bird parts I had done.

Bill-Chicago · Jul 29, 2004

I have never brined either.

Inject all the time, never brined though.

jminion · Jul 29, 2004

I brine for a particular flavor but as far a moisture is concerned that is a function of pulling the meat off the cooker at the correct internal temp (brinning does give you a safety margin).

Bigmista · Jul 29, 2004

midnight said:
Sorry to disagree guys, but the only thing I ever brine is salmon. If you want a crisper skin just increase your temp a little.

No bird of mine will ever touch a brine, but I do inject my turkeys.

I brine chicken and especially my butts. Tried both. brined butts are better.

badger · Jul 29, 2004

Bigmista said:
I brine chicken and especially my butts. Tried both. brined butts are better.

Never hear anyone brine a Butt. I thought brining was more for Birds and fish? I guess you can brine anything if you want though.

Here kitty...kitty...kitty, you need a bath. :twisted:

mook · Jul 29, 2004

Brine, brine, brine!!!!!! At least for smoking.

I smoked 16 thighs on the same grate on a WSM at our last comp. 8 brined for an 2 hours in a simple kosher salt and brown sugar brine. 8 not brined at all. The brined pieces were definitely more moist and tasty. We did have some folks taste both without knowing the cooking condtions, and everyone agreed that the brined bird was hands down better.

Also skin was nice and crisp. Kicked the fire up 50 degrees for the last 10 minutes.

Bigmofo300lbs · Jul 29, 2004

I am a fan of brining all poutry if you are going to cook or smoke for a long period of time. Because of the leeway and the juiceness.

The brined pieces were definitely more moist and tasty. We did have some folks taste both without knowing the cooking condtions, and everyone agreed that the brined bird was hands down better.

I was there for this. Both were very good but the brined ones were better. This convo couldn't happen at a better time for me. I am doing a chicken this weekend and hearing everyones thoughts is great!

markbet · Jul 29, 2004

I am doing pulled pork this weekend that the receipe calls for brining, using cranberry & apple juice, with a select few seasonings added, then it marinates for several hours. Right before it goes on the cooker it gets injected with cranberry juice. It is from the receipe section off this site. I bet it will taste as good as it sounds. Anyone tried this receipe out yet?

jminion · Jul 29, 2004

Brinning a piece meat as big as butts takes a couple to three days to do the job, I would suggest on the marinade recipes to get everything as fine as possible and inject from the beginning, will be more effective. Several hours will not penetrate much.

midnight · Jul 29, 2004

jminion said:
I brine for a particular flavor but as far a moisture is concerned that is a function of pulling the meat off the cooker at the correct internal temp (brinning does give you a safety margin).

Thats the way I feel about brining. It can add flavor but IMHO won't add an more moisture to a piece of meat if the meat is cooked right to begin with.

Thats why I don't do beer can chickens anymore, my smoked chickens laying breast down in the dera come out just as juicy or juicyer (sp).
When I put a temp probe in the chickens and pull it out, juice will squirt 6 inches out of the hole like a mini garden hose. However if your brining to get a certain flavor....well then I could see doing that.

The real reason I stoped doing beer can chickens was that I couldn't get the darn chicken inside the beer can!!

Bigmista · Jul 29, 2004

markbet said:
I am doing pulled pork this weekend that the receipe calls for brining, using cranberry & apple juice, with a select few seasonings added, then it marinates for several hours. Right before it goes on the cooker it gets injected with cranberry juice. It is from the receipe section off this site. I bet it will taste as good as it sounds. Anyone tried this receipe out yet?

That sounds more like a marinade than a brine. Trying to picture the apple juice and cranberry juice with all of that salt. Don't know what kind of reaction that causes. Remember, rule of thumb for a brine is it should have enough salt to float an egg in it.

Mista

BBQchef33 · Jul 29, 2004

midnight said:
jminion said:

I brine for a particular flavor but as far a moisture is concerned that is a function of pulling the meat off the cooker at the correct internal temp (brinning does give you a safety margin).

Click to expand...

The real reason I stoped doing beer can chickens was that I couldn't get the darn chicken inside the beer can!!

midnight,

are you trying to push it thru the little hole in the top of the can or are you removing the entire top first?

:mrgreen:

markbet · Jul 29, 2004

Bigmista said:
markbet said:

I am doing pulled pork this weekend that the receipe calls for brining, using cranberry & apple juice, with a select few seasonings added, then it marinates for several hours. Right before it goes on the cooker it gets injected with cranberry juice. It is from the receipe section off this site. I bet it will taste as good as it sounds. Anyone tried this receipe out yet?

Click to expand...

That sounds more like a marinade than a brine. Trying to picture the apple juice and cranberry juice with all of that salt. Don't know what kind of reaction that causes. Remember, rule of thumb for a brine is it should have enough salt to float an egg in it.

Mista

I don't know BigMista, that is what the receipe calls for. Who ever posted it said that they received marriage proposals because it was so good. I will find out Saturday when I try it. The meat is already in the brine. I don't need any marriage proposals though. :wink:

Bigmista · Jul 29, 2004

Good Luckmark. I'm putting my butts in a brine tonight.

BigAl · Jul 29, 2004

No need to brine if you spin 'em, whole or cut up parts in a wire basket. IMNSHO.

Brining

Quintessential Chatty Farker

somebody shut me the fark up.

somebody shut me the fark up.

racer_81

Guest

Full Fledged Farker

somebody shut me the fark up.

somebody shut me the fark up.

jminion

Guest

somebody shut me the fark up.

Bash lurker

Full Fledged Farker

Full Fledged Farker

Full Fledged Farker

jminion

Guest

Full Fledged Farker

somebody shut me the fark up.

Grand Poobah and Site Admin

Full Fledged Farker

somebody shut me the fark up.

is One Chatty Farker

Similar threads