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Basic Brine for Smoking Meat

Basic Brine for Smoking Meat

Name: Basic Brine for Smoking Meat
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 1 quart
Ingredients: ¼ cup kosher salt; ¼ cup packed brown sugar; 4 cups water

Rating: 4.67 stars

76 Ratings
58 Reviews
5 Photos

This is a very basic brine recipe for preparing meats and fish for smoking. Add any personal taste preferences to the brine for additional flavor enhancement. I like to add white wine, soy sauce, and various herbs and spices. Anything that you like will work, so experiment at will.

By Smokin' Ron

Gallery

Recipe Summary

prep:

10 mins

total:

10 mins

Servings:

Yield:

1 quart

Nutrition Info

Ingredients

Original recipe yields 8 servings

The ingredient list now reflects the servings specified

¼ cup kosher salt
¼ cup packed brown sugar
4 cups water

Directions

Step 1

In a medium bowl, combine the salt, sugar and water. Whisk vigorously until all the salt and sugar is dissolved. Then pour this mixture over the meat, poultry, or fish that you are preparing. Soak for several hours, or overnight. (Note: Make certain the meat is fully submerged in the brine, and make more brine as needed to fully cover the meat.)

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Nutrition Facts

Per Serving:

26 calories; protein 0g; carbohydrates 6.7g; fat 0g; cholesterol 0mg; sodium 2852.1mg. Full Nutrition

Reviews (58)

Most helpful positive review

BIG MIKE

02/25/2004

I've been using the basic recipe for over a year now. I make a 2-3 or 4 gallon batch and use a tote bin I got from Wal-Mart. When I smoke I smoke between 4-10 turkeys and various other meats. If you get the turkies split-they brine better, they stack better to utilize the space in the brine and the smoke permeates the birds better. I've added apple juice,hot red pepper,onion soup mix,fresh onion and peppers from the garden,and seasonings like worcestershire sauce,soy,teriacki and jamican jerk to spice up the brine. I like to "pickle" my meats 2-3 days about 38-40 degrees.I also like to inject some of the brine into them. Just lay em on the racks for 8-12 hours depending how hot your smoker is, and your good to go. Slow and low-the best way to go. Share your ideas and recipes here. Keep Smokin Ron! Read More

Helpful

(277)

Most helpful critical review

kelcampbell

Allstar

02/14/2007

This was a very quick and easy brine to make. I doubled the recipe and used it for a bone-in turkey breast. I brined it for about 32 hours and the end result was a very salty turkey breast. So I will most definitely try this brine again but I will try brining for 12 hours only. Read More

Helpful

(14)

76 Ratings

5 star values: 59
4 star values: 12
3 star values: 3
2 star values: 1
1 star values: 1

Reviews: Most Helpful

Most Helpful Most Positive Least Positive Newest

BIG MIKE

02/25/2004

Helpful

(277)

Tom

01/25/2004

My dad uses this recipe for smoking ribs Read More

Helpful

(127)

Keith Jefferies

01/25/2004

It did its job! I added rosemary and cajun spices to it and the turkey (applewood-smoked free-range) was phenomenal. Use the recipe on this site that includes cola. It was the best. This brine was very easy to prepare. Although I had to prepare the equivalent of 45 servings to cover a 12 lb turkey. And it was still difficult to cover. But I used an oven bag which added in the process. Read More

Helpful

(115)

bratdowney

08/19/2005

This was a pretty good brine - it made for a very succulent smoked pulled pork. Read More

Helpful

(48)

ShirleyC.Vanderau

03/19/2006

Brining your meat is the best way to go. That is the only way you can achieve maximum moisture to the meats. For poultry i like to use citrus fruits in there with garlic sherry wine and soy sauce. Instead of sugar as sweetner try molasses. Wonderfully succulent!!!! It's nice to know that someone else knows how to smoke their meat. S.Vanderau Read More

Helpful

(44)

HOKSHU

01/25/2004

I have added liquid smoke to my Brine. It seems to enhance the flavor of the hickory smoke. Great recipe. Thanks John Read More

Helpful

(33)

Kelie B.

01/20/2006

Wonderful way to brine. I tried several recipes over the holidays and my husband loved this recipe. He said the turkey was extremely juicy. Will be cooking with this one again! Thanks! Read More

Helpful

(29)

JAMES NEILL

02/04/2004

it is real good on turkey add bourbon or apple juice bay leaves or any other spice you like Read More

Helpful

(27)

SONYABOW

06/17/2006

Awesome especially when used on salmon and cooked on a plank Read More

Helpful

(26)

kelcampbell

Allstar

02/14/2007

Helpful

(14)

More Reviews

Reviews for: Photos of Basic Brine for Smoking Meat

1 of 58

All Reviews

My dad uses this recipe for smoking ribs

This was a pretty good brine - it made for a very succulent smoked pulled pork.

I have added liquid smoke to my Brine. It seems to enhance the flavor of the hickory smoke. Great recipe. Thanks John

Wonderful way to brine. I tried several recipes over the holidays and my husband loved this recipe. He said the turkey was extremely juicy. Will be cooking with this one again! Thanks!