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My review
Perfect Chicken Brine
k8leifker
"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."
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Ingredients
2 h 30 m servings 38 calsOriginal recipe yields 20 servings
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- US
- Metric
Directions
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Prep
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Cook
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Ready In
- 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.
Footnotes
- Cook's Note:
- Cook time depends on heat source; could take more or less than 20 minutes to bring to simmer.
- Allowing the brine to sit at room temperature for the first two hours of cooling time steeps the dried herbs. I've found this makes a huge difference in the flavor. Let brine cool completely before adding chicken.
- Whole chicken can sit in brine for up to 8 hours. Chicken pieces (bone-in) can set in brine for up to 4 hours.
Nutrition Facts
Per Serving: 38 calories; 0.1 g fat; 9.2 g carbohydrates; 0.6 g protein; 0 mg cholesterol; 3423 mg sodium. Full nutrition
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Reviews
Read all reviews 26Most helpful
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Newest
12/20/2015
I bought a deep fryer for the Christmas turkey but wanted to test it out on a chicken. I used this brine and it was awesome. I did let it sit in the brine overnight and I thought it was a little...
6/13/2016
Turned out PERFECT! Had 2 8-9 lb Oven Stuffer Roasters! I made the Brine Solution in a saucepan using 4 cups of water and let cool 2 hours to room temperature. Using 2 -2 gallon Ziploc storage...
5/9/2016
Excellent!! Had folks coming over for a cookout - used the brine to make chicken kabobs. REALLY added a nice moisture to the chicken breast pieces. After cooling the brine I soaked the whole bre...
6/9/2016
After I brined chicken pieces for 4 hours I put in buttermilk for 2 more. It was the most moist, flavorful super crispy fried chicken I ever tasted. There were no left overs!
2/6/2017
We have tried many brines over the years. We have even invented a few of our own. I know some people say you don't need to bother with a brine, you do! And you need to try this one. This is, han...
11/16/2015
The amount of kosher salt to water is spot on. That is the most critical aspect of a brine. The seasonings can all be changed up to whatever suits you.
12/28/2016
This was my family's absolute favorite brine! We taste tested a few and this one out-weighed them all! Yummy! Moist! Flavorful!
6/19/2017
Followed the recipe exactly - with the exception - I substituted ROSEMARY for the BASIL (I was out of basil). Turned out so good. Exceptional, even. A new evolution in chicken at my house. The ...