Best 2 Basic Pork Brine Recipes

Pork brine is a flavorful solution used to enhance the taste and tenderness of pork before cooking. It is a mixture of salt, sugar, and spices, often with the addition of herbs and aromatics. The process of brining involves submerging the pork in the brine for a period of time, allowing the flavors to penetrate the meat. This technique results in a moist, juicy, and flavorful pork dish, whether it is roasted, grilled, or smoked.

This article offers a basic pork brine recipe along with variations to suit different tastes and preferences. The classic brine recipe includes salt, sugar, garlic, and bay leaves, while the variations introduce additional flavors such as brown sugar, herbs like thyme and rosemary, and spices like peppercorns and juniper berries. The recipes also provide instructions on how to prepare the brine, how long to brine the pork, and how to cook the brined pork.

Here are our top 2 tried and tested recipes!

BASIC PORK BRINE

Basic Pork Brine image

I use this brine for all pork cuts that I grill. It adds a subtle flavor to the meat without being too salty. The pork cooks up tender, moist and delicious every time.

Provided by JulieG

Categories Side Dish Sauces and Condiments Recipes

Time 10m

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 5

Ingredients

2 cups water, more if needed
1 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons kosher salt
3 cloves garlic, gently crushed
3 slices fresh ginger, gently crushed

Steps:

Mix water, brown sugar, and salt in a bowl until sugar is dissolved. Stir in garlic and ginger.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 85.4 calories, Carbohydrate 22 g, Protein 0.1 g, Sodium 1159.8 mg, Sugar 21.4 g

BASIC BRINE FOR CHICKEN, TURKEY, PORK

Basic Brine for Chicken, Turkey, Pork image

Brining Meats make is very! juicey and tender everytime. I always !!!! brine my chicken,ribs and turkey. full of flavor because with brining you can add different herbs and spices for more flavor. When putting your meat in the brine make sure the meat is submerge all the way in brine if not !!! add more water and put a plate on...

Provided by Josephine Quick

Categories Marinades

Number Of Ingredients 14

Ingredients

1 gal water
1 c kosher salt
3/4 c sugar
1/4 c soy sauce, low sodium
1/4 c molasses
2 Tbsp black pepper
1 Tbsp thyme
1 Tbsp oregano
1/2 pkg pickling spices
2 Tbsp orange peel
2 Tbsp muti-color peppercorn
1 bay leave
1 tsp sage
3 bottle dark lager beer(optional)gives great flavor

Steps:

1. bring mix to boil and allow to cool to room temp.
2. you can do your own other ingredients like, maple syrup, garlic, onion, allspice,ginger, or spices you like can be used.
3. TIME FOR FOOD TO BE LEFT IN BRINE: shrimp 30 minutes whole chicken 8-12 hours chicken parts 5 hours chicken breast up to 8 hours Whole turkey 24 hours pork chops 12-24 hours whole pork loins 2 to 4 days
4. after brining rinsh meat off. NO NEED TO SALT YOUR MEAT!!!!!!!!

Tips:

Choose the right pork cut: Boston butt, pork shoulder, and pork loin are all great choices for brining.
Use a large container: Make sure the container is large enough to hold the pork and the brine.
Use cold water: The water should be cold when you add the salt and sugar. This will help to dissolve the salt and sugar more quickly.
Stir the brine: Stir the brine occasionally to help dissolve the salt and sugar evenly.
Brine the pork for the right amount of time: The amount of time you brine the pork will depend on the size and thickness of the pork cut. A good rule of thumb is to brine the pork for 12-24 hours.
Rinse the pork before cooking: Rinse the pork thoroughly with cold water before cooking to remove any excess salt.