Maple Brined Swine Recipes

FAVORITE BRINE FOR PORK/CIDER MAPLE

Steps:

• Stir the hot water and salt together until the salt is dissolved. Add the apple cider, syrup, sugar and pepper. Cool to below 45 degrees F. in the refrigerator.
• Trim any excess external fat from the meat. Submerge the pork in the brine in a large bowl or small crock; make sure the meat stays under the surface during curing by using a heavy plate to weight it down. Refrigerate the pork in the cure. The chops should take 4-6 hours in the brine; the tenderloin, 6-8 hours; and the loin, 1-2 days. (Bone-in pork can take a day longer in the brine because of the bone, which gives it a larger diameter.) If marinating for a day or longer, stir the brine daily and turn the pork occasionally.
• To test flavor of brined pork, cut a small piece off the meat, pat it dry and pan-fry it. If the meat is sufficiently flavorful, remove it from the brine, let it come to room temperature and grill. If not, leave it in the brine and test again later.
• I usually do a 4-6 lb pork loin and marinate 24 hours. I have cooked in oven, indirect heat on grill and rotisserie. They have all turned out fabulous! This makes a VERY moist piece of meat when brined this way.

GRILLED MAPLE-BRINED PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• 1. Mix all of the brine ingredients together in a nonreactive pot and bring to a boil. Turn off the heat and stir the brine to ensure that the salt, sugar, and maple syrup have dissolved. Let the brine cool, then put it in a large nonreactive container and add the pork chops. Cover and refrigerate for no more than 12 hours.
• 2. Remove the pork from the brine and pat dry (without rinsing).
• 3. Prepare a grill with hot and medium cooking areas. A grill is hot when you can't hold your hand near the grill surface for longer than 2 seconds without pulling it away; it's medium when you can't hold your hand there for longer than 4 seconds.
• 4. Season the chops with pepper (not salt - remember, the brining solution is salty) and brush with the oil. Sear the chops directly over the hottest part of the open grill for about 1 1/2 minutes on each side. Then move the chops to the medium area of the grill, cover the grill, and cook to the desired doneness. Use an instant-read digital thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chops. A reading of 145° to 150°F will give you a pink, moist chop, 160°F is well-done. Serve immediately, accompanied by the chutney, if using.

MAPLE BRINE FOR GRILLED PORK CHOPS OR PORK ROASTS

Steps:

• Mix all the brine ingredients together in a pot and bring to a boil.
• Turn off heat and stir the brine well with a spoon to insure the sugar, salt and maple syrup has dissolved.
• Let the brine cool, then place brine in a large glass dish or bowl.
• Add in pork chops (making certain that all the chops are covered completely with brine).
• Cover and refrigerate for NO MORE than 10 hours.
• Remove the pork from the brine and pat dry without rinsing.
• Season the pork with pepper ONLY (do not season with salt they are salty enough from the brine!).
• Grill as desired.