Mean Chefs Apple Brine Recipes

MEAN CHEF'S MAPLE BRINE

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in large stainless steel pot.
• Bring to simmer, remove from heat and cool completely Remove turkey neck and giblets.
• Rinse turkey well.
• Put turkey in cold brine.
• Use a stainless, plastic or other non-reactive container.
• Add water if brine doesn't cover bird.
• Refrigerate 2- 4 days, turning bird twice a day.
• To cook: remove turkey from brine, pat dry, brush with olive oil.
• Either grill or cook in oven.
• It is also advantageous to leave the dry turkey in the refrigerator for at least 4 hour or overnight, uncovered.
• This completely dries out the skin to insure a crisp finish.
• DO NOT stuff turkey.

MEAN CHEF'S APPLE BRINE

Steps:

• bring apple juice, sugar and salt to a boil over high heat, skim foam, let cool to room temperature.
• Add remaining ingredients.
• Brine turkey for 24 hours.
• Quantity is sufficient for a 14 pound turkey.

APPLE BRINE FOR TURKEY THE NIGHT BEFORE COOKING

Steps:

• Line a cooler with a large food safe bag. Combine the apple juice, water, and salt in the bag; stir until the salt is dissolved; add the garlic.
• To use: Lie your turkey into the brine with the breast-side down; add more water to submerge turkey completely if needed. Pour the ice over the turkey. Seal the bag and close the cooler; allow to sit overnight.

APPLE-BRINE

Steps:

• Dump all the ingredients into a large saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Boil for 15 minutes. Strain the brine into a bowl, cool to room temperature, and then chill completely in the refrigerator before using.
• Add chops to the brine and let them marinate in the refrigerator for 8 to 12 hours. Pull them out and dry them off before using in a recipe.
• Brining Pork Chop
• The new leaner style pork is missing something-fat. That great old conveyor of flavor and succulence has been bred right out of the loin meat of my favorite critter. Lean meat may be healthier, but I found that eating a pork chop was just not worth tiring my jaws out. That changed when I got turned on to brining. During the process the protein strands in the meat unwind and then get tangled up with other unwound strands, allowing them to trap moisture inside these new little webs. This results in juicier meat with better texture after cooking. Things get even better if you add some sugar to the brine, which boosts the caramelized flavorof the grilled surface of the meat. Give it a try and see for yourself how adding a brining step to your pork prep will have you lickin' your chops again.

APPLE BRINE

Steps:

• Dump all the ingredients into a large saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Boil for 15 minutes. Strain the brine into a bowl, cool to room temperature, and then chill completely in the fridge before using.
• Add chops to the brine and let them marinate in the refrigerator for 8 to 12 hours. Pull them out and dry them off before grilling, or using in a recipe.
• Makes enough for 4-6 pounds of pork.

ALL-PURPOSE MILD BRINE FOR POULTRY AND PORK

Steps:

• Mix cold water, salt and sugar and stir to dissolve.
• In a non-reactive container, immerse food in brine, seal and refrigerate.
• Use 1 quart of brine per pound of meat, not to exceed 2 gallons.
• Brine for 1 hour per pound (when brining multiple items, time is based on weight of a single item), but not less than 30 minutes or more than 8 hours.
• WILL NOT WORK IF MEAT IS FROZEN.

APPLE AND HERB BRINE FOR TURKEY

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients (except olive oil and butter) in a large pot and bring to a boil.
• Turn off heat and let the brine cool completely.
• Place a cleaned turkey (giblets removed) breast-side down into the brine. You can brine it right in the pot if it fits, or in a brining bag.
• Refridgerate turkey in brine for 16 - 24 hours.
• Remove turkey from brine and rinse really well to remove excess salt from surface of the bird. (All the good brine flavor will be inside the meat).
• Pat your turkey dry with paper towels and brush a mixture of olive oil and butter all over your bird.
• Roast your turkey according to your directions. (I roast mine in a roasting bag.).

BRINE FOR A SMALL AMOUNT OF MEAT

Steps:

• Dissolve the sugar and salt in the water.
• Brine the meat for approximately 30 minutes.