Cooking 101 – Poultry tips and tricks, the brine.

Why is brining so effective at keeping meat moist, well lets look at how it works.

Brining is using salt to trap to do two things: First to trap moisture in the protien strands of your meat, Second salt reacts with the protiens, preventing the protien strands from constricting during the cooking process and squeezing the trapped moisture out. Science is amazing right!

Brines can be as simple as salt and water and they can be complex including fresh citrus, herbs, spices, juices and so much more.

Let’s dive into brines and up your poultry game, you will have friends and family enjoying your cooking more than ever before!

#1 Plan ahead:

 I mean wayyyy ahead, and make your life simple. I do the grocery shopping for a month at a time and plan out my menus in advance. So when I get the groceries home, I start prepping my proteins for meals I will cook later in the month. So divide up your packages and throw your preferred brining solutions together and season the meat, vacuum seal, or get as much air out of the bag as possible, then freeze. The time it takes to defrost will serve as your brining time the day you make it, how easy is that!

#2 Dry Brine: 

I used to exclusively wet brine, but I don’t always have the fridge space for that, but extended salt rubs (like for turkey) can make the skin tough. Solution: rub softened butter to the inside of the skin before rubbing salt and seasoning on the meat under the skin, seal and freeze.

Brining as a flavor Oportunity

 Like I said before, brines can also be an opportunity to really up the flavor as well as the juiciness of the protein. Brines can also add depth and complexity to your culinary creations. Whether you’re a seasoned chef or a home cook, exploring the world of herbs and spices will take your poultry dishes to new heights.

Herbs like rosemary, thyme, and sage are perfect companions for poultry. Their aromatic essence infuses the meat, creating a tantalizing aroma that will leave your taste buds yearning for more. The earthy notes of rosemary, the subtle warmth of thyme, and the savory flavor of sage perfectly complement the natural richness of poultry, making each bite a delightful experience.

Spices, on the other hand, bring a burst of flavors that awakens your senses. The warm embrace of cinnamon, the gentle heat of paprika, and the fragrant touch of cloves can transform a simple chicken dish into a masterpiece. From cumin to coriander, ginger to turmeric, the world of spices offers endless possibilities to create a symphony of flavors that will captivate and satisfy your palate.