1st Chicken Brine

[Will32Rod]

Depending on Ike's direction this weekend I am planning to smoke a brined chicken. My first attempt at brining. Thought I would keep it simple for the first time. Will mix 1 gallon water. 1 cup Kosher salt, and 1 cup brown sugar and bring to boil. Let cool and chill. Cut whole chicken in half and put chilled brine in a gallon zip loc bag with 1 chicken half and repeat with other half. Will sit in fridge over night. Will rinse lightly with water and apply Apple Juice and either origianl TXBBQ rub or Wild and smoke at 235 until done at 170 in thigh joint. May throw in some peppercorns or other spices in brine.

Please give me any comments, suggestions, gripes, or *****es.:idea:

[serialgriller]

take a look at alton brown's turkey brine. works great on chicken as well. you've already got the basics covered, but it calls for orange juice, vegetable stock, bay leaves, and black peppercorns as well.

[MI smoke]

take a look at alton brown's turkey brine. works great on chicken as well. you've already got the basics covered, but it calls for orange juice, vegetable stock, bay leaves, and black peppercorns as well.

I 2nd that idea. His oj brine works good for chix and turkey.

[YooperMike]

I use Alton's brine as well, very tasty stuff. I have let it soak for 48 hours just to try it, and it does get a little bit of an orangy taste, which I didn't care for. The 24 hour soaks make a damn fine bird though.

[TexLaw]

Here's another vote for the Alton Brown brine. Don't rinse any brine, though. You can pat dry, if you like, though.


TL

[RWH1290]

this makes 2-gal

1-lg stock pot
2-cups kosker salt
2-cups brown sugar
1-lg pakage Zaterans crab boil-cut open and dump
1-gal water

mix all in stock pot-bring to boil-let rest
split between two 1-gal milk jugs add water to fill and store.