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brine for chicken

Pamelalala avatar
Recipe by
Pamela Rappaport
@Pamelalala
The Villages, FL

Brining a chicken that you will be roasting, grilling, or smoking will yield a juicy bird. It also allows all of the meat to be seasoned instead of the salt just sitting on the surface. Everyone loves my smoked chicken and all I use is this brine and smoke! I smoke them with the backbone cut out and the bird laying flat at 250 degrees for about 4 hours until breast is 165.

prep time 5 Min
method Refrigerate/Freeze

Ingredients For brine for chicken

  • 1
    roasting chicken
  • BRINE
  • 1/3 c
    kosher salt
  • 1/3 c
    sugar
  • 1 Tbsp
    white vinegar
  • 1 qt
    water (plus more)
  • ice

How To Make brine for chicken

  • 1
    Place salt, sugar and vinegar in a large non-reactive container that will easily hold your chicken.
  • 2
    Bring water to boil and pour over the mixture. Stir until dissolved.
  • 3
    Add enough ice to chill the mixture well.
  • 4
    Add the chicken and enough water to submerge it. Weigh it down if it floats. Cover and keep refrigerated 24 hours.
  • 5
    NOTE: this is for an average size chicken, about 4 or 5 pounds. If you have a much larger bird increase the ingredients.
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