Brining your chicken may seem like an unnecessary extra step but this easy peasy first step will result in juicy, moist chicken every time. Not to mention it will cover a multitude of kitchen mistakes, like overcooking. We have put together a simple tutorial to teach you how to wet brine chicken, no matter the cut.
You can also check out our tutorial on how to perfectly brine and roast salmon.
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I firmly believe that we can all be great home chefs. And what sets a good home cooked meal apart from simply heating up food are the tips and tricks we learn over a lifetime.
Back when the Food Network actually had shows that taught you how to cook, think late 90s. Chef David Rosenthal had a show called "Taste", he taught me basic recipes like how to make the most awesome tuna salad and most importantly, how (and why) to brine chicken breast. I picked up so many tips and tricks from these shows.
📋Common Questions
And the lost of art of brining chicken is the one I still use every week. So why is brining so important? Well... let's answer that and a few more commonly asked chicken brine questions.
Why brine chicken?
Brining was originally used for food preservation but today brining can add flavor to the chicken and ensure moistness (even if you overcook it a bit).
Have you ever had chicken at a restaurant that tastes extra chickeny? That chicken was brined.
How does the brine change the chicken?
Osmosis! When you soak the chicken in the salt water it travels through the meat to even out both water and salt levels. Unlike when you are trying to fit into your favorite jeans, here water retention is good!
What is the difference between a wet and dry brine?
A wet brine is a saltwater solution that the chicken is submerged in. While a dry brine isn't actually a brine but the beginning of the meat curing process.
Both are delicious but we recommend starting with the traditional wet brine.
What type of salt should you use?
Always use kosher salt. And keep in mind different brands have different structures.
We use Diamond Crystal in the Peel household. Mortons is the other most common brand in the US. Cook's Illustrated did a study comparison and Diamond Crystal has a larger structure so it contains less salt than an equal volume of Mortons.
It doesn't matter which brand you use, it matters that you are consistent in your cooking so you get a feel for how much of your preferred kosher salt is the right amount when seasoning food.
I don't recommend table salt for brining, it will cause the meat to be too salty.
Can you brine before freezing raw chicken?
Yes! We often buy high quality chicken in bulk and brine overnight. Dry the chicken and then repackage into smaller containers.
Doesn't brining make the chicken too salty?
As long as you follow directions and don't over brine the chicken it should be fine. Always rinse and pat dry the chicken to remove excess salt.
When seasoning chicken that has been brined I always go lighter than the recipes calls for just in case and season to taste at the end.
What cuts of chicken can you brine?
All cuts can be brined, from a whole chicken, wings and boneless skinless breasts.
We always brine our shawarma chicken wings- those tiny little suckers dry out fast.
🐓How to Brine Chicken
I generally prefer to make a simple wet brine for chicken. To start fill a large pot with warm, not hot, water and stir in your salt. The salt should quickly dissolve, you can give it a stir to help it along.
Most recipes will say to boil the water to dissolve the salt. I don't find this necessary unless my salt won't dissolve.
Next I add any seasonings. If freezing the chicken post-brine I skip the seasonings. Seasonings should reflect the flavor of the dish you are making. When in doubt, peppercorns and garlic are safe bets.
I never add sugar to my chicken brine. While I see it many recipes I find it tastes funny with chicken. Although, I do use sugar when brining pork.
Add the chicken, it should be completely submerged. Use a plate to hold the chicken down, if necessary.
Chill in the refrigerator for at least one hour, up to overnight. When you are ready to make your chicken, remove from the brine and pat dry. Discard the brining solution.
👩🏽🍳Favorite Chicken Recipes
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📖 Recipe Card
Chicken Brine
Ingredients
- 3 lbs chicken breast, whole or pieces
- 1 gallon water
- ½ cup kosher salt
Optional Flavorings
- 3-5 sprigs hearty herbs rosemary, thyme, oregano
- 1 lemon, sliced
- 2 bay leaves
- 3 cloves garlic, crushed and peeled
- 1 tablespoon whole black peppercorns any color
Instructions
- Rinse and trim your chicken.3 lbs chicken
- In a nonreactive bowl, combine water and salt. Stir until salt is dissolved. Add chicken. Weight down the chicken with a plate to ensure it is full emerged. Add any combination of your optional flavorings.1 gallon water, ½ cup kosher salt, 3-5 sprigs hearty herbs, 1 lemon, sliced, 2 bay leaves, 3 cloves garlic, crushed and peeled, 1 tablespoon whole black peppercorns
- Refrigerate for at least one hour, or overnight. If you brine longer than overnight rinse the chicken before cooking to get rid of excess salt.
- Cook according to your recipe instructions.
Fave says
I just followed this recipe with 20+ pounds of boneless/skinless thighs and breasts. Brined four hours, not refrigerated.
These were smoked to temp, 165 breasts and 175 thighs. After 10 minutes of cooling they were pulled by hand.
Kirkland (Costco) brand pellets were used.
Without a doubt, the best chicken I've ever had. My wife helped with the pulling. I believe it was pull one, eat one.
Thank you for the recipe. This will definitely be used again.
SC says
Excellent recipe! I brined half a chicken adding I sliced lemon ,1T multicolored peppercorns, 2 crushed and chopped large garlic cloves and 2 bay leaves for 7 hours. Then seasoned with The Flat TopKing Seasoning "Shake That" and grilled on gas burner with indirect heat. The best grilled chicken ever!! Great recipe!
Danielle says
I love to take care of all the extra steps when I have enough time. I find joy in owning every single part of the process... And this does look like one of the best brining instructions I've seen to date!
Jen says
Aww thanks so much! Glad you found them helpful!