BRINE Flashcards
BRINE
20 PARTS WATER: 1 PART SALT
Why is a brine such a powerful tool?
It will season the interior of pork loin and keep it extremely juicy; it will cure beef brisket or ham; it will facilitate the transformation of raw vegetables into tangy delicious pickles; it will protect virtually any food from decay. Such is the miracle of salt.
Why is it always better to underlay than over salt?
Overselling food can make it impossible to eat in a way that, say, overcooking food rarely does.
The mark of a talented cook and indeed what cooks are taught first.
The ability to salt food exactly right.
Why have are bodies become very good at tasting and regulating salt?
We need it to live.
Why does turning salt into a liquid make it an especially effective tool?
Because it now touches 100% of the foods surface in a uniform concentration.
Why is using dry salt less effective than a brine?
Salt has to dissolve before working its magic. Dry salt is less quick, less controlled, than using a brine.
Why is brine concentration critical?
If it’s too strong, it can overpower the food it surrounds.
Can food that becomes too salty from a brine can be fixed?
Yes, simply by soaking it in water until the salt has returned to the water.
What is a brine?
Salts and seasonings in liquid.
Sweet and spicy ingredients used in corned beef.
Cinnamon and allspice, nutmeg and brown sugar, coriander and chilli flakes, garlic and black pepper.
Ideal brine.
5% salt by weight
Morton’s kosher salt equals how many ounces per two tablespoons?
About 1 ounce.
Volumetrically, how do you make 20 ounces of water and 1 ounce of salt?
2 1/2 cups water
2 tablespoons Morton’s kosher salt
Volumetrically, how do you make 80 ounces of water and 4 ounces of salt?
10 cups water
1/2 cup Morton’s kosher salt
How can you make a brine chill faster?
Weigh half the water as ice and combine towards the end.
What can you add to chicken brines?
Lemon, thyme, carrot, onion, garlic.
How do you make a garlic-sage brine for pork?
Add thyme, sugar, garlic, coarse black pepper.
Can you use this brine as a standard “salt water” for all green vegetables?
Yes
How long (and where) should you leave pickles in a brine for traditional pickling?
At room temperature (75ºF or lower) for 1 week or a few days longer for more sourness.
What would you add to the brine for French cornichons?
Garlic, tarragon, peppercorns.
What would you add to the brine for classic dill pickles?
Dill and garlic.
What will brining do for a chicken?
Infuse it with flavor and seasoning, and help to ensure a juicy breast and crisp skin. It’s also a preservative, so if you buy a chicken and can’t cook it till later in the week, it will stay fresh.
A whole chicken almost always benefits from what?
Early salting, whether the salt is in a brine or dry.
How much brine do you need for cooking green vegetables? How should they be served afterwards?
Ideally, the amount of water should be enough relative to the amount of vegetables so that it doesn’t lose its boil, but for many home cooks, that’s not alway practical. Nevertheless, it’s best to acknowledge green vegetables are best cooked this way, and should either be served immediately or plunged in an ice bath.
The use of ice in a brine obviates what?
The need of chilling a brine for hours.
Why does the chicken brine use a minimum amount (10% salt) of water?
To ensure maximum effect of the aromatics. You’re in effect making a quick vegetable stock to brine.
Does the book sauté vegetables before adding to a brine?
Yes, and letting them steep for 15 minutes before adding ice.
What should you do with a chicken after brining?
Rinse the bird and discard the brine and vegetables.
How long should you brine a 3-4 pound bird?
8-12 hours
How long can a brined chicken sit in the fridge before being cooked?
2 days
What is Canadian bacon?
Cured, smoked pork loin.
Pork develops its ham flavor from what?
Pink salt, sodium nitrate, which also keeps the meat a vivid pink even after it’s cooked and prevents the growth of harmful bacteria.
Cured brisket is also called what?
Corned beef
Where does the name corned beef come from?
The corn-shaped nugget of salt originally used to cure the beef.
What happens if you omit the pink salt from corned beef?
It will turn pot-roast gray-brown, but it will still taste delicious.
How can you turn the corned beef into pastrami?
Coat the brined but uncooked meat in extra black pepper and coriander, then smoke it.
