Alton Browns Honey Brine Food

ALTON BROWN'S BRINED TURKEY

Steps:

• 2 to 3 days before roasting:.
• Begin thawing the turkey in the refrigerator or in a cooler kept at 38 degrees F.
• Combine the vegetable stock, salt, brown sugar, peppercorns, allspice berries, and candied ginger in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Stir occasionally to dissolve solids and bring to a boil. Then remove the brine from the heat, cool to room temperature, and refrigerate.
• The night before you'd like to eat:.
• Combine the brine, water and ice in the 5-gallon bucket. Place the thawed turkey (with innards removed) breast side down in brine. If necessary, weigh down the bird to ensure it is fully immersed, cover, and refrigerate or set in cool area for 8 to 16 hours, turning the bird once half way through brining.
• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F. Remove the bird from brine and rinse inside and out with cold water. Discard the brine.
• Place the bird on rack of roasting pan and pat dry with paper towels.
• Combine the apple, onion, cinnamon stick, and 1 cup of water in a microwave safe dish and microwave on high for 5 minutes. Add steeped aromatics to the turkey's cavity along with the rosemary and sage. Tuck the wings underneath the bird and coat the skin liberally with canola oil.
• Roast the turkey on lowest level of the oven at 500 degrees F for 30 minutes. Insert a probe thermometer into thickest part of the breast and cover the breast with a foil triangle. Then reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Set the thermometer alarm (if available) to 161 degrees F. A 14 to 16 pound bird should require a total of 2 to 2 1/2 hours of roasting. Let the turkey rest, loosely covered with foil or a large mixing bowl for 15 minutes before carving.

ALTON BROWN'S 2-HOUR MUSTARD BRINE FOR PORK CHOPS OR ROAST

Steps:

• In a large plastic container with a lid, put the salt, Brown Sugar, peppercorns and mustard powder; add in the HOT vinegar and swirl to dissolve the sugar and salt completely.
• Let the mixture stand for 20 minutes at room temperature to develop flavor.
• Add in the ice cubes and shake to melt most of the ice.
• Add in the pork chops, making certain that the meat is completely covered with the brine.
• Cover with lid and refrigerate for 2 hours (NO MORE than 2 hours!).
• Rinse the pork well under cold water before cooking.
• Cook as desired.

HONEY BRINED SMOKED TURKEY

Steps:

• Combine the hot water and salt in a 54-quart cooler. Stir until the salt dissolves. Stir in the vegetable broth and the honey. Add the ice and stir. Place the turkey in the brine, breast side up, and cover with cooler lid. Brine overnight, up to 12 hours.
• Remove the turkey from the brine and dry thoroughly. Rub the bird thoroughly with the vegetable oil.
• Heat the grill to 400ºF.
• Using a double layer of heavy-duty aluminum foil, build a smoke bomb: Place a cup of hickory wood chips in the center of the foil and gather up the edges, making a small pouch with an opening at the top. Set this directly on the charcoal or on the metal bar over the gas flame. Set the turkey over indirect heat, insert a probe thermometer into the thickest part of the breast meat, and set the alarm for 160ºF. Close the lid and cook for 1 hour.
• After 1 hour, check the bird; if the skin is golden brown, cover with aluminum foil and continue cooking. Replace wood chips with second cup.
• Once the internal temperature of the bird reaches 160ºF, remove from grill, cover with aluminum foil, and allow to rest for 1 hour. Carve and serve.

HONEY BRINED SMOKED TURKEY

Steps:

• Combine the hot water and the salt in a 54-quart cooler. Stir until the salt dissolves. Stir in the vegetable broth and the honey. Add the ice and stir. Place the turkey in the brine, breast side up, and cover with cooler lid.. Brine overnight, up to 12 hours.
• Remove the turkey from the brine and dry thoroughly. Rub the bird thoroughly with the vegetable oil.
• Heat the grill to 400 degrees F.
• Using a double thickness of heavy-duty aluminum foil, build a smoke bomb. Place a cup of hickory wood chips in the center of the foil and gather up the edges, making a small pouch. Leave the pouch open at the top. Set this directly on the charcoal or on the metal bar over the gas flame. Set the turkey over indirect heat, insert a probe thermometer into the thickest part of the breast meat, and set the alarm for 160 degrees F. Close the lid and cook for 1 hour.
• After 1 hour check the bird; if the skin is golden brown, cover with aluminum foil and continue cooking. Also, after 1 hour, replace wood chips with second cup.
• Once the bird reaches 160 degrees F, remove from grill, cover with aluminum foil, and allow to rest for 1 hour. Carve and serve.

SOY HONEY BRINE

Steps:

• In a large saucepot, simmer first three ingredients until solids are dissolved. Add apple juice and submerge pork belly in mixture. Place in the- refrigerator for 3 days.
• After three days have passed, remove the pork from the brine, rinse the belly, and pat dry with paper towels. Lay on a rack over a sheet pan and place in front of a fan for 1 hour to form a pellicle. Lay the pork in the protein box of a cold smoker and smoke for 4 to 6 hours. Chill the meat in the freezer for 1 hour to stiffen for easy slicing into strips of bacon. Slice what you need and keep the remainder in a freezer safe bag in the refrigerator or freezer.
• Place the strips of bacon onto a sheet pan fitted with a rack and place into a cold oven. Turn the oven to 400 degrees and cook for about 12 to 15 minutes, depending on how crispy you like your bacon. Remove from rack and drain on paper towels. Enjoy.

ALTON BROWNS HONEY BRINE

Steps:

• 1. Combine the hot water and the salt in a large pot, stir until the salt dissolves. Stir in the vegetable broth and the honey until dissolved. Add your ice and stir.
• 2. I use a food safe 5 gallon bucket (dont just use the ones from home depot, as they are not food safe, I had to call manufacturers to find out).
• 3. Place your cleaned turkey in the bucket, and pour the liquid over the turkey, I make sure the turkey is completely submerged, if not I will add more cool vegetable stock. Put the lid on the bucket and store it outside or in your garage, the weather has to be cold, brine the turkey about 12 hours.
• 4. When your ready, remove the turkey and pat it dry and prepare as you normally would, we have deep fried it this way and I have also cooked it in the oven, either way it comes out moist and delicious.