Favorite Brine for Pork/cider Maple

Cookiegirlandi's Note:

Tried and true! I have made this several times now. It's our fav. brine for pork loin, or pork loin chops. I tend to make this on holidays when grandma is coming -- she's decided she doesn't like turkey anymore. Well, this is a great substitute! Oh, I have also used pineapple juice when cider wasn't in season, worked great! Cooking time denotes marinade time.

• Total Time: 6 hrs 15 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 6 hrs

Ingredients:

Servings: 6

• 7 cups hot water
• 1/2 cup kosher salt
• 2 cups apple cider
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons cracked black peppercorns

Directions:

1. Stir the hot water and salt together until the salt is dissolved. Add the apple cider, syrup, sugar and pepper. Cool to below 45 degrees F. in the refrigerator.
2. Trim any excess external fat from the meat. Submerge the pork in the brine in a large bowl or small crock; make sure the meat stays under the surface during curing by using a heavy plate to weight it down. Refrigerate the pork in the cure. The chops should take 4-6 hours in the brine; the tenderloin, 6-8 hours; and the loin, 1-2 days. (Bone-in pork can take a day longer in the brine because of the bone, which gives it a larger diameter.) If marinating for a day or longer, stir the brine daily and turn the pork occasionally.
3. To test flavor of brined pork, cut a small piece off the meat, pat it dry and pan-fry it. If the meat is sufficiently flavorful, remove it from the brine, let it come to room temperature and grill. If not, leave it in the brine and test again later.
4. I usually do a 4-6 lb pork loin and marinate 24 hours. I have cooked in oven, indirect heat on grill and rotisserie. They have all turned out fabulous! This makes a VERY moist piece of meat when brined this way.

Reviews

[Kizzikate]

Delicious! Used a bit less pepper, but it was perfect on my pork chops. Marinaded chops for 5 hours. I can't wait to try on pork tenderloin!

[LuvBeinHere]

Used this for pork ribs before grilling....loved it.

[Crafty Lady 13]

I have one word for this recipe...AWESOME! I halved the recipe and used it for two extra thick pork chops. I have used this same cut of pork chops often, but marinated in this brine made them really tender and juicier. Made for Jan 2010 Comfort Cafe.