Can you brine frozen meat?
I want to brine a frozen chicken but I'm unsure if there is any reason why brining frozen meat is bad?
Can you brine frozen meat, or do you first have to defrost it before you can brine it, or does it not matter?
Best Answer
No, you can't. Or at least, you won't get the result you're really looking for.
Water needs to be able to move through the meat for the salt and flavorings to be transported to the inner cells of the meat. When the meat's frozen, you're dealing with ice crystals.
... that being said, you can thaw the meat in the brine if you're desperate, but you have less control to know exactly how much salt will be absorbed. (and I vaguely remember another question on here about temperature & brining, and I seem to recall someone reported on experimental results that really cold brines didn't transfer flavors deeply into the meat.).
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Quick Answer about "Can you brine frozen meat?"
The Best Cuts to Brine Frozen Larger cuts like roasts or whole poultry don't work quite the same way, however. They need to be partially thawed in cold water before they can finish thawing in brine. Sitting in brine for too long will change the texture of the meat and is not recommended.Does brine work on frozen meat?
The great news is \u2014 you don't. While brining works best on thawed meats, you can thaw and brine at the same time. The best frozen meats to brine are lean meats that are already cut into portions. You can start brining chicken breasts, pork chops, lean steaks or roasts, ribs, and even shrimp while they are frozen.Can you brine after freezing?
The best way to avoid moisture loss though is to salt your meat before freezing, then you can brine after. For freezing marinated meats, it must be noted that the marinating process continues to marinate the meat as it thaws.Can you salt frozen meat?
(No matter how hard you try, salt, pepper, or any other spices just won't stick to a frozen steak, so it's best to season it after it's warmed up a bit on the grill.)Can you brine chicken while frozen?
How long do you brine frozen chicken breast? Gently insert the chicken breast side up in the brine solution, making sure that the chicken is completely submerged in the brine solution before serving. Place the chicken in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 hours to brine.How to Brine Meat and the Science Behind it (Dry and wet Brining)
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Answer 2
Yes, actually you can. Quite a few cooks will tell you it's very possible. I've done it, and it turns out great.
"Make sure your brine is no warmer than cool room temperature, then place your frozen meat in the brine. Place the whole thing in the refrigerator, and check on it after an hour — if the meat is thawed, then you can remove it from the brine and proceed with cooking. If it’s still frozen in the middle, put it back in the refrigerator until it is completely thawed. When I did this with a very thick bone-in pork chop, it took about 1 1/2 hours to thaw and brine."
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