Salting instead of brining

bigjim · Nov 21, 2011

Hello, Just wondering if anyone here has tried the salting method on a turkey rather than brining.

http://www.virtualweberbullet.com/turkey8.html

Wondering if it is just as juicy as the brining method, at least I wouldn't have to have a 5 gallon bucket in my fridge for 2 days.

Thanks

raptor700 · Nov 21, 2011

I haven't tried that method.

It's almost impossible to find a (non-enhanced) turkey around here.

bigjim · Nov 21, 2011

I picked one up from Whole Foods, at least I don't think it is enhanced.

chef jimmyj · Nov 21, 2011

I have been researching this for an hour...I can't find any information that Salting provides any of the Benefits of Brining...Salting and Rinsing is done during the Koshering Process but this only seem to be used to remove any trace of Blood...There is a significant pitfall regarding the Saltiness of the meat from the high rate of Sodium diffusion...I'll stick with Brining...Thanks for the post...JJ

fpnmf · Nov 21, 2011

raptor700 said:
I haven't tried that method.

It's almost impossible to find a (non-enhanced) turkey around here.

I got one at Winne Dixie, it is a store brand.

I had a Krispy Kreme desire Sat and saw fresh no additives turkeys at Publix at the beach.

Craig

bmudd14474 · Nov 21, 2011

The salt causes the water in the brine to be retained in the muscle of the meat. This being said if you just put salt on it then there no water for the muscle to absorb and may cause it to loose some moisture.

bigjim · Nov 21, 2011

Guess i would be better off with brining and looking for a cheap bird to test the salting method on.

Thanks

bmudd14474 · Nov 21, 2011

bigjim said:
Guess i would be better off with brining and looking for a cheap bird to test the salting method on.
Thanks

sounds like a good plan

roller · Nov 21, 2011

Alton Brown had a piece about doing it the other night on Foodnetwork. He called it Dry Brining. He also told the recipe amounts. There maybe something about it on Foodnetwork.com .

venture · Nov 21, 2011

I have heard of that, but more for beef than poultry.

I see them as totally different concepts as opposed to being an optional way of doing the same thing. They will not achieve the same purpose because we are not talking about curing.

In curing, there are pickles or curing brines, and there is a dry cure. What you describe is not what is going on in the curing process.

I would try it, let us know what you think, and post up some pics?

Good luck and good smoking.

ecto1 · Nov 21, 2011

This sounds like my mother in laws recipies cover everything in way too much salt and cook.

SmokinAl · Nov 22, 2011

bmudd14474 said:
The salt causes the water in the brine to be retained in the muscle of the meat. This being said if you just put salt on it then there no water for the muscle to absorb and may cause it to loose some moisture.

I think Brian hit the nail on the head here! The salt will pull water out of the bird, drying it out. Brining does the opposite, putting moisture in the bird along with any flavors in the brine.

jak757 · Nov 22, 2011

I read about this a couple of year ago -- it was referred to as "dry brined." I have done this to my Thanksgiving turkey the last two years. Turned out great each time. I have been using local, natural raised turkey, not the injected kind form the grocery store. Family has loved it. Not salty at all.

I'll dry brine my turkey tonight after I pick it up from the farm.

Links below have some information on the technique.

http://www.food52.com/blog/2713_russ_parsons_drybrined_turkey_aka_the_judy_bird

http://articles.latimes.com/2011/nov/17/food/la-fo-dry-brined-turkey-20111117

http://www.marthastewart.com/317581/roasted-dry-brined-turkey

bigjim · Nov 22, 2011

Thanks for all the replies...I am leaning toward the regular brining i am familiar with, rather than waste a $30 bird on something that may not turn out, especially for thanksgiving dinner.

Thanks again

chef jimmyj · Nov 22, 2011

JAK757 said:
I read about this a couple of year ago -- it was referred to as "dry brined." I have done this to my Thanksgiving turkey the last two years. Turned out great each time. I have been using local, natural raised turkey, not the injected kind form the grocery store. Family has loved it. Not salty at all.

I'll dry brine my turkey tonight after I pick it up from the farm.

Links below have some information on the technique.

http://www.food52.com/blog/2713_russ_parsons_drybrined_turkey_aka_the_judy_bird

http://articles.latimes.com/2011/nov/17/food/la-fo-dry-brined-turkey-20111117

http://www.marthastewart.com/317581/roasted-dry-brined-turkey

Interesting Read....Pulls the moisture out of the Bird to make a self contained Brine...Sounds like a "got to try this sometime" way to go...Thanks John...JJ

bigjim · Nov 22, 2011

Well I went back on what I said and decided to try the Dry Brine method...This will be a second bird at dinner anyway so I figured why not take a shot. Thanks again for the replies. I will let you know how it turns out.

hoity toit · Nov 22, 2011

Brine it in a plastic bag and cover it with ice inside an ice chest., Turn it a few times...Keeps the 5 gallon bucket out of your frig.

scubadoo97 · Nov 22, 2011

I rarely ever brine a bird of any size. I do a salt based dry rub and let it sit in the fridge a few days. It's important to get your fingers between the skin and flesh to make a pocket and salt the flesh under the skin as well as a liberal use of salt on the exterior of the skin. You will get super crispy skin if you are roasting at a high heat and very juicy meat as long as you don't over cook it. Forget about crispy skin on an MES. Not hot enough. Russ Parsons/food writer for the LA times did a piece last year on this technique for the turkey. Judy Rodgers of the Zuni Cafe in SF has made Zuni chicken a household name using the same technique and roasting in their wood fired ovens.

I just posted about brining with some new information from amazing ribs website. Worth a looksie

hemi · Nov 22, 2011

Chef JimmyJ said:
Interesting Read....Pulls the moisture out of the Bird to make a self contained Brine...Sounds like a "got to try this sometime" way to go...Thanks John...JJ

Sounds like the concept in making Kraut.. Hemi..

venture · Nov 22, 2011

I see the concept of pulling the moisture out of the bird. With added seasonings, I see a salt marinade. Still, the moisture has been pulled out of the bird. Where does that leave us now?

Good luck and good smoking.

Salting instead of brining

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