Salt is used as a stimulant to activate the taste buds, therefore enhancing overall flavor. Salt can reduce the taste of bitter foods as well. An old Diner trick is to put a bit of salt in the Coffee Pot, that way bitter cheap Robusto Coffee taste smooth like Arabica. Sugar add flavor as well to Rubs and enhances the formation of a nice Bark. Yes Sugar in Rubs and Sauces Burns on the grill, 500-700*F but in the Smoker the temp of 225-250*F never comes close to the 310*F Caramelization/Burning point of Sugar. Try a test some time...Cook two Steaks or Burgers. Lightly Salt one of them then taste the plain meat followed by the salted meat. There is a world of difference. As far as Brines go, they just plain don't work without salt. However it does not take a ton of salt to do the job. My families sense of taste is sensitive to too much salt so even though the typical recipe call for 1C Kosher Salt /Gallon water I use 1/2C/Gal. Members with high Blood Pressure have had good results with 1/3C Kosher/Gal. A super common mistake is to Brine the bird then use a Commercial Rub that is also loaded with salt...DUH! Super Salty Chicken! Give these recipes a try on your Chicken some time, reducing the Salt to 1/3C. They were designed to go together...JJ
Families Favorite Brine
1/2C Kosher Salt
2T Paprika
2T Gran. Garlic
2T Gran. Onion
2T Dry Thyme
2T Black Pepper
1C Vinegar (Any)
1-11/2Gal Cold Water to cover Chix
1/2C Brown Sugar, Optional
1T Red Pepper Flake Optional
Mix well and Soak the Bird over night or up to 24 Hours.
Remove the Chix, rinse if desired and pat dry with paper towels.
Place in an open container in the refrigerator overnight or up to 24 hours for the Skin to dry.
This will give a crispier skin when Smokng or Roasting...
Bubba Chix Rub
1/2C Raw Sugar
2T Paprika (I use Smoked if I'm just Grilling)
1T Cayenne
1T Gran. Garlic
1T Gran. Onion
1tsp Black Pepper
1tsp Wht Pepper
1tsp Allspice
1tsp Bell's Poultry Seasoning or Thyme
Mix well. You can put directly on the skin or mix with Butter, Oil or Bacon Grease and rub on and under the Skin.
Reduce Cayenne to 1teaspoon if less heat is desired.
Good Luck!
