CURED CORNISH HEN QUESTION

[themule69]

I am wanting to cure then slow smoke Cornish hens. I'm thinking Pop's cure. Then a long low temp smoke. I want lots of smoke.

so the question is how long to cure? Do i cut the cure amount in half?

Thanks for the help.

Happy smoken.

David

 

[woodcutter]

Pop recommends 2-3 days for chickens and turkeys. I would think you would mix up a normal gallon of Pop's brine and put a few hens in it for 2-3 days. I'm not sure if you would need to inject them first or not.

 

[chef jimmyj]

Just use the Cure as normal or yes you can cut it in half if 1 gallon is too much...JJ

 

[themule69]

Just use the Cure as normal or yes you can cut it in half if 1 gallon is too much...JJ

i have read that for poultry. cut the amount of cure in half. due to the bone to meat ratio.

David

 

[themule69]

Pop recommends 2-3 days for chickens and turkeys. I would think you would mix up a normal gallon of Pop's brine and put a few hens in it for 2-3 days. I'm not sure if you would need to inject them first or not.

2-3 days is what i was thinking. I'm not thinking injected.

David

 

[chef jimmyj]

I meant cut the amount of Curing Brine in half, in this case 1/2Tbs Cure #1 a to 1/2 Gallon water. You want that overall amount of cure #1, PPM, to stay the same...JJ

 

[dirtsailor2003]

I do the cornish game hens several times a year. I have not brined them. They take smoke pretty quick and I have found that too much smoke on them is over powering. I did use Pop's brine on a chicken that I smoked. It came out hammy flavored, which isn't a bad thing, just different.

 

[themule69]

I meant cut the amount of Curing Brine in half, in this case 1/2Tbs Cure #1 a to 1/2 Gallon water. You want that overall amount of cure #1, PPM, to stay the same...JJ

Thanks JJ the PPM is what i'm asking

David

 

[themule69]

I do the cornish game hens several times a year. I have not brined them. They take smoke pretty quick and I have found that too much smoke on them is over powering. I did use Pop's brine on a chicken that I smoked. It came out hammy flavored, which isn't a bad thing, just different.

I'm after the ham flavor with lots of smoke. i want smoke all the way to the bone.

David