Freezing Brined and Seasoned Chicken

[SouthernSmoked]

Big Labor Day sale on chicken qtrs this weekend, 45 cents/lb.
I was thinking of buying 2 bags / 20 lbs / about 25 - 28 qtrs.

I want to brine all of them for 2 hrs, pat dry and season, then
freeze them - 7 or 8 per bag. I'll use them all between now
and Thanksgiving in several different dishes but the majority
I'll smoke. Can't wait for cooler weather to make my smoked
chicken and andouille gumbo.

I've got my brine recipe and my dry rub recipe (low in salt) dialed
in. Thing is, I've never frozen anything that I've brined.
I'm just wondering if the brining process before freezing might
have any negative results??? My reason for doing this is to defrost
a bag overnight in fridge, then throw on the smoker the next day.
No mess, no fuss with prep.

Thanks, Mike

 

[smokerjim]

I don't know about brine but I put chicken in a zip loc put some marinade in and freeze then when I want it just thaw it out and cook, don't know if this helps you.

 

[texomakid]

.45/lbs? Wow, is this chicken eatable? Cheapest I've ever paid in recent history is .79/lbs for whole fryers. That's a good deal.

 

[pc farmer]

I dont see any problem with your plan.I would try it. One time I got quarters for 13 cents a lb and they filled 3/4 of a dinner plate. Had to buy 40 lbs thou.

 

[Hawging It]

What’s the name of the grocery store? Is it a Chain Store?

 

[SouthernSmoked]

I don't know about brine but I put chicken in a zip loc put some marinade in and freeze then when I want it just thaw it out and cook, don't know if this helps you.

That's a good idea too. Do you let it marinade for a few hours/overnight before freezing?

 

[noboundaries]

I have frozen dry brined leg quarters before. No problem at all. Don't see any problem with your plan. If your seasoning has a lot of salt, might want to cut back a tad on that one ingredient.

 

[SouthernSmoked]

.45/lbs? Wow, is this chicken eatable? Cheapest I've ever paid in recent history is .79/lbs for whole fryers. That's a good deal.

Oh yea, they're good; bred, hatched, raised, and processed in the USA.
I get 13 or 14 qtrs in a 10 lb bag, so there a nice size.
Every once in a while I'll get a thigh with 2 legs though.

 

[SouthernSmoked]

I dont see any problem with your plan.I would try it. One time I got quarters for 13 cents a lb and they filled 3/4 of a dinner plate. Had to buy 40 lbs thou.

And my wife wants to know what I need 20 lbs for...

 

[pc farmer]

And my wife wants to know what I need 20 lbs for...

I have a story but dont want to hijack the post

 

[chopsaw]

I have a story but dont want to hijack the post

He don't care ,,, go ahead .

Your plan to brine and freeze should work fine . I do it , and never had a problem .

 

[SouthernSmoked]

What’s the name of the grocery store? Is it a Chain Store?

Hawg, it's Greer's Cash Saver. They have a couple of dozen stores
in Alabama and some in Mississippi and Florida. I make groceries at the store in Poplarville, MS.

 

[SouthernSmoked]

What’s the name of the grocery store? Is it a Chain Store?

Hawg, it's Greer's Cash Saver. They have a couple of dozen stores in Alabama and some in Mississippi and Florida. I make groceries at the store in Poplarville, MS.

I have frozen dry brined leg quarters before. No problem at all. Don't see any problem with your plan. If your seasoning has a lot of salt, might want to cut back a tad on that one ingredient.

Thanks Ray, and thank you for your service. My son did 6 yrs in the Navy, 2 deployments to the Persian Gulf.
My rub is low in salt so that's not a problem.
Happy to find someone who has done what I'm thinking about.
Just have to make some room in the freezer now.

 

[SouthernSmoked]

I have a story but dont want to hijack the post

Hijack away. I got the info I needed. Love a good story.

He don't care ,,, go ahead .

Absolutely! haha

 

[chopsaw]

I couldn't sleep last night ,,,waiting ,,,wondering .