Q&A for How to Brine Chicken Breast

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  • Question
    How long should you brine chicken breast for?
    Jillian Fae Downing
    Private Event Chef & Chef Educator
    Jillian Fae Downing is a Private Event Chef, Chef Educator, and the Owner of Jillian Fae Chef Services based out of Temecula, California. With 12 years of experience, she specializes in menu planning and menu research and development. Jillian Fae holds an Associate of Science in Culinary Arts from Orange Coast College and a BA in Mass Communication and Media Studies from Arizona State University. She is also a member of the American Culinary Federation and the American Personal and Private Chef Association.
    Private Event Chef & Chef Educator
    Expert Answer
    If it's just the breast, you'd need much less time than you would a whole chicken. You typically only need to brine chicken breast of about one and a half to two hours and that’s enough time for the brine to penetrate.
  • Question
    What is the formula for brine?
    Jillian Fae Downing
    Private Event Chef & Chef Educator
    Jillian Fae Downing is a Private Event Chef, Chef Educator, and the Owner of Jillian Fae Chef Services based out of Temecula, California. With 12 years of experience, she specializes in menu planning and menu research and development. Jillian Fae holds an Associate of Science in Culinary Arts from Orange Coast College and a BA in Mass Communication and Media Studies from Arizona State University. She is also a member of the American Culinary Federation and the American Personal and Private Chef Association.
    Private Event Chef & Chef Educator
    Expert Answer
    My go-to formula is typically one gallon of water to one cup of salt to a half cup of sugar — you can also use other sweeteners if you're looking for a different flavor element. If you're doing a small amount of breast, obviously, you could scale down the brine.
  • Question
    Do you need to brine chicken breast to make chicken stock
    Savannah Vold
    Community Answer
    No, you do not need to brine chicken breast to make stock. Chicken stock can be made by simmering chicken bones and parts with vegetables like onions, carrots, and celery in a pot with water for around 4 hours.
  • Question
    Can this chicken be brined overnight or all day if it is soaked in a bag with only water, salt and sugars?
    Savannah Vold
    Community Answer
    If you're brining a large quantity of chicken or a whole chicken, you can leave it overnight or for 8 hours maximum. If you're brining only a pound or 2 of chicken, we recommend that you don't leave it to brine for more than 2 hours, as the chicken could become mushy.
  • Question
    Can you make brine a head of time and freeze it?
    Savannah Vold
    Community Answer
    Yes, you can store unused brine in the freezer for around 2 weeks. If your brine is only salt and sugar, it can be frozen indefinitely.
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