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    Home · Recipes · Pork · Pork Chop Brine

    June 7, 2023

    Pork Chop Brine

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    With this simple and quick Pork Chop Brine, dry pork chops are officially off the table. Literally. There is no better way to season your meat inside and out. If you want to make flavorful, tender, juicy chops, this brown sugar brine is the answer. No question about it.

    Tongs holding a single Smoked Pork Chop up to the camera. The others are still laying in the smoker.

    Pork chops are a lean cut of meat, and don't take long to cook, which can often result in dry, overcooked pork chops. Just a few minutes can land you rubbery chops to choke down. This is why a brine can be a cook's best friend, especially if you are new to the kitchen!

    An overhead view of Smoked Pork Chops on a sheet pan. They are crispy around the edges.

    Salt in a brine seasons the meat, adds moisture, and changes the protein structure, therefore reducing toughness. We kept our brine solution about as simple as simple gets: salt, sugar, peppercorns, and water. This brine is perfect for any pork chop recipes (or pork steak!) featuring chops a ½" or thicker. 

    HOW TO MAKE A PORK CHOP BRINE

    Our quick-fix, basic brine recipe consists of Kosher salt, brown sugar, peppercorns, and water.

    Add 6 cups of water to a large pot, along with a half cup of brown sugar and a quarter cup of kosher salt. Take care to only use kosher salt, and not regular table salt!

    Using regular table salt in a brine will make your pork chops far too salty! We love using brown sugar for this Pork Chop Brine recipe because of its molasses notes. However, if you only have granulated sugar on hand, feel free to sub that in.

    If you're looking to add more, complex flavors to your brine, here are a few ingredients you might like to add in:

    • If you love garlic, 4-6 crushed garlic cloves added to your brine will absolutely get you your garlic fix! (try this one with our panko pork chops!)
    • 2 tablespoons of juniper berries will add an herby, almost pine-like flavor to your chops.
    • You might be more likely to have bay leaves in your spice cabinet. If that's the case, 2-3 bay leaves will also add an herbaceous flavor similar to juniper berries.

    Any one of these additional ingredients can be added to your brine solution as soon as your sugar and salt have dissolved.

    Place the pot over high heat and bring to a boil. As soon as the water has come to a boil, remove the pot from the heat and whisk until the sugar and the salt have dissolved. Add in your peppercorns and set the brine aside until it has completely cool to room temperature.

    The dark brown pork chop brine being stirred with a whisk.

    Note, it is very important that you do not add your pork chops to the brine while the brine is still hot.

    Adding raw meat to a warm brine creates a great environment for bacteria to grow. It can also begin to cook the meat slightly, in turn, affecting your cook time.

    Once the Pork Chop Brine has reached room temperature (or cooler), fully submerge your pork chops in the brine, and cover the pot with either a lid or plastic wrap. Transfer the pot to your refrigerator. The brining process can be effective in as little as 2 hours, but you don't want to leave your pork chops soaking for any longer than 6 hours.

    An overhead view of raw pork chops in a brine in a large pot.

    Most pork chops are considered lean meat, meaning they are light in flavor. Meats that are light in flavor can easily be overpowered by the salt in a brine. It's for this reason, you don't want to leave your pork chops in the brine for any longer than 6 hours.

    Once your brine time is up, remove your pork chops from the brine, rinse the brine water off of them, pat the chops dry, and season as you'd like. Cook your pork chops until they reach an internal temperature of 145°F or higher if desired.

    For a delicious pork recipe, be sure to try our spare ribs next.

    HOW TO COOK BRINED PORK CHOPS

    Baked pork chops offer big reward for minimal time and effort. A weeknight treat!

    • Use paper towels to pat the pork chops dry and remove any excess moisture. 
    • Transfer them to a rimmed baking sheet and coat them with oil.
    • Season with a combination of salt, garlic powder, paprika, pepper, and onion powder.
    • Bake at 375°F for 18-20 minutes.

    HOW TO SMOKE BRINED PORK CHOPS 

    Smoked pork chops have a strong and complex flavor you can only achieve with that low and slow cook. Definitely worth the time.

    • Using your wood of choice, heat your smoker to 275°F.
    • Pat your pork chops dry with paper towels and transfer them to a work surface.
    • Combine brown sugar, Kosher salt, black pepper, paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder.
    • Coat the pork chops in the rub.
    • Place them in the smoker, cover it with the lid, and cook for 60-90 minutes, depending on size, flipping and rotating halfway through.
    • Remove from the smoker and tent with foil for 10 minutes before serving.

    6 MORE PORK RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE

    • Pork Chops With Mushroom Gravy
    • Parmesan Pork Chops
    • Pork Loin Roast
    • Slow Cooker Spare Ribs
    • Smothered Pork Chops
    • Skillet Pork Chops 

    • A close up, overhead shot of pork chops with mushroom gravy in cast iron pan.

      Pork Chops With Mushroom Gravy

    • A close up shot of Parmesan Crusted Pork Chops with parsley sprinkled over the top on a plate, cut into slices. There is a tray with parmesan cheese off to the side.

      Parmesan Crusted Pork Chops

    • Pork Loin Roast

      Pork Loin Roast Recipe

    • Slow Cooker Spare Ribs

      Slow Cooker Spare Ribs

    • Smothered Pork Chops

      Smothered Pork Chops

    • Pork Chops with Apples

      Skillet Pork Chops with Apples and Bacon

    5 from 2 votes
    An overhead view of raw pork chops in a brine in a large pot.
    Print
    Pork Chop Brine
    Prep Time
    10 mins
    Brine Time
    2 hrs
    Total Time
    2 hrs 10 mins
     

    An easy Pork Chop Brine to help you achieve those perfectly tender and juicy chops every single time, guaranteed.

    Course: Dinner
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Pork Chop Brine
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 332 kcal
    Author: Kelly Anthony
    Ingredients
    • ½ cup brown sugar
    • ¼ cup Kosher salt
    • 6 cups water
    • ⅓ cup whole black peppercorns
    • 4 to 8 pork chops, ¾ - 1" thick
    Instructions
    1. Bring a ½ cup brown sugar, ¼ cup Kosher salt, and 6 cups of water to a boil in a large pot over high heat.

    2. As soon as the water boils, remove from the heat and stir until the sugar and salt dissolve. Add peppercorns and set aside until completely cooled to room temperature.

    3. Add the pork chops to the brine, cover the pot with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 2-6 hours.

    4. Remove the pork chops from the brine, rinse, and pat dry. Discard of the brine. Cook pork chops as desired, and enjoy!

    Nutrition Facts
    Pork Chop Brine
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 332 Calories from Fat 90
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 10g15%
    Saturated Fat 4g25%
    Trans Fat 0.1g
    Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
    Monounsaturated Fat 4g
    Cholesterol 90mg30%
    Sodium 1836mg80%
    Potassium 813mg23%
    Carbohydrates 32g11%
    Fiber 5g21%
    Sugar 18g20%
    Protein 31g62%
    Vitamin A 121IU2%
    Vitamin C 0.1mg0%
    Calcium 131mg13%
    Iron 3mg17%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

     

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    Source: Cooks Illustrated

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    I’m Kelly Anthony — a baker, home chef, and mom with a passion for food and an adoration for entertaining.

    Comfort food is my specialty, and it is truly my pleasure to share these recipes with you. If you’d like to get to know me a little better, click here.

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