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Community => Butchering, Cooking, Recipes => Topic started by: Rob on September 27, 2015, 01:31:13 PM

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Title: How does Brining salmon work?
Post by: Rob on September 27, 2015, 01:31:13 PM

Never done this before and looking to try it out. 
-What is in the brine mix?
-how long do you brine?
-Do you put anything on it after brining or just smoke it?

Thanks!

Title: Re: How does Brining salmon work?
Post by: Skyvalhunter on September 27, 2015, 01:37:51 PM

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,4388.msg2210194.html#msg2210194

Title: Re: How does Brining salmon work?
Post by: The Weazle on September 27, 2015, 02:44:09 PM

The salt and sugar pull out the moisture and cures the meat.

My favorite brine is 2 cups dark brown sugar, 2 cups salt, 10 teaspoons garlic powder.  Mix it all up.  lay fish in a container and cover with brine, lay down another layer of fish, cover with brine, repeat.  cover, put in fridge for 24 hours.  Rinse off fish, let air dry.  put in smoker at about 150* until desired doneness. 

Title: Re: How does Brining salmon work?
Post by: jackelope on September 27, 2015, 03:40:25 PM

I like 4 cups brown sugar and 1 cup sea salt but I don't like my smoked salmon to be too salty. A little garlic salt and some black pepper. Brine for 24, rinse it off real good, pat dry then air dry for 12 hours and smoke. Mm mm good.

Title: Re: How does Brining salmon work?
Post by: WSU on September 27, 2015, 04:01:54 PM

3 parts dark brown sugar to one part sea salt. Put a layer on the bottom of a plastic or glass container. Place one layer of fish skin down. Repeat sugar/salt mix. Place fish meat down. Repeat sugar/salt. Repeat with skin to skin and meat to meat. Let sit a day or so while mixing to make sure everything contacts the brine.  Rinse and let air dry until tacky feeling. I add black pepper pepper before smoking. Experiment with garlic and other spaces.  Once you get the base cute down you really can't go wrong.

Title: Re: How does Brining salmon work?
Post by: Rob on September 27, 2015, 06:56:25 PM

Excellent!  starting the brine tonight!

Title: Re: How does Brining salmon work?
Post by: Tjv28 on November 02, 2015, 08:16:08 AM

All of these brines will work. The most important part is the prep and cleaning. Make sure to rinse thoroughly before, brine for 4-12 hours (depending on thickness of fillets), rinse thoroughly again, pat dry, and let sit until you see a tacky skin develop. Good luck!

Title: Re: How does Brining salmon work?
Post by: GUHunter on November 29, 2015, 01:55:56 PM

The standard recipe among my family for years has been to dissolve 3/4 cup salt in 1 quart water. Once dissolved, add 2 and 1/2 cups brown sugar and then brine fish for roughly 12 hours. Rinse fish in cold water and then pat dry with paper towels before smoking with alder until desired doneness is attained.

A couple years back, I ran into a situation where I had fish brining but was unavailable to smoke the fish for several days. I ended up leaving the fish brining for roughly 4 days in the refrigerator before completing the rest of the process as normal. It was one of the best batches I'd ever made. I typically brine multiple days now.

Title: Re: How does Brining salmon work?
Post by: Alchase on November 29, 2015, 04:59:02 PM

Quote from: Rob on September 27, 2015, 01:31:13 PM

Never done this before and looking to try it out. 
-What is in the brine mix?
-how long do you brine?
-Do you put anything on it after brining or just smoke it?

Thanks!

1. Sugar or salt are they main ingredients both will work, both wet and dry. All other ingredients are for flavor. One of my favorites is pure maple syrup and/or garlic added to the brine. Tons of combinations you can use. Usually 2/3 suger 1/3 salt to start, then add what you want for flavor.
2. Usually over night for a dry brine. Twenty four hours for a wet brine. Once the fish has "cooked" in the brine, anything longer is for taste and texture. The longer in the brine the stiffer the fish gets.
3. Depends on what you are making, usually you rinse the fish well after brine. If making Squaw candy, re-coat with brown sugar then put in smoker

Title: Re: How does Brining salmon work?
Post by: Alchase on November 29, 2015, 05:01:01 PM

As GUhunter said, after rinsing the fish, ensure you pat dry!