Brining Bags 101: Everything You Need to Know

Have you ever had meat so tender, flavorful, and juicy that you wondered how it was cooked? Chances are they used a brining bag. This is a tried-and-true way to keep the moisture in the meat.

For instance, have you ever had turkey that was so dry you couldn’t eat it? If it had been brined, the turkey would have been bursting with flavor even when cooking an entire trussed turkey.

Another term used instead of brining is marinating. It’s the same thing – you’re submerging food into a liquid that’s been seasoned for several hours.

While this helps with adding moisture, it’s also a way to tenderize the meat. Brining meat during the holidays is traditional, but it is perfectly fine to brine meat for any occasion.

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Many restaurants brine meat on a regular basis to have flavorful dishes. You may find brining happening in high-end restaurants to make sure their poultry and seafood are succulent and tender.

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You’ll often find cooking shows talking about brining the meat, especially if it’s poultry.

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What meats are good for brining?

Poultry is mostly known for being brined. This includes chicken, turkey, and Cornish hens. Some people also brine pork and seafood.

Meat with a high-fat content do not need to be brined. There’s something to be said about brined chicken wings and chicken breasts.

Pork belly and pork chops also benefit from brining because it cuts the dryness, introducing flavorful, juicy meat.

When barbecue ribs or brisket are long-smoked, brining them helps retain moisture for a great, slow-cooked flavor.

What is brining?

While brining was originally used before, there were refrigerators to preserve meat. Now, it’s to bring out the best flavor. The meat is placed in a flavorful salty liquid.

When it’s cooked, the meat loses the original amount of moisture, but because of the higher salt level, it is much juicier and tender.

A better way to think about brining is to bring back science. Remember osmosis? This is where the salt and water distribution are balanced.

Brine solutions vary based on the individual. Some use water, salt, herbs, and spices. Others use maple syrup and honey, and some use sugar and water. Some turkey breeds don’t need it at all.

The brining process changes the structure of the muscle’s proteins. Salt is used because it provides a better texture to processed meats (though sometimes too salty). Once the food has been brined, the solution should be thrown away to avoid contaminating other foods.

While the brining process is usually for long periods of time, seafood and vegetables have a shorter brining period. It is perfectly fine to brine something for 20 minutes before putting it on the grill or cooking (just don’t let the bag sit on the grill).

Brining is just a process to add additional moisture and herbs for exceptional flavor. While a brining bag is ideal, a container may suffice if it is large enough.

What is a brining bag?

A brine bag is large and clear, designed to hold food and the brining liquid. Most meats are brined for about an hour per pound. Brining bags are made of durable plastic and come in various sizes to accommodate the type of meat.

Brining bags look like normal food storage or vacuum sealer bags but are much thicker in nature and can be as small as 12 inches wide up to almost 20 inches wide. Some brining bags have resealable closures, and others have ties that seal the bag.  

What is a brining bag used for?

The brining bag is used to soak the meat. In most cases, meat is brined overnight or for a few hours. Since it is a salt solution, the bag is needed to hold the meat without the worry of spills.

A brining bag makes sure all the meat is properly immersed. Some people also use brining bags for fish, vegetables, and other types of meat besides poultry.

Is a brining bag necessary?

Many cooks use containers to brine their meat or vegetables. Some choose to use large pots and cover them with plastic wrap.

While this may work, the bag makes sure the food is completely immersed. Additionally, there is less clean-up needed after the brining process. Halfway during the process, the food should be rotated to make sure every part is covered with brine.

It may be difficult to do that in a container. Because the container needs to fit into a refrigerator, it may be difficult based on the size.

Brining is the best way to ensure the food is completely brined the right way. Some people use brining containers depending on what it is and how much liquid is needed.

While the containers serve their purpose, brining bags are designed for this purpose and can be immediately thrown away. Brining bags should not be reused.

When using a brining bag, it’s important to have enough room so the air can be released before securing. To make sure the bag doesn’t open, many people use string or twine.

Unlike in the past, when brining, the meat and solution must be refrigerated. The recommended temperature is below 40 degrees.

What can I use for a brining bag?

When using a brining bag, you want to make sure it is specifically designed for that purpose. Many stores carry brining bags. It’s important to know the size of the food being immersed before purchasing to ensure you don’t get the incorrect size.

If you can’t find a dedicated brining bag, using a 1- or 2-gallon Ziploc bag, or Big Bags XL will work.

If you don’t have either, a strong plastic bag will work. It’s important to make sure it does not have any chemicals in it. If possible, check to make sure it is food safe.

Food grade plastic bags are protective to ensure the contents aren’t contaminated. They are also durable enough to protect the food during the brining process, and if it must be moved.

Finally, they must be chemically safe. There should be no way for the bag to allow seepage in or out of the bag once it has been sealed.

Bags that are not deemed food grade could be harmful, as they may affect the taste of the food or cause additional issues like food poisoning.

Most food-grade bags have this indicator on them. While they may be found in stores, a restaurant shop or food supply warehouse is one of the best places to find these types of bags in a variety of sizes.

Can you cook in brining bag?

It would be wise to follow the directions on the brining bag if bought commercially. In most cases, brining bags should not be used in a situation with heat.

Newer commercial brining bags are designed for one-time use but can be used for marinating, brining, roasting, steaming, or freezing meat, vegetables, fish, and poultry.

Are brining bags safe?

Commercial brine bags are designed to be food grade, which makes sure no harm comes to the food. Some people have been known to use a garbage bag, but this is not recommended because you don’t know what the bag was made from, and it could have scents, chemicals, or dyes that are harmful.

There’s nothing wrong with improvising if there are no brining bags around. Again, Ziploc bags work well unless the food is too big for the bag.