The Best Cider & Citrus Turkey Brine Recipe that is Keto Friendly (2024)

FAQs

What does apple cider vinegar do in a brine? ›

Using an Apple Cider Brine boosts the flavor and tenderness of pork and poultry alike. Fresh herbs, garlic, whole spices, and apple cider combine to create a brine your eaters will rave about. If you've never experimented with brining your poultry or pork, you're definitely going to want to experiment with this.

In a large saucepan, combine cider, vinegar, salt, and sugar; stir to dissolve salt and sugar. Bring to a low boil over medium heat; Add in peppercorns, sage, garlic, thyme and shallots. On low heat simmer for 5 minutes; remove from heat, add ice to brine mixture and set aside to cool.

The basic ratio of salt to water for a brine is 4 tablespoons of kosher salt per 1 quart (4 cups) of water. If you are using fine table salt, reduce the amount to 3 tablespoons. Keep in mind, also, that different kosher salt brands vary in how salty they actually are.

The salt in the brine helps to tenderize the meat, making it more juicy and flavorful. Additionally, the brine can infuse the meat with other flavors, such as herbs and spices, for an even more delicious result. Brined pork chops are a perfect keto dinner option that's both flavorful and satisfying.

Today, marinades are generally used to bring out the flavor of the meat. An ideal ingredient for this purpose (among many other uses!) is apple cider vinegar. As a powerful bactericide, it helps eliminate any impurities in the meat.

ACV baths may help with wound healing and the prevention of skin infections. The acetic acid in ACV is a potent antibacterial compound, even at low concentrations. One study in the journal PLOS One notes that acetic acid can kill germs that often infect wounds in the skin.

If you choose to use vinegar, your flavors will vary depending on the type, from the delicate hint of rice vinegar to the bracing rush of apple cider vinegar. On the other hand, the salt-brine method offers up flavor, clean and simple, allowing the personality of the pickled veggie or fruit to dominate.

When Top Chef winner Kristen Kish took over the responsibility of cooking Thanksgiving dinner, she gave her brother the job of roasting the turkey. This recipe, which she taught him, uses cider vinegar as the brine, which tenderizes it and yields flavorful drippings perfect for pan jus.

You should always rinse the turkey after wet or dry brining. Once rinsed, you can let the turkey air dry, uncovered, in the refrigerator for several hours, or pat it dry with a paper towel.

Dry-brining is our preferred method for seasoning both large and small pieces of meat, poultry, and sometimes even seafood. Along with producing juicy, flavorful results, dry-brining also helps us get better Maillard browning and crispy skin.

How much sugar do you put in brine? ›

Sugar: This is an optional ingredient and is typically used to balance the saltiness of a brine. Use about 2 tablespoons per quart of liquid. You can decrease that amount if desired, but I wouldn't recommend using any more or it could make the final cooked protein burn easier and taste too sweet.

With people consuming more sodium than ever in a diet rich in processed food, you're probably not used to hearing the call to eat more salt. But on keto, it's necessary. “As ketones build up in the body, they are excreted from the body through urine, which takes water and sodium out with it,” says Tucci.

Keto and low-carb people should aim for 1.5 - 2 tea spoon of salt daily from high quality salt. Pink Himalayan salt and sea salt are excellent sources as they contain magnesium & potassium.

Cucumber is another popular salad vegetable. It contains many essential nutrients, including vitamin K. Cucumber is also suitable for the keto diet, as its carb content is just 3.63 g per 100 g. To make the carb content lower, a person can peel the cucumber before eating it.

Their action lowers the pH of the brine to a point that no pathogens can survive. This is the same microbial activity found in a healthy human gut. They perform the very same tasks in the small intestine as in the pickling jar; they create a pH so low that no pathogens can proliferate.

The bottom line. Apple cider vinegar can help manage blood sugar, improve symptoms of PCOS, and promote weight loss. A typical dose is 1–2 tbsp. (15–30 mL) mixed with water and taken before or after meals. Research doesn't support claims that it can improve digestion and prevent heart disease, cancer, or infection.

A general rule is 2/3 vinegar to 1/3 water when making brine. This ratio will result in an acidic enough base for whatever vegetable you choose to pickle. Other recipes may have a lighter vinegar brine but you must follow the exact recipe when using those or risk spoilage.

Because apple cider vinegar is made from apples rather than barley, corn rice or wine, it gives pickles a mellower taste. Using a white distilled vinegar, for example, will create a harsher flavour. But as well as being gentler on your palate, using apple cider vinegar also adds health benefits to pickles.