A quick and easy maple brine recipe that is perfect for turkeys and pork roasts. Our Maple Brine will impart a subtle, sweet maple flavor.
Brining larger roasts is the perfect way to make sure that they stay moist and flavorful as they cook. All it takes are a few simple ingredients, and you’ll be ready to use this maple brine!
Why brine meat?ย
The salt in a brine penetrates the meat resulting in a plumping and tenderizing effect. This will produce a juicy, tender turkey or pork roast once cooked. Brining can take anywhere from 6-24 hours to complete. Turkeys are usually brined longer, and the results are amazing.
Maple Brine: The Ingredients
- Water
- Brown sugar
- Soy sauce: If you need a gluten-free option, use a GF tamari soy sauce
- Maple syrup: I recommend using real maple syrup versus maple-flavored syrup or pancake syrup. The real stuff costs a bit more, but it is a great sweetener to have on hand for brines and sauces.
- Sea salt
- Garlic
- Bay leaves
- Thyme
- Black peppercorns
You’ll need a large stockpot to boil the brine. Cool the maple brine completely before submerging your turkey or roast into the solution. You can prepare the brine several hours in advance and store it in your refrigerator before using.
Brining times:
- Turkey: 24 hours
- Large Pork Roasts: 12-18 hours (example: pork shoulder)
- Small Pork Roasts: 2-4 hours (example: pork loin)
Tips for using maple brine:
- Do not rinse the meat
- Pat it dry with paper towels.
- Use a seasoning rub that does not contain salt.
- The brine will provide enough salt content for the meat. Y
- You can use a turkey injection marinade if preferred, but do not add salt to the marinade.
- Make sure the maple brine is cooled completely before submerging the turkey or pork.
- Add apple slices to the brine for a nice touch of fruitiness.
Maple Brine
Ingredients
- 4 quarts water
- 2 cups brown sugar
- 1 cup soy sauce
- 1 cup maple syrup
- 3/4 cup sea salt
- 8 whole cloves garlic peeled
- 6 whole bay leaves
- 3 large sprigs of thyme
- 2 teaspoons whole black peppercorns
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a large pot and bring to a boil, dissolving sugar and maple syrup. Remove from heat and allow brine to cool completely before using.
