Brined Pork Chops
Brined Pork Chops
Paul Ward
makes 2 pork chops
10 minutes
30 minutes
Although the label says Turkey Brine with Cranberry, this brine can be used on any number of proteins. Try using it to brine chicken, duck and pork tenderloins. It can even be used to make pickles! Brining proteins acts as an insurance policy to ensure deeply flavorful meats that will cook up juicy, and not dry.
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup Turkey Brine with Cranberry
- 3 cups of ice
- 2 bone-in pork chops, 1 ½ to 2-in. in thickness
- 2 Tbs Chicago Chop Seasoning
- 2 Tbs neutral vegetable oil of your choice
Directions
Place 1 cup water and ½ cup Turkey Brine with Cranberry in a medium pot and stir over high heat until brine is dissolved. Remove from heat and add 3 cups of ice. Transfer cooled brine to a container or sealable plastic bag large enough to hold brine and pork chops and add pork chops. Place in fridge and brine pork chops for 24 to 48 hours.
When ready to cook, remove pork chops from brine and pat dry with paper towels. Season each pork chop with 1 Tbs of the Chicago Chop Seasoning.
If cooking on a grill: Heat grill to 550 to 600F. Use a neutral, high smoke-point oil to grease preheated grates and add pork chops. Cook pork chops about 4-8 minutes per side, flipping several times, until the surface is browned and the pork reaches an internal temperature of 140-145F on a meat thermometer. Remove pork chop from grill and set aside to rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing.
If cooking on stovetop: Heat stainless steel pan or cast iron pan over medium-high heat. When hot, add oil and seasoned pork chops. Cook 4 to 8 minutes per side, flipping pork chops several times during the cooking process until browned and the internal temperature reaches 140-145F. Note, if your pork chop is more than 2-in, thick, you may want to finish the cooking in a hot oven. In that case, heat your oven to 450F before you start cooking and place the pan with the pork cops in the oven once the pork chops are browned. Start checking the internal temperature of the pork chops at about 8 minutes and pull them out once they reach the recommended temperature.