Bourbon Brined Pork Steaks with Candied Bacon Butter (2024)

FAQs

Should you rinse brined pork chops? ›

The salt to water ratio discussed (4 cups water to 3 Tbsp of salt) is best used for 1-4 servings of pork chops or pork tenderloins. Some people wash their meat after brining. You can do this, but just patting them dry works as well. Personal preference!

Place the pork steaks on a sheet pan or something similar. Sprinkle with kosher salt on the top side only. See picture below for coverage recommendation however, most chefs recommend ½ teaspoon of kosher salt per pound of meat when dry brining. Place the meat in the fridge uncovered for about 3 hours.

If the chop isn't fully submerged in the brine, flip it over halfway through marinating/brining. Once the pork chop is finished brining, you'll remove it from the solution and pat it dry. From here, you can get as creative as you please with spices and other seasonings.

Discard brine. In 12-inch skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add pork chops; cook 8 to 12 minutes, turning once, until pork is no longer pink and meat thermometer inserted in center reads 145°F. Sprinkle pork chops with pepper, remaining 1 teaspoon rosemary and remaining 1 teaspoon thyme.

What to Do After the Meat Is Brined. After waiting the appropriate amount of time, remove the meat from the brine and pat it dry with a paper towel. You won't need to rinse it with fresh water unless you accidentally brined it for too long. From here, cook the meat according to your favorite recipe.

Washing beef, pork, lamb, or veal before cooking it is not recommended. Bacteria in raw meat and poultry juices can be spread to other foods, utensils, and surfaces. We call this cross-contamination. Some consumers think they are removing bacteria and making their meat or poultry safe.

No, you do not want to rinse the marinade off of the pork chops. If you're grilling the pork chops, they can go straight from the marinade onto the grill. If you're cooking the pork chops in a skillet, I do recommend patting them dry before adding them to the skillet.

It is not necessary to rinse the meat right before you cook it. If there is any moisture on the surface, simply blot it with a paper towel. Pre-salted meat does not need to be salted again before it is cooked. Other than that, the meat may be cooked as usual.