Simple Brine for Pork Chops

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Ingredients

  • 2 cups water
  • 1/3 cup kosher salt
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar (granulated sugar will work fine, too)
  • 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
  • 2 sprigs thyme
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 1 chile de arbol (optional)
  • 4 cups ice cubes
  • 2 pork chops, 1 inch-thick

Preparation

Step 1

Throw all the ingredients (minus the ice cubes and the chops) into a saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring until the salt and sugar dissolve.

Remove from heat and stir in ice cubes. Once brine is totally cool, place chops in a ziplock bag and allow them to brine in the fridge overnight (about 8 hours).

Before cooking, pat them dry and allow them to come to room temp. Cook the same way as the chops above.