Food Safe Containers for Brining | Rouxbe Online Culinary School (2024)

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Food Safe Containers for Brining | Rouxbe Online Culinary School? ›

Tips & Techniques > Food Safe Containers for Brining

Any food grade HDPE, PP, or polycarbonate container is appropriate for brining. These materials can withstand the salt, acids (e.g. orange juice, Coca-Cola), and alcohol (e.g. beer, booze) used in flavor brines.

If you want completely foolproof Thanksgiving Turkey, use an Oven Bag, (along with a recyclable Aluminum Roasting Pan, or your own roasting pan), which we also have in the store in a few locations but you can always find them on Aisle 7 with the foil and plastic wrap.

Plastic containers come with a food-grade rating on the bottom that ranges from 1 to 7. This gives consumers an idea of how safe they are for storing their food. Plastic grades 2, 4, and 5 are the safest for food storage. Using these plastics to store food will prevent accidental toxin ingestion.

Avoid using garbage bags, laundry buckets or other plastic containers not graded for food use as these all contain chemicals. Remember that the food and brine needs to be stored at refrigerator temperatures (below 40º degrees Fahrenheit or 4º degrees Celsius).

A Cambro container is the best vessel for brining because it is food safe, protects your turkey and you can see through it to watch what's happening. Chef JT Walker, Executive Sous Chef at SoFi Stadium, shares his simple, easy brine recipe for a 14 to 16 lb.

Avoid Using Non-Food Grade Bags

Though some home cooks suggest that a garbage bag could work in a pinch, chefs warn against choosing any bag that's not food-grade, since those could be lined with unsafe dyes, scents, or chemicals.

Can I use Oven Bags as a container to brine my turkey in? No, you should not. Reynolds Kitchens® Oven Bags are not intended for use as a container for brining because the pressure from the large amount of liquid may cause the oven bag seam to burst.

Dry brining is easiest, as you can put the turkey in a bag or container that only just fits it. With a wet brine, you need to use a bucket or very large container in order to fit both the turkey and liquid.

A 5-gallon container is typically large enough to fit any size turkey. Be sure to clear out some fridge space before you brine. To minimize cleanup, line the container with a liner bag. If you don't have the fridge space for a 5-gallon container, you can place the turkey in tied bag inside an ice chest.

Should I use vinegar in my brine? ›

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.

Morton Coarse Kosher Salt is perfect for brining because the flat, flaky crystals dissolve extremely well in water and create a crystal clear brine.

You should see the classic recycling symbol with a number inside of it. Generally, food grade plastics will be labeled with either 1, 2, 4, or 5. These refer to polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and polypropylene (PP), respectively.

Home Depot Homer buckets are great for holding lots of things, but they're not food-grade. Yes, these buckets are made from HDPE (high density polyethylene) and have a #2 recycling symbol.

Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)

While many plastics are only FDA compliant and food safe in their virgin (or unrecycled) state, recycled PET is an FDA approved plastic for food contact. It also repels microorganisms and doesn't corrode, making it an overall ideal material for food and beverage contact and storage.

Pre-mix these ingredients in a stainless steel or plastic container and immerse your fillets into your brining solution. Keep in mind that almost any container will work for brining, but avoid aluminum containers as they can taint the taste of your fish.

Step 1: Mix together liquid, salt, and sugar (if using) until salt and sugar are fully dissolved. Step 2: Add the protein to the brine, making sure that it is fully submerged. Step 3: Leave the protein in the brine for an hour per pound.

Ziploc Big Bags XL

These bags are foodsafe and, at 2 feet by 1.7 feet, they're the perfect size for turkey brining. These bags are foodsafe and, at 2 feet by 1.7 feet, they're the perfect size for turkey brining.

Be sure the salt and sugar are dissolved. The brine must cover every inch of the meat, so if it doesn't, weigh it down with a plate and a heavy object like a canning jar full of water. Cover the container and store for a week at 36°F. Remove the meat, stir the brine, and repack meat each week for 4 weeks.