Mahalo's expert chef Tristan walks you through the process of brining chicken wings.
Ingredients
- 4 cups water
- 8 chicken wings
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup kosher saltc
Equipment
- Large nonreactive container with a lid
- Wooden spoon
- Colander
- Paper towelc
Step 1: Add Water
Add the water to the large container. Be sure the container can fit the water and chicken wings, while still fitting inside the refrigerator.
Step 2: Mix Salt and Sugar
Stir in the granulated sugar and kosher salt. Mix well using the wooden spoon to allow the salt and sugar to dissolve.
Step 3: Soak and Refrigerate
Place the chicken wings in the liquid, then cover.
Refrigerate and allow to sit in the refrigerator for at least three hours.
Step 4: Drain, Rinse and Dry
Drain the chicken wings by pouring them into the colander. Rinse with cold running water.
After rinsing, pat the chicken wings dry with paper towel.
Your chicken wings are now brined and ready to use in your favorite recipe.
Chicken Wing Recipes
After you finish brining, you still need to cook your wings. Try out some of these recipes for help.
References
Meet Our Experts
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Tristan Blash
Tristan Blash is a chef and teacher at the Los Angeles branch of HipCooks, a culinary school for adults. A graduate of Colorado University-Boulder, Blash has been a caterer and event planner in Scotland and New York City. Blash left the food industry for a while, but returned because she said she was "not able to keep her hands or brain off of food."
Why Brine Chicken Wings?
Brining chicken wings produces juicier, more tender and more flavorful wings. The brining process, or soaking your chicken in a mixture of salt and sugar for several hours, helps tenderize the meat and prevents it from drying out during cooking.c
You can also mix different herbs, spices and seasonings in your brine for an extra dash of flavor.
