Learn to how to perfectly brine chicken wings for the most tender, succulent, juiciest wings you will ever taste. Whether you are frying, grilling, smoking, baking or air frying chicken wings, this simple brining method will guarantee you fantastic wings ever, the best flavor and texture.

There are two methods of brining: dry and wet. In this post, we'll be going in-depth with wet brining method.

Ever wondered if you can brine chicken wings, yes, you can. Not only is it worthwhile, it is also quick and easy to do

It is not mandatory to brine chicken wings before cooking it because of its size, however, that extra step of brining will make sure that the wings stay juicy, tender and flavorful even to the bones.

For as little as 2 hours or up to 24 hours, brining can add tons of flavor and juiciness to the wings. More importantly, you only need a handful of ingredients you already have on hand. There are different types of brining methods, dry and wet. Today's recipe is a simple wet chicken brine.

What is brining (wet brine)

Brining is a simple process of soaking meat, such as chicken, in a salty liquid solution for a specific time before cooking it. This simple process infuses flavor and moisture into the poultry resulting in tender and juicy

meat. The main ingredients for a simple brine are salt and water which is what the definition of a brine is. The technique is great for a tough piece of meat or a large meat .eg. turkey

That said, you can other ingredients such as herbs and spices to your brine solution for additional depth of flavor.

a hand holding cooked brined chicken wings.

What you will need

To make this simple and straightforward chicken wings brine, you will need the following ingredient

Water

Salt: use coarse large grained salt. If using fine grain salt such as cooking salt then divide the specified recipe to half.

Sugar: substitute with honey

Black pepper

Oregano

Apple cider vinegar: substitute with white vinegar

Red pepper flakes

How to make chicken wings brine

Mix the brine solution: place a saucepan on medium heat, add water, salt, sugar, red pepper flakes, vinegar, oregano, and black pepper to it. Stir the solution until everything is dissolved and bring to a gentle boil, say 3-5 minutes

brine solution boiling on the stove in a saucepan.

Remove from heat: turn off the heat once boiled and leave to solution to cool slightly then transfer to a large bowl or glass bowl. Pour cold water into the cooled salt water solution and stir to combine. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside to cool completely or place in the fridge until you are ready to use it. Do not brine the chicken in a metal bowl.

Add chicken wings: once cooled, add the chicken wings to the brine solution. Make sure all pieces are fully submerged.

Brine: Cover the container with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, but no longer than 24 hours. The longer you brine the chicken wings, the saltier they will become. It is best to keep the brining time short for optimum result.

Dry the chicken wings: remove the chicken from the brine solution and discard the brine. Pat the wings dry with paper towels and let it air-dry completely before cooking. This can be done in the fridge.

a hand patting chicken wings dry with kitchen paper towel.

Cook: You can now season and cook the brined chicken wings using your preferred methods, such as grilling, baking, air frying or frying. Enjoy

seasoning on raw chicken wings in a bowl.

FAQs

How long to brine chicken wings

This will depend on the thickness of the meat as the longer the better. But since chicken wings are relatively thin, it is best to brine them for a minimum of 2 hours and not longer than 4 hours. If you would not be cooking the chicken immediately, remove it from the brine and store it in the fridge for up to 48 hours covered with plastic wrap.

What is the difference between brine and marinade

A brine and a marinade are two different things, a brine gives moisture to your meat while the marinade flavors it. A marinade contains seasoning, herbs and spices, oil, lemon juice or vinegar while brine is simply a salt water solution.

Meat can be cooked in a marinade but you can't cook meat in brine solution.

Do you rinse chicken after brining

In general, once the chicken is brined, remove it from the solution. There's no need to rinse the chicken wings as this is optional. Use paper towels to thoroughly pat it as dry as possible before cooking. This is important if you want crispy skin. Remember that wet skin prior to roasting will produce soggy wings rather than crispy and golden-brown wings.

Can I brine frozen chicken

Yes, you can. Note that this process will take longer because you will have to wait for the chicken to thaw out in the brining solution. Depending upon the size of the frozen meat, it should be brined for 2 to 24 hours. It's similar to brining a thawed chicken, the difference is that it needs to be brined longer in the solution.

Can I use a different cut of chicken and how long should I brine it for:

Yes, you can. Tenderloin, chicken breast, thighs, legs, spatchcocked chicken (butterflied chicken) or a whole one. This brine recipe will definitely work for all cuts of chicken but always remember that the size of the chicken would determine how long you would brine it.

Why do you add sugar to brine

Sugar will help to ensure the perfect browning of the meat's skin while adding a sweet flavor. It also helps to balance the salty flavor of the brine. You can substitute white sugar for brown sugar or honey.