Simple Brine for Pork Chops

No one likes a dry pork chop. This simple and satisfying brine recipe will come to the rescue each and every time. There's a little planning ahead, as the chops need to marinate overnight, but that makes cooking dinner the next day a breeze with super-minimal cleanup. This brine makes enough for 2 pork chops, but you can obviously double or triple or quadruple the recipe depending on how many of them you plan to serve. There are no fancy ingredients required for this brine—all you need is salt, brown or granulated sugar, thyme sprigs, garlic cloves, a chile (if you want a little bit of a kick, you could also use red pepper flakes), and ice cubes. You do need to cook the ingredients for the brine so it reduces a little bit and for the sugar and salt to dissolve.

Keep in mind that the type of salt you use is important here. With ⅓ cup of salt, if you use a finer grain, your brine could turn out way too salty. We always recommend using Diamond Crystal kosher salt, and also keep in mind that Morton is a finer grain as well. If you're not sure, just start with a couple of tablespoons, taste as you go, and work your way up from there. Trust your instincts as well when you're cooking the pork chops in terms of seasoning. And for the best results, be sure to buy well-raised pork, as in pork that has been raised in a pasture.