brining

Brining is treating food with brine or coarse salt which preserves and seasons the food while enhancing tenderness. Flavor can be further developed with additions such as herbs, spices, sugar, caramel or vinegar. Meat and fish are typically brined for less than twenty-four hours while vegetables, cheeses and fruit are brined in a much longer process known as pickling. Brining is similar to marination, except that a marinade usually includes a significant amount of acid, such as vinegar or citrus juice. Brining is also similar to curing, which usually involves significantly drying the food, and is done over a much longer time period.

==Meat== Brining is a food processing technique in which meat is soaked in a salt water solution – a brine – similar to marination before cooking. The brine may be seasoned with spices and herbs. Duration varies from 30 minutes to several days depending on the cut's size, thickness, and desired effect.