Pop's low salt brine question. Need advice.

  • Some of the links on this forum allow SMF, at no cost to you, to earn a small commission when you click through and make a purchase. Let me know if you have any questions about this.
SMF is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

worktogthr

Master of the Pit
Original poster
OTBS Member
SMF Premier Member
Nov 3, 2013
2,928
1,032
Massapequa, NY (Long Island)
I have cured bacon numerous times with Pop's brine and loved it. For pastrami I just feel that it's a little too salty from my two experiences. I want to reduce the salt in the brine but does that mean I also have to reduce the sugar amounts as well in the same proportions? Forgive me if the answer is out here but I searched many posts and there seems to be no definitive answer. The only reason I ask this is because Pop's low salt brine shows 1/2 cup of both the salt and the sugars. Thank you Pop's or anyone else who might have the answer to my question.

-Chris
 
Chris I just started a Pastrami and I cut the salt to 1/4 cup the sugar stayed the same.I did the Bacon once and it was a little salty using a 1/3 cup.

Hope this helps

Richie
 
Chris I just started a Pastrami and I cut the salt to 1/4 cup the sugar stayed the same.I did the Bacon once and it was a little salty using a 1/3 cup.
Hope this helps
Richie

Thanks Richie! That definitely helps. Got a great deal on a packer so I hacked off most of the flat for pastrami. Actually cut that piece into two pieces of more even thickness so I didn't have to cram a giant, uneven piece in the smoker when the time comes to smoke it.
 
Personally, I don't add the sugar into my pastrami brine. I only use 1/4-1/3 cup of kosher/sea salt per gallon of filtered water.

I do add extra bay leaves(crumbled), fresh, smashed garlic and a few slices of fresh ginger into my pastrami/corned beef brines. 

As to pickling spices:

1 Tbs whole allspice
1 Tbs black peppercorns
1 Tbs black mustard seeds
1 Tbs whole cloves
1 Tbs coriander seeds
1 Tbs red pepper flakes-optional, **recommended 
2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
2 bay leaves, crumbled
1 cinnamon stick, crumbled-optional, **recommended

Toast the allspice, peppercorns, mustard seeds, cloves, cinnamon stick and coriander seeds in a dry frying pan until aromatic.

I add 2-3 Tbs of pickling spice per gallon of water.
 
Last edited:
I have used Pops Brine on Pork but I don't care for sweet on Beef or Poultry. The Cure is important but salt and sugar is more to your taste. I don't like to have to soak cured meat to reduce the salt...JJ
 
We like pops brine because it is flexible as far as salt and sugar I have left the cure #1 out and brined turkeys and chickens in it
 
Personally, I don't add the sugar into my pastrami brine. I only use 1/4-1/3 cup of kosher/sea salt per gallon of filtered water.

I do add extra bay leaves(crumbled), fresh, smashed garlic and a few slices of fresh ginger into my pastrami/corned beef brines. 


As to pickling spices:

1 Tbs whole allspice

1 Tbs black peppercorns

1 Tbs black mustard seeds

1 Tbs whole cloves

1 Tbs coriander seeds

1 Tbs red pepper flakes-optional, **recommended 

2 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp freshly grated nutmeg

2 bay leaves, crumbled

1 cinnamon stick, crumbled-optional, **recommended


Toast the allspice, peppercorns, mustard seeds, cloves, cinnamon stick and coriander seeds in a dry frying pan until aromatic.


I add 2-3 Tbs of pickling spice per gallon of water.


I have used Pops Brine on Pork but I don't care for sweet on Beef or Poultry. The Cure is important but salt and sugar is more to your taste. I don't like to have to soak cured meat to reduce the salt...JJ

Thanks guys for the help. Does the sugar in the cure really provide a significant sweetness in the flavor profile of the final product? Do most commercial corned beefs have some kind of sugar in the cure? Hahah and maybe the most important question is, if I decide now that I want to change the curing solution can I take it out of the cure, rinse it and mix up a new batch? I put it in the basic pops brine mix last night with lower salt but now I am worried about the sweetness.
 
It's more about one's personal preference in flavors. I much prefer the flavors of the spices over the sweetness in all the foods I eat.

Did you use the 1 c each sugar/brown sugar from Pop's brine or the 1/2c of each sugar/ brown sugar from Pop's low salt brine?

Without running out to the local market, I would have to assume that most commercially available corned beef/pastrami contains sugar. Likely in much higher amounts than what's called for in Pop's brine(especially the low salt version). Personally, I don't like all the corn syrup/sugar/salt that are predominant in packaged food. I try to make everything we eat here from fresh, seasonal, organic and locally sourced ingredients. 

Now would be the best time to make changes, if that's what you decide to do. 
 
It's more about one's personal preference in flavors. I much prefer the flavors of the spices over the sweetness in all the foods I eat.

Did you use the 1 c each sugar/brown sugar from Pop's brine or the 1/2c of each sugar/ brown sugar from Pop's low salt brine?


Without running out to the local market, I would have to assume that most commercially available corned beef/pastrami contains sugar. Likely in much higher amounts than what's called for in Pop's brine(especially the low salt version). Personally, I don't like all the corn syrup/sugar/salt that are predominant in packaged food. I try to make everything we eat here from fresh, seasonal, organic and locally sourced ingredients. 



Now would be the best time to make changes, if that's what you decide to do. 

I did use the cup of brown sugar and the cup of white sugar but added three tablespoons of pickling spice and a whole mess of minced garlic. I will probably just let it ride but next time try cutting back on the sugar content of the brine. Experimenting is the name of the game. Last time I made pastrami with pops brine I did it the same way but did the full amount of salt. Liked the taste but thought it was too salty. Didn't notice a sweetness so hopefully this will work out.

Hahah and you specifically would be proud to know I got this choice packer I am Brining from the restaurant depot sale shelf. Packed two days ago, compromised packaging. 1.80 per pound!!!!
 
Last edited:
If you look at Goggle Images for Corned Beef, I looked at a half doz random samples, the Nutrition Labels say 0% Carbohydrates...So No Sugar...JJ

Here is one I like...

IMG_2435.JPG
 
 
Last edited:
I have been thinking about this all night so... Since I cut the price of brisket in half, I decided to pull one brisket from the pops brine mix that had sugar in it, I rinsed it real good and will mix up a batch of cure tonight with no sugar. So that way I can do a side by side and see which one I like best. Thanks again eveyone for all of your insight. I wouldn't have thought of most of your great suggestions. I'll be sure to post the results of this experiment.
 
 
Good reason to make your own...JJ
icon14.gif
Been making corned beef for years. Always get the responses from friends and family how much better it is than store bought brands. 
241.png

I have been thinking about this all night so... Since I cut the price of brisket in half, I decided to pull one brisket from the pops brine mix that had sugar in it, I rinsed it real good and will mix up a batch of cure tonight with no sugar. So that way I can do a side by side and see which one I like best. Thanks again eveyone for all of your insight. I wouldn't have thought of most of your great suggestions. I'll be sure to post the results of this experiment.
That's my usual plan, make multiple variations until I find which I like best. Then another recipe or suggestion comes along and gives me ideas and I go changing what I liked from the results of my experiments.

I'm on day 14 of my pastrami brine. If I have time, the pastrami is coming home tonight to toss into my WSM tomorrow morning. It's going to be tight on time today/tomorrow, so I may just wait until after work on Saturday to pull out of the brine and smoke on Sunday. Couple more days in the brine can't hurt. 
yahoo.gif
 
 
SmokingMeatForums.com is reader supported and as an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases.

Latest posts

Hot Threads

Clicky