Dry brining a steak

Cyberty

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Dry brining is a relatively new term that combines pre salting a protein correlated with dry aging.

My process is to liberally salt a prime ribeye on both sides on a ceramic plate. (Not paper, plastic, or foil.). The results are better on a flat plate than on a grate on the plate.

I place it in the refrigerator uncovered and flip it before I go to bed and then when I wake up. (Aging one day created a better flavor than two days.) The meat will change color in places from red to grey. Don’t worry about that. It is just oxidation and will not harm the flavor or you. Do not dry the plate when you flip the ribeye. Put the dry side into the small amount of moisture rendreed.

Why does this help?

The dry aging removes water from the protien. Water does not have flavor. The results are the same as reducing a sauce by simmering it uncovered to remove excess water. The flavor gets more intense. So, more meat flavor.

The salt does a couple of things. It does extract some water from the protein. This water disolves the salt. As the protein dries, it will pull back in the dissolved saltwater. This seasons the interior of the meat. The salt on the exterior also denatures the proteins of the steak. These broken protein strands are benificial because they will create a crust when the steak is seared. The crust is tasty and it seals the steak from losing water during the cooking. (This works on all proteins. Pork, chicken And via different cooking processes; fry, bake, boil, etc)
 
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Dry brining is a relatively new term that combines pre salting a protein correlated with dry aging.

My process is to liberally salt a prime ribeye on both sides on a ceramic plate. (Not paper, plastic, or foil.). The results are better on a flat plate than on a grate on the plate.

I place it in the refrigerator uncovered and flip it before I go to bed and then when I wake up. (Aging one day created a better flavor than two days.) The meat will change color in places from red to grey. Don’t worry about that. It is just oxidation and will not harm the flavor or you. Do not dry the plate when you flip the ribeye. Put the dry side into the small amount of moisture rendreed.

Why does this help?

The dry aging removes water from the protien. Water does not have flavor. The results are the same as reducing a sauce by simmering it uncovered to remove excess water. The flavor gets more intense. So, more meat flavor.

The salt does a couple of things. It does extract some water from the protein. This water disolves the salt. As the protein dries, it will pull back in the dissolved saltwater. This seasons the interior of the meat. The salt on the exterior also denatures the proteins of the steak. These broken protein strands are benificial because they will create a crust when the steak is seared. The crust is tasty and it seals the steak from losing water during the cooking. (This works on all proteins. Pork, chicken And via different cooking processes; fry, bake, boil, etc)
Ove done this forver. Dodnt know there was a name. Try different salts ttoo
 
Just got back on the site....been off for a moth or so.

Anyhow....I dry brine all of my steaks. I also get primal cuts and dry age them myself. Both processes are 100% worth it.
Agreed.

We exclusively use this process and cast iron for our steaks.
 
Just got back on the site....been off for a moth or so.

Anyhow....I dry brine all of my steaks. I also get primal cuts and dry age them myself. Both processes are 100% worth it.
Can you expand on this a bit? Do you use the same process that @Cyberty described above? I've thought about doing this, but have never actually tried it. What do you mean when you say "primal cuts"? Just cuts that aren't yet sliced into steaks?
 
Can you expand on this a bit? Do you use the same process that @Cyberty described above? I've thought about doing this, but have never actually tried it. What do you mean when you say "primal cuts"? Just cuts that aren't yet sliced into steaks?
Exactly. If you have a good steak already simply salt the steak on both sides and allow it to work into the meat overnight. It will pull some moisture out but that moisture will then take the salt into the meat. It will also intensify the flavor.

Regarding dry aging....I will get a whole Strip Loin or whole ribeye from Costco or wherever. I will take it out of the cryovac packaging, rinse it off and pad it dry. I’ll then set it on a rack in a sheet pan and put it in my dry-aging fridge in the basement. Depending on the size I will leave it in there 2-4 weeks to intensify the flavor.
 
Exactly. If you have a good steak already simply salt the steak on both sides and allow it to work into the meat overnight. It will pull some moisture out but that moisture will then take the salt into the meat. It will also intensify the flavor.

Regarding dry aging....I will get a whole Strip Loin or whole ribeye from Costco or wherever. I will take it out of the cryovac packaging, rinse it off and pad it dry. I’ll then set it on a rack in a sheet pan and put it in my dry-aging fridge in the basement. Depending on the size I will leave it in there 2-4 weeks to intensify the flavor.
Do you add more salt to it over time or just the initial covering? Do you leave it uncovered?

And welcome back.
 
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