The purpose of brining is to prevent meats from drying out in the cooking process and to maintain a tender, moist texture. Due to the salt, the chicken absorbs water, increasing the amount of water it would otherwise have when cooked.

• 4 chicken breasts or 1 whole chicken (triple recipe for 15 lb turkey), rinsed under cold water
• 8 oz Pure Ocean Table Sea Salt
• ¼ cup Firmly-packed brown sugar
• 15 whole black peppercorns
• 1 red chile pepper, thinly sliced
• 2 bay leaves
• 4 cups hot water
• 1 tablespoon lemon or lime juice
• 2 tablespoon minced garlic

Combine all ingredients, except the chicken, the day before cooking. Marinate chicken in brine for one hour before grilling or baking.