Recipes and Cooking Apple Cider Brine for Pork 4.4 (7) Add your rating & review Cider in the brine adds a hint of apple flavor to the grilled chops in this easy dinner recipe. By BHG Test Kitchen BHG Test Kitchen The Better Homes & Gardens Test Kitchen has been in continuous operation for nearly 100 years, developing and testing practical, reliable recipes that readers can enjoy at home. The Test Kitchen team includes culinary specialists, food stylists, registered and licensed nutritionists, and other experts with Bachelor of Science degrees in food science, food and nutrition, or culinary arts. Together, the team tests more than 2,500 recipes, produces more than 2,500 food images, and creates more than 1,000 food videos each year in the state-of-the-art test kitchen. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Published on July 1, 2009 Print Rate It Share Share Tweet Pin Email Prep Time: 30 mins Marinate Time: 6 hrs Grill Time: 11 mins Total Time: 6 hrs 41 mins Servings: 4 Jump to Nutrition Facts Ingredients 2 cup cold water 1 cup kosher salt 1 cup packed light brown sugar 2 teaspoon dried thyme, or 2 sprigs fresh thyme 1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns 1 teaspoon whole cloves 4 cup unfiltered apple cider 2 cup ice cubes 4 0.75 inch thick natural pork chops* Olive oil Miniature sweet peppers (optional) Sliced French bread (optional) Directions For apple cider brine, in large saucepan over medium heat bring water, salt, brown sugar, thyme, peppercorns, and cloves to boiling. Cook, uncovered, 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally until sugar and salt are dissolved. Remove from heat; stir in apple cider and ice cubes. Cool. Place pork chops in extra-large resealable plastic bag. Pour cooled brine on chops; seal bag. Refrigerate 6 to 12 hours, turning bag occasionally to marinate evenly. Drain chops; discard brine. Pat chops dry with paper towels. Lightly brush chops with olive oil. For charcoal grill, place oiled chops on rack directly over medium coals. Grill, covered, 11 to 13 minutes or until chops are slightly pink in center and juices run clear (160 degrees F), turning once halfway through grilling. (For gas, heat grill. Reduce heat to medium. Grill as above.) Brush peppers and bread slices with olive oil. Add peppers to grill with chops. Grill directly over heat about 8 minutes, turning occasionally, until tender. Add bread to grill during last 2 to 4 minutes of grilling, turning once. Serve chops with peppers and bread. Makes 4 servings. Rate it Print Nutrition Facts (per serving) 214 Calories 6g Fat 5g Carbs 33g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 4 Calories 214 % Daily Value * Total Fat 6g 8% Saturated Fat 2g 10% Cholesterol 105mg 35% Sodium 1481mg 64% Total Carbohydrate 5g 2% Total Sugars 5g Protein 33g Calcium 20.2mg 2% Iron 1.3mg 7% Potassium 541mg 12% Vitamin B-12 0.6mcg Vitamin B-6 0.8mg *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.