This is the perfect brine for making your own corned beef or pastrami. Saltpeter, or potassium nitrate is a food preservative. It will give the meat a pink coloring and reduce the chances of spoilage. If you are careful with your food handling and don't want the pink coloring you won't need to add the saltpeter.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients:
- 4 quarts water
- 1 cup kosher salt
- 12 cloves garlic, crushed
- 3 tablespoons pickling spices
- 8 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon saltpeter (optional)
