Not long ago, jerky was a shrink-wrapped snack item you grabbed at a gas station. In the past decade or so, it has been reinvented as a premium, artisanal specialty food, with dozens of brands in the ...

Before we discuss brining’s merits, let’s talk about why it’s done. Brining is soaking a raw bird in a solution of sugar, salt and (in some recipes) other spices, veggies or broth. It not only ...