Brine is basically salt dissolved in water, often with sugar, spices and herbs added at the cook's discretion. Added flavorings can enhance the brisket's taste, but they play no role in getting the meat to absorb water, which is the primary purpose. A brisket can soak in brine from 30 minutes to several hours or overnight, depending on the size and weight of the beef and how intense you want the flavor to be. Unfortunately, there's no hard-and-fast rule about brine timing, except that it's usually better to under-brine than to over-brine. That's because meat that sits in brine too long can turn gray and mushy.

To make a brine solution for brisket, start by adding 1 cup of non-iodized kosher salt to 1 gallon of water. This amount should be enough to completely cover a 2- to 3-pound brisket. Add more water if needed to completely cover the meat, but be sure to measure it and add a proportionate amount of salt. If the brisket is large enough that you want it to brine for several hours, increase the concentration to 9.6 ounces of salt for every gallon of water.

Salt is the key ingredient when it comes to brining a brisket, because it's the salt that encourages the meat to soak up more water. Kosher salt is preferred for brine rather than table salt because its bigger flakes dissolve more easily. Some cooks also think that kosher salt has a more mellow taste than table salt, which is ground into sharp crystals that are meant to pack an instant flavor punch. However, because kosher salt is bulkier than table salt, you may need to use more by volume. Different brands of kosher salt have different densities, too, so it's a good idea to experiment with a smaller cut of beef to get the recipe right.

Refrigerate the brisket in a covered container for the desired time. Any container that's food safe and non-corrosive will work; just be sure that the brine, which is concentrated salt water, won't eat away at the container. In particular don't use an aluminum pot, because it makes the meat taste bad. If your brisket is large, it may not fit in a refrigerator. A clean cooler can serve the same purpose; simply swap out ice for an equal amount of water in the brine recipe. Rinse the brisket well after brining to remove all visible salt, and then cook without adding more salt to the meat.