What produce/ingredients did you buy or obtain today (2025)?

It’s a full wet brine. That’s the only sort that really works well with thick fat coated meat.
It’s breaks it down the proteins from the inside. A rub like a sauce would just mostly sit on the skin and not do much.
IMO there’s no comparison between the results of a fully submerged wet brine and a rub. Rubs are good but for BBQ’s and adding some strong flavour to the outer layers but for real change in tenderness a full wet brine is king of the hill.

I use a large stock pot filled with the water, salt, sugar and flavouring (in this case plums) add the birds to sit in it for 12 hours (tbh I prefer 24 hours), that gives the salt and sugar solution enough time to fully penetrate the meat and work their magic.

So with the plums (or any fruit n veg) Ill roughly cut them in half, then bring to the boil n simmer them briefly in the salt n sugar solution with any other aromatics (I’m thinking maybe juniper or star anise) and let that infuse before dunking the ducks in their watery grave overnight.
 
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It’s a full wet brine. That’s the only sort that really works well with thick fat coated meat.
Ahh, ok, I misunderstood.
Plums are not particularly acidic, so I'd suggest adding something acidic to the brine to help. Lime/orange/grapefruit perhaps, or even some vinegar might work.
 
Maybe but I don’t think so, just because the worse case scenario means the plums don’t impart a lot of plummy flavour to the meat which I don’t see as much of a loss.
If they plum it up a bit then that’ll just be a bonus and as you know it’s the salt n sugar that does most of the work anyway. Maybe a bit of lemon rind wouldn’t hurt.

Mr SSOAP has just returned from the supermarket triumphant with three ducks and some plums 👍
Someone arrived just behind him and watched as he took one duck, two ducks and on duck number three the woman exclaimed “Oh no” 😂
Fortunately there were four there and the OP only needed one 😊
What about using plum sauce?

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Or plum preserves?

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What about using plum sauce?

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Or plum preserves?

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Plum jam is a good suggestion and I’d try that next time, I’m always wary of the sugar content in a brine just because sugar can cook n burn so easily at roasting temps. Reckon if I subbed the sugar for the jam it would work well though. Thanks 😊
 
Went with orange zest and one orange (not a lot because although I love orange flavoured things I’m not a huge fan of orange flavoured meat), lemons, a punnet of plums, a decent amount of star anise and black peppercorns, garlic, ginger, bay leaves and some soy sauce (replacing some of the brine salt).

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