Corned Beef Recipes | Taste of Home (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to best corned beef? ›

Simmering corned beef on the stovetop is a tried-and-true method that results in very tender beef. One of the keys to simmering corned beef correctly is the amount of water in the pot. When there's not ample liquid to cover the meat, your dreams of tender corned beef may be replaced by a tough, chewy result.

Many recipes don't include a step for rinsing the meat, but it's worth doing it anyway. Depending on the pickling solution used for the meat, you may be in for a saltier meal than you bargained for if you cook the meat without rinsing it. And don't worry: Rinsing won't make the beef taste bland!

Slow Cooking

Slow cooker cooking is a popular and effortless way to cook corned beef that results in tender and succulent meat. The slow cooker, or crock pot, lets you cook food over a long period. This lets the meat absorb the flavors of the cooking liquid and spices.

Cover the corned beef with water. Add several tablespoons of pickling spices, or make your own blend with bay leaves, whole black peppercorns, mustard seeds, juniper berries, allspice berries and whole cloves.

It's a tough cut of meat that benefits from a lengthy cook time. For stovetop cooking, plan on at least three hours for a three-pound corned beef, or eight to 10 hours for a three- to four-pound cut that's prepared on low in the slow cooker.

To make the corned beef, open the sealed package right over the slow cooker, because you want to include the brine in the cooking liquid. Don't discard the brine. Place the meat into the cooker and add enough cold water to cover. Add the pickling spices, cover, and cook on high for 6–8 hours.

Place the corned beef fat-side up in a roasting pan with a rack or use an oven-safe rack set inside a rimmed baking sheet. If you don't have either, set the corned beef on top of a bed of chopped onions so it's elevated from the pan.

Boiling is the most common way to cook corned beef, but it can also be baked or made in a slow cooker. The important thing is to cook it slowly so that it will be tender when finished. To serve you should slice it against the grain.

1. Remove your corned beef brisket from its package and let rest at room temp for about 30-60 minutes. 2. Put in a large pan and cover with water or a mixture of water + light beef stock or beer or both.

Remove Corned Beef from package and place in crock pot and completely cover with water. Cover and cook for approximately 11 hours on low or 5 hours on high, or until firmly fork tender.

Should corned beef be fully submerged in water? ›

Yes, it does. Yes, corned beef should be covered with water in a slow cooker. This is important to ensure that the meat stays moist and tender during the cooking process. It is also important to ensure that the water level is high enough to fully submerge the meat, as this will ensure that it cooks evenly.

Beer contains acids and tannins, which break down meat and tenderize it. It's the same idea as using citrus, wine, or vinegar in a marinade. In this case, Chapple uses two bottles of pale ale to braise the beef, combining it with onion, garlic, bay leaves, and 12 cups of water.

Point Cut: The Secret to a Flavorful Feast

As a cut of corned beef derived from the fattier end of the whole brisket, it's distinguished by its significant fat marbling and denser connective tissue, characteristics that promise a juicier and more flavorful feast.

The flavor profile often includes bay leaf, black peppercorn, mustard seed, dried red pepper and coriander. If that blend sounds familiar, it's because it's same list of spices that are packaged as pickling spice. Not surprising, since corned beef and pickles are commonly made in the same place: a deli.

When you're done cooking the corned beef, make sure you slice against the grain of the meat. This will produce a more tender result; if you slice with the grain, you'll find a more tough and stringy texture when you chew.

Point Cut: More marbling and fat, ideal for slow cooking, results in a richer flavor and more tender meat, best for hearty dishes.

Soaking helps draw out some of the salt from the curing process.