A corned beef and cabbage meal typically takes a long time to cook. Why? Because corned beef comes from brisket, a tough cut of meat. You need its connective tissue to break down so you can have tender results. Some like to braise their corned beef in an all-water liquid, with various spices and salt; others add beer to the mix to further tenderize the meat.
Food & Wine culinary director at large Justin Chapple's version takes the beer route and, using pale ale, he cooks the corned beef over low heat for a few hours until it's super tender. He also pickles the cabbage and pairs it with potato salad — the cabbage is particularly low-lift, since it only has to sit in the fridge with the potatoes and pickles on its own. Here are the key tips for making the dish, compiled from our test kitchen.
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.
Chapple's recipe prepares the cabbage and potatoes separately from the beef. Instead of boiling the potatoes and then flavoring them, you do it all at once, adding white vinegar — and a lot of it — to the pot, along with mustard seeds, sugar, salt, and water. Once they're done cooking, you transfer them to a heatproof bowl and let them cool completely in the liquid, which further infuses the flavor.
A note: The reason red potatoes work so well for this recipe is because they have a high starch content, which allows them to hold together after cooking and still have a creamy bite.
Add the cabbage
After the potatoes are cooled, stir in the cabbage and refrigerate the mixture for one hour, stirring occasionally. It will pickle as it sits.
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. Since you've spent so much time cooking and tenderizing the beef, it would be a shame to undo all that hard work.
Mix the mustards
Dijon adds tang while whole-grain mustard provides texture — together, they make a great dipping sauce.
Leftovers
You're likely to have leftover corned beef, and you have a few options for how you can use it. You can always eat it as is; however, we have some fun ways of repurposing the meat, from making a tasty corned beef hash with fried eggs to "brat reubens" on a hoagie roll. (Reuben benedicts are also a pro move.)
Place in a roasting pan with the seam of the foil to the top. Place into a cold oven turn the oven temperature to 250 to 300 cook for 3 to 4 hours depending on the size. My last one you could cut with a butter knife. Low temperature and slow cooking will result in tender corned beef.
Another popular method for producing tender and juicy meat is slow cooking. Slow cooker corned beef brisket is easy to make using a crock pot, adding chopped vegetables, herbs and spices to the meat, and cooking for 8 to 10 hours on low heat.
Corned beef is made from one of several less tender cuts of beef like the brisket, rump, or round. Therefore, it requires long, moist cooking. Corned beef is safe once the internal temperature has reached at least 145 °F, with a three minute rest time, but cooking it longer will make it fork-tender.
You can add seasonings other than salt, like black peppercorns and bay leaves. Keep the brisket submerged at all times as well since it's the water actually transferring heat into the meat and cooking it. Letting the top become exposed will dry out the meat and slow down the cooking process, leading to uneven doneness.
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. Instead: Start by filling a large pot with enough water so the corned beef is completely submerged.
High heat is not a friend to brisket. When cooked at a boil for too long, corned beef is likely to turn out tough and chewy, rather than soft and tender. Do this instead: Regardless of the cooking method, corned beef is best cooked over low heat.
The USDA recommends simmering corned beef on the stovetop for 1 hour per pound of meat. If you're cooking yours in the oven, plan for 3 to 3 1/2 hours for a 2 1/2- to 3-pound cut.
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!
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.
Whether hosting a holiday cookout, serving up some stir-fry or tackling game meats, baking soda is the go-to meat tenderizer to help make your steak, chicken or turkey silkier, juicier and yummier.
In addition to acid-based foods, plant enzymes in fruits like pineapple and kiwi can tenderize meat. Like with lemon juice or vinegar, you don't want to leave these foods on beef for too long—it will make the meat soft. You can blend fruit to create a marinade.
In Chinese cooking, proteins like beef, pork or chicken are velveted first before stir-frying them. There are several ways to velvet, but at its most basic level, it involves marinating meat with at least one ingredient that will make it alkaline. This is what tenderizes the meat, especially cheaper, tougher cuts.
Place the corned beef brisket on top of the onions, fat side up. Sprinkle the spice packet evenly over the top. Add enough water to come up 1-inch. (Don't add too much, or it will have too much liquid at the end.)
For a two to three-pound corned beef brisket, cook for 2 1/2 to 3 hours. For a three to five-pound corned beef brisket, cook for 3 to 3 1/2 hours. STOVE: Place brisket fat-side up in a large pot and cover it with water. Bring the water to a boil; then reduce the heat and simmer, allowing about 1 hour per pound.
Add your other ingredients and liquids, then set your cooker to “low.” Plan for 6-9 hours of cooking time for your warming slow cooker meal. This long, slow braise breaks down the connective tissue and fat, creating deliciously soft and juicy meat.
The corned beef seasoning adds so much flavor to this traditional recipe, and a low, slow cook in beef broth makes this corned beef brisket juicy, tender and melt-in-your-mouth delicious!
Introduction: My name is Allyn Kozey, I am a outstanding, colorful, adventurous, encouraging, zealous, tender, helpful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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