What exactly is corned beef, anyway? (2024)

Spoiler alert: there’s no corn.

The “corn” in corned beef refers to the curing element that transforms a cut of brisket into the Irish dish. After arranging the meat in a deep pot with large kernels or “corns” of rock salt, water and other spices, the mixture sits for days on end and pickles into the St. Patrick’s Day staple. You can even add a Guinness (or two) to the brine if you’re making it at home and feeling particularly festive.

What exactly is corned beef, anyway? (1)

The meat used in a traditional corned beef is usually a brisket cut from the front of a cow. It’s a super versatile final product that’s worth the time to make if you’ve got it. Corned beef is part of a traditional boiled dinner served alongside cabbage and potatoes; it’s the meat in a Reuben and a breakfast hash sautéed with potatoes, onion and topped with a fried egg. So, despite the very bland reputation attached to Irish food, corned beef is quite delicious.

What exactly is corned beef, anyway? (2)

But, beware the canned corned beef. It once fed the British troops in World War I and still lurks on supermarket shelves today. It’s like spam, really, and it’s a wonder it’s still a thing – yuck.

One thing corned beef is not: healthy. A serving size packs about 800 calories, 60 grams of total fat and a whopping 3600 milligrams of salt (blame the brine). Silver lining? It’s loaded with protein, nearly 60 grams per serving.

What exactly is corned beef, anyway? (2024)

FAQs

What exactly is corned beef? ›

Corned beef is meat that has been cured in a salt solution. Before refrigeration, meat was salted and cured to be preserved. Historically, any type of meat could be put through the curing process that makes what we know as corned beef today. In the U.S., corned beef is made from beef brisket.

What is corned beef in a can? ›

As for the beef itself, canned corned beef is made from tough cuts of meat, like chuck, pot roast, or rump roast. In the non-canned version, this is usually brisket, but with canned beef, this may not always be the case. It's also worth mentioning that the pink curing salt gives the corned beef its pink color.

What part of the animal is corned beef? ›

corned beef, food made of beef brisket cured in salt. Related to the word kernel, a corn is a coarse grain of rock salt. In North America, corned beef is brisket, taken from the lower chest of a cow or steer, that has been brined in salt and spices.

Is corned beef good or bad for you? ›

While it provides protein and nutrients like iron and vitamin B12, corned beef is relatively high in fat and sodium. It's also a source of certain compounds that may increase your risk of cancer.

What is the most unhealthy meat to eat? ›

try to limit processed meat products such as sausages, salami, pâté and beefburgers, because these are generally high in fat – they are often high in salt, too. try to limit meat products in pastry, such as pies and sausage rolls, because they are often high in fat and salt.

Is spam corned beef? ›

The main difference between Spam and corned beef is the preparation and taste, but they are similar in being canned and processed meats. Spam is made from pork shoulder and ham, which has a distinct salty, savory flavor. Corned beef is a cured beef brisket, which has a salty yet spiced flavor.

Why is corned beef so expensive? ›

The brining (and sometimes cooking) involves labor, packaging and special equipment expenses (on top of raw material costs), so all things being equal, it will cost more than beef brisket (the cut of beef corned beef is usually made from). ... That's less than half of the price of beef brisket.

What is Libby's corned beef made of? ›

COOKED BEEF, BEEF, WATER, SALT, SUGAR, SODIUM NITRITE.

Is corned beef healthier than hamburger? ›

In addition, raw beef (sodium- 66 mg per 100g) also has a lower sodium content than corned beef (sodium- 973 mg per 100g). Therefore, with higher nutritional values and lower sodium content, regular beef is healthier than corned beef.

Is corned beef bad for high blood pressure? ›

Processed meat is meat that has been preserved to last longer, including bacon, sausages, and canned meat such as corned beef. These foods often have high levels of salt to preserve their flavour. Consuming too much salt can increase your risk of high blood pressure, as salt interferes with your body's fluid balance.

What is so special about corned beef? ›

Corned beef is made from brisket, a relatively inexpensive cut of beef. The meat goes through a long curing process using large grains of rock salt, or “corns” of salt, and a brine. It's then slowly cooked, turning a tough cut of beef into one that's super tender and flavorful.

What is the point of corned beef? ›

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.

Is corned beef just brisket? ›

Corned beef is a type of meat that is made from brisket, which is a cut of beef from the breast or lower chest of a cow. To prepare corned beef, the brisket is cured in a brine (water and salt) solution for several days, giving it its distinctive salty flavor.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Arielle Torp

Last Updated:

Views: 6014

Rating: 4 / 5 (41 voted)

Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Arielle Torp

Birthday: 1997-09-20

Address: 87313 Erdman Vista, North Dustinborough, WA 37563

Phone: +97216742823598

Job: Central Technology Officer

Hobby: Taekwondo, Macrame, Foreign language learning, Kite flying, Cooking, Skiing, Computer programming

Introduction: My name is Arielle Torp, I am a comfortable, kind, zealous, lovely, jolly, colorful, adventurous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.