How To Cook Corned Beef | Corned Beef Cooking Guide (2024)

Smoker Directions
Oven Directions
Stove Top Directions
Crock Pot Directions
Pressure Directions
Air Fryer Directions

How To Cook Corned Beef | Corned Beef Cooking Guide (7)

Smoker

Directions

The night before smoking the Corned Beef Brisket Remove the meat from the package and place in a large, seal lock bag. Add 2 quarts of water to the bag and seal. This will prevent the smoked Corned Beef Brisket from becoming overly salty during the cook process, while helping to maintain its full flavor. Place the sealed bag in refrigerator for 12 hours, being sure not to exceed 24 hours.

After the soak Remove the Corned Beef Brisket from the bag and discard the water.

Preheat the smoker to 225°F.

Place the Corned Beef Brisket fat side up in the smoker. Smoke the Corned Beef Brisket until it reaches an internal temperature of 160°F. Once it hits the targeted temperature, remove from smoker and wrap the meat in either pink butcher paper or aluminum foil. This method (called the Texas Crutch) will help push the brisket through the stall phase of cooking, without compromising the flavor or quality of the meat. Return the wrapped brisket to the smoker and increase the temperature to 250°F.

For optimal tenderness Cook the Corned Beef Brisket until it reaches an internal temperature of 203°F, then remove it from the smoker.

Place the smoked corned beef on a cutting board, cover with foil, and let it rest for 20 minutes.
Slice against the grain and serve.

How To Cook Corned Beef | Corned Beef Cooking Guide (8)

Oven

Directions

Remove Corned Beef from package and place fat-side up in oven-proof pan.

Add 1″ of water and mix in seasoning from spice packet.

Tightly seal pan with lid or foil.

Cook in oven at 300°F for approx. 3 – 4 hours or until fork tender. For food safety and tenderness, cook to an internal temp of at least 190°F

Remove meat from oven and let rest 10 mins. Slice thinly across the grain and serve.

How To Cook Corned Beef | Corned Beef Cooking Guide (9)

Stove Top

Directions

Remove Corned Beef from package and place in large pot with enough water to cover the meat.

Bring water to boil. For a more robust flavor, cut open the spice pack and add desired amount of enclosed spice packet to water.

Reduce to simmer and cover. Simmer for approx. 2 1/2 – 3 hours or until firmly fork tender. Internal temperature should be at least 160°F for food safety; for optimal tenderness, cook to an internal temperature of 190°F.

Remove meat from pot and let rest for 5 – 10 minutes. Slice thinly across the grain and serve.

How To Cook Corned Beef | Corned Beef Cooking Guide (10)

Crock Pot

Directions

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. Please note that crock pot cooking times may vary greatly depending upon brand and style. It is important to check the meat with a meat thermometer to ensure it has reached at least 160°F for food safety; for optimal tenderness, cook to an internal temperature of 190°F. For best results, monitor at regular intervals. Slice thinly across the grain.

How To Cook Corned Beef | Corned Beef Cooking Guide (11)

Pressure

Directions

Remove Corned Beef from package and place in pressure cooker with enough water to cover.

Attach the lid and cook at full pressure for 70 minutes. Bring pressure down and remove the lid. Add vegetables such as cabbage, potatoes, and carrots to the pot. Bring to full pressure and cook 15 additional minutes then release pressure and remove the lid. The corned beef and vegetables should all be fork tender . Internal temperature should be at least 160°F for food safety; for optimal tenderness, cook to an internal temperature of 190°F.

Remove meat from pressure cooker and let rest for 5 – 10 minutes. Slice across the grain.

How To Cook Corned Beef | Corned Beef Cooking Guide (12)

Air Fryer

Directions

Remove Corned Beef from package and place on the rack. Or, to add flavor rub the raw corned beef with mustard and sprinkle the top side with brown sugar, then place on the rack.

To make clean-up easier, consider lining the rack with aluminum foil.

Close the air fryer and set the temp. to 350°F and cook for approximately 90 – 120 minutes.

Please note that cooking times may vary across different brands and models.

For food safety and tenderness, cook to internal temperature of 160°F; for optimal tenderness cook to 190°F internal.

When the meat has reached the desire temperature, remove it from the air fryer and place on a cutting board. Allow the meat to rest for 20 minutes. Slice across the grain into ¼ inch slices and serve

ADDITIONAL TIPS:

  1. When cooking in an oven, crock pot, Instant Pot, pressure cooker, or on the stove top, always add the spices included in the spice packet to the water to add depth of flavor.
  2. When cooking with liquid, considering using liquids that will add flavor like stock or beer.
  3. When cooking in liquid, add diced mirepoix (carrots, celery, and onion).

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ALL RECIPES!

How To Cook Corned Beef | Corned Beef Cooking Guide (2024)

FAQs

How To Cook Corned Beef | Corned Beef Cooking Guide? ›

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. Please note that crock pot cooking times may vary greatly depending upon brand and style.

What is the best cooking method for corned beef? ›

The most common method for cooking corned beef and cabbage is boiling. Put the meat in a large pot, cover it with water or beef broth, add a seasoning packet and boil before lowering the heat to a simmer. Cook for 2 to 3 hours or until the meat is tender and cooked to your liking.

What is the secret to tender corned beef? ›

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.

What temperature should corned beef brisket be cooked at? ›

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.

What happens if you don't rinse corned beef before cooking? ›

1. Not Rinsing the Meat Before Cooking. If you cook the meat straight from the plastic packaging or pulled the meat right away from the brine solution in the fridge without rinsing, you just might be in for a saltier meal than you bargained for.

Is it better to cook corned beef in the oven or on the stove? ›

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.

Is it better to cook corned beef in water or beef broth? ›

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!

Does corned beef need to be covered in water the whole time? ›

Crock Pot. 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.

Do you use the liquid in the corned beef package? ›

Place the brined corned beef in a large pot or Dutch oven along with the liquid and spices that accompanied it in the package. Pour in enough water to cover the beef, then bring the water to a boil on the stovetop. Reduce the heat to a simmer, and cover the pot.

Do I cook corned beef fat side up or down? ›

Corned Beef Brisket should be placed in the crockpot or pot with the fat side up. The fat insulates and protects the meat and helps the corned beef from drying out as it cooks.

Is it better to cook corned beef longer or shorter? ›

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.

How do you know when corned beef is fully cooked? ›

Cook all raw corned beef to a minimum internal temperature of 145 °F as measured with a food thermometer before removing meat from the heat source. For safety and quality, allow meat to rest for at least three minutes before carving or consuming.

What is the most popular way to-cook corned beef? ›

Boil. Boiling is the traditional way of preparing corned beef. This approach accomplishes three things simultaneously: It cooks the meat, tenderizes the tough cut of brisket, and draws out the excess salt.

What temperature does corned beef fall apart at? ›

Collagen breakdown is a function of time and temperature. Once you breach the threshold of gelatin creation—about 160°F (71°C)—the meat will begin to soften. But at that temperature, it will take 36 hours to get tender! At 205°F (96°C), that time is reduced to a mere 3 hours.

Should corned beef be room temperature before cooking? ›

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.

Is it better to steam or boil corned beef? ›

Patrick's Day, chances are good that you boil it with the spices that often come with the meat. But there's more than one way to cook corned beef. Steaming works especially well with a fatty cut of meat like corned beef because the steam actually melts the fat, so some of it drips off during steaming.

Does boiling corned beef longer make it more tender? ›

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.

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