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? ›

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 best method for cooking 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.

How to cook corned beef from the package? ›

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 you cover corned beef with water when cooking? ›

Place your corned beef brisket in a large pot or Dutch oven with a lid along with some aromatics like carrot chunks, celery stalks and a quartered onion. These vegetables will infuse the cooking liquid with flavor as the corned beef simmers away. Cover the corned beef with water.

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.

What is the secret to the best corned beef? ›

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.

Does corned beef get more tender the longer it is cooked? ›

Information. 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 do you do with 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.

When boiling a corned beef do you put the fat side up or down? ›

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. Vegetables may be added during the last 20 to 30 minutes of cooking. Cook vegetables to desired tenderness.

Is it better to boil or bake corned beef? ›

The bottom line: If you're a traditionalist, go ahead and keep boiling away. But baked corned beef is definitely worth a try.

Should corned beef be brought to room temperature before cooking? ›

1 Soak the Corned Beef

Place the beef in your pot, cover with cold water and let soak at room temperature for 15 to 30 minutes.

What is the red stuff in a corned beef package? ›

Blood is removed from beef during slaughter and only a small amount remains within the muscle tissue. Since beef is about 3/4 water, this natural moisture combined with protein is the source of the liquid in the package.

Do you start corned beef in cold water? ›

Cut open the package, and dump the meat into your large pot. Fill it with cold water enough to cover the meat, and put the pot on to boil. Your corned beef will either come with a seasoning packet, or the meat will have been packed in loose seasonings; either way, make sure the seasonings make it into the pot as well.

Does corned beef need to be completely submerged? ›

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.

Can you simmer corned beef all day? ›

No matter the method you use, it's best to cook low and slow. Place the corned beef in a stockpot. Add the spice packet and a bottle of dark beer. Bring to a boil, cover, and cook on a low simmer for about 2.5-3.5 hours, or 45-50 minutes per pound.

Why is my corned beef rubbery? ›

Not cooking the meat long enough.

Cooking this beef is a process that can't be rushed. Even when the meat is cooked through, it needs more time to transform the chewy bite into one that's deliciously tender. Do this instead: To slice into the tender pieces of meat you expect, cooking corned beef takes patience.

Is corned beef better in oven or boiled? ›

The bottom line: If you're a traditionalist, go ahead and keep boiling away. But baked corned beef is definitely worth a try.

Is it better to boil or slow cook corned beef? ›

No matter the method you use, it's best to cook low and slow. Place the corned beef in a stockpot. Add the spice packet and a bottle of dark beer. Bring to a boil, cover, and cook on a low simmer for about 2.5-3.5 hours, or 45-50 minutes per pound.

How do you keep corned beef moist? ›

Cooking over a high temperature.

Do this instead: Regardless of the cooking method, corned beef is best cooked over low heat. A low, gentle simmer on the stovetop or in the slow cooker are two methods for cooking up soft, tender slices of corned beef every time.

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!

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