Corned beef is a delicious type of meat that usually comes from a brisket, and it can be used in sandwiches or eaten with other items, including cabbage. In fact, corned beef and cabbage is a very popular dish in many parts of the world.
You can overcook corned beef. When you do, the meat becomes tough and dry, but you can often reheat it in just a tiny bit of water to get some of the moisture and flavor back.
How To Tell When Corned Beef Is Overcooked
Corned beef comes from a piece of meat that is soaked in some type of brine. The best way to cook corned beef is slowly over a low temperature, preferably 225 to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. And while you can overcook this type of meat, it is easy to stop this from happening. If you check the internal temperature of the meat regularly as it’s cooking and make sure it doesn’t get above 250 degrees, you should be able to stop it from becoming overcooked.
Nevertheless, if you’re checking the temperature and you notice that it’s higher than it should be, or you notice the meat becoming a little tough, this is a good time to turn down the temperature some and prepare to cook it a little longer than you expected. Remember, the lower the temperature and the slower you cook the meat, the less likely you’ll end up with corned beef that is overcooked.
How Corned Beef Gets Overcooked
While overcooked corned beef is easy to avoid, it’s still good to know exactly what will make your corned beef tough and dry:
Cooking Too Fast
Since corned beef is a brisket, it doesn’t respond well to high heat. Some people get anxious for their corned beef to be done and turn the heat up a little too high. This will indeed cook the corned beef faster, but you always run the risk of having an overcooked product in the end. With corned beef, the cooking process has to be ‘slow and low.’
Cooking Too Long
Different sizes of corned beef will cook differently, so rather than cooking your corned beef for a specific amount of time, it’s a good idea to cook it until it reaches an internal temperature of 200 to 210 degrees Fahrenheit. In fact, it’s best to remove corned beef from the heat when it gets to this temperature. This is because the temperature will continue to rise after the meat is removed from the heat. But the meat’s temperature should never be higher than 215 degrees.
Other Mistakes That Might Overcook Corned Beef
Other things can overcook your corned beef. For one, not having enough water in the pot can cause the beef to overcook. As a general rule, you should have enough water to completely cover the corned beef. If the water starts to evaporate, you’ll need to add more to the pot. Also, never let the water get to a boil. Instead, a slow simmer is what you want, because it is easy for the meat to overcook otherwise.
How To Tell When Corned Beef Is Done
Corned beef should be cooked for 1 to 1.5 hours per pound and until the temperature inside the meat reaches a minimum of 195 degrees. Cooking it for this long will ensure that it has the right taste and texture. You can also stick a fork in the meat and twist it a little. If you notice fibers that come apart easily, the corned beef is done. If this doesn’t happen, let it cook for another 20 minutes or so before checking it again.
You should also rinse off the corned beef after it is cooked in order to remove any excess salt and give it a much better flavor. Also, let the meat rest for 20-30 minutes before you start slicing it. This is a simple but very important step that will make the meat taste great.
Can You Salvage Overcooked Corned Beef?
In many instances, you can salvage corned beef that has been overcooked. To do this, preheat your oven to 250 degrees, then place slices of corned beef in a pan with a bit of liquid. Most people use either water or beef stock. Place aluminum foil tightly over the pan and heat it in the oven for roughly 20 minutes. This moist-heat method usually works wonders in rehydrating the meat and making it tender and moist once again. You should also taste the beef to make sure it doesn’t need additional salt.
If that doesn’t work, you can always use the corned beef in various dishes, such as corned beef hash.
Methods of Cooking Corned Beef
You can cook your corned beef in numerous ways, and the curing process will take place if it is cooked for long enough and at a low enough temperature. Most people cook it in the oven, but you can cook it in a pot on the stove or even in a slow cooker. Regardless of which cooking method you use to cook your corned beef, remember to cook it very slowly, keep it covered in water, and cook it at a low temperature for the perfect corned beef.