Corned Beef Recipe: A Natural Way To Make Homemade Corned Beef (2024)

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Corned Beef Recipe: A Natural Way To Make Homemade Corned Beef (1)

This homemade corned beef recipe allows you to make corned beef without nitrates and nitrites. And Himalayan Sea Salt adds health benefits!

A Homemade Corned Beef Recipe

Now that it’s March, the warmerweather has me thinking about traditional foods for the season. One of those that we always make in early spring is corned beef and cabbage. You can make yourown delicious version to avoid chemicals and preservatives found in the store-bought corned beef.

What is Corned Beef?

There is no actual corn in corned beef. The name comes from Great Britain and means “small chunks,” referring to the salt pieces that were used in the curing process. You can certainly use rock salt, although I use Himalayan Pink Salt for the flavor and the nutritive value.

Delicious Homemade Corned Beef Recipe

My main secrets to good corned beef are 1) toasting the spices, and 2) using good cuts of meat. I get most of my beef from a local farm that specializes in hormone-free, pasture-raised, organic beef.

Spice Mix

Corned Beef Recipe Brine

Meat

  • 1 beef brisket, about 5 pounds for this corned beef recipe.

Cooking Instructions

  1. Make the Spice Mix. Toast all the spices (except ginger) in a pan for just a few minutes. Be sure to have your fan on or windows open as the fumes can be quite harsh if overheated. Let cool while you do the next step.
  2. Combine all the ingredients for the Brine. Bring to a boil, then simmer until all of the sugar and salt is dissolved. Cool, then refrigerate until very cold.
  3. Place the brisket in a large 9×13 pan, or larger if needed. Use enough brine to fully cover the brisket. This could be the entire gallon but may be more or less depending on the cut of meat. The meat may want to float. If it does, fill a clean quart jar with water and place it on top of the brisket. You may need more than one jar depending on the size of the brisket.
  4. Cover and place in the refrigerator for 5-7 days. Turn it over every day to be sure the brine is getting to all sides.
  5. When the brisket is fully cured, no more than 7 days for this corned beef recipe, it’s time to cook it. Rinse off well and place in a stockpot or another large pan. Cover with clear water and 1 tablespoon of the Spice Mixfrom the recipe. Either simmer ORbake on low (about 300°F) for 2-3 hours, or until cooked through. It should pull apart easily with a fork.

Tips for Great Roast Beef

The curing salt isnot totallynecessary as a curing agent sinceyou are cooking the meat, but it does help create that cool pink color. Without it, your meat will be a dull gray. However, you will notice that most pink curing salts contain red dye. If you’d like to skip the curing salt, you can use 1-2 tablespoons of beetroot powder to turn the meata light pink color.

You can use almost any type of sugar in this corned beef recipe. You could also use stevia since the sweetness is only for flavoring and not actual curing. Again, the meat will be cooked, not open-air cured.

Any type of salt will work. Just be sure to adjust your recipe if using finely ground salt; use about half as much. You could also omit part of the salt and use soy sauce. Salt is essential to curing and must be used in some form. If you don’t want as much of a salty taste later, you can change the water partway through the cooking process and eliminate some of the final salt.

And check out our Au Jus recipe if you want something to dip your sandwich in!

Corned beef is really easy! Have you ever made a corned beef recipe from scratch?

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Corned Beef Recipe: A Natural Way To Make Homemade Corned Beef (2)

About Debra Maslowski

Debra is a master gardener, a certified herbalist, a natural living instructor, and more. She taught Matt and Betsy how to make soap so they decided to bring her on as a staff writer! Debra recently started an organic herb farm in the mountains of Western North Carolina. You can even purchase her handmade products on Amazon!

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Comments

  1. Corned Beef Recipe: A Natural Way To Make Homemade Corned Beef (6)Kathy says

    Your directions about the spice mix are a little confusing to me. You have us make up over 9 tbs of mix, tell us to toast 3 tbls and let cool while you boil the salt and sugar to dissolve in water. When do you add the 3 tbls of spice to the brine, just after it is taken off the boil or just before you put the meat in it? And the 1 tbls that is added when you cook your corned beef, is that toasted also or taken from the untoasted lot? I need specifics, thank you.

  2. Corned Beef Recipe: A Natural Way To Make Homemade Corned Beef (7)Sonya says

    Any way I can put this in the crockpot on low insted of simmer or in the oven? Thanks, im really appreciating your recipes.

  3. Corned Beef Recipe: A Natural Way To Make Homemade Corned Beef (8)Marco says

    I have to make my own corned beef as I can’t eat the commercial ones due to allergies to the spices (black pepper, mustard, coriander, pepper flakes etc)

    So I make a herbed one with different dried herbs and salt etc. it comes out fantastically.

    There are so many variations to this recipe. The important part is the salt part which does the brining.

    I always weigh my salt and water as each type of salt has a different density. Also by weighing the water, I can boil half the water with the salt and herbs, then weigh in the remainder of the water as ice! Makes the whole solution cool down super fast and allows me to get the meat in the fridge brining asap.

  4. Corned Beef Recipe: A Natural Way To Make Homemade Corned Beef (9)Redina Miller says

    As a cancer survivor I avoid nitrates religiously and was enticed by your initial email comment about DIY nitrate free corned beef. But in the recipe you advise us to use “pink curing salt” for a nice pink color. Are you not aware that nitrates are in the curing salt? If you are offering a nitrate free recipe, you should point out that nitrates are in the curing salt and not to use it of you truly want to avoid nitrates.

    • Corned Beef Recipe: A Natural Way To Make Homemade Corned Beef (10)Nikkea says

      Just curious what you mean by nitrates in the curing salt? Pink Himalayan salt has nitrates??? Or in the process there is a chemical reaction that causes nitrates to be formed.

      • Corned Beef Recipe: A Natural Way To Make Homemade Corned Beef (11)Nikkea says

        Sorry I just read the rest of the recipe and saw that it uses NOT only Himalayan but also a “curing salt”. Too bad.

        • Corned Beef Recipe: A Natural Way To Make Homemade Corned Beef (12)Debra Maslowski says

          Hi Redina and Nikkea, I’m all about choices. You can use curing salt if you wish, but for those of you who don’t want to use it, you can add a bit of beetroot powder, as I described above. Curing salt, in this case, is only used to preserve the nice pink color and can be omitted since the meat will be cooked anyway. Hope this clears up any confusion!

Corned Beef Recipe: A Natural Way To Make Homemade Corned Beef (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to the best corned beef? ›

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.

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.

Can you use beef broth instead of water when cooking corned beef? ›

Boiled Corned Beef

Add the rinsed brisket and 1 ½ tablespoons pickling spices. Add unsalted beef broth until it covers the brisket by 1-inch, meaning there is one-inch of liquid above the top of the brisket. If you don't have enough broth, you can add water. Step 2: Simmer brisket.

What kind of beef cut is most suitable for his homemade corned beef? ›

The flat cut, with its leaner meat and minimal fat cap, is ideal for the classic corned beef and cabbage dish. This brisket section is characterized by a more uniform thickness and less fat, allowing for a more predictable cooking process and easier slicing.

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

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!

What gives corned beef its unique flavor? ›

There are two basic steps to corned beef: the spice rub, and the cook. The rub is a mix of spices; mustard, black pepper, coriander seed, allspice, clove, and most importantly, the salt that gives this dish it's characteristic hammy flavor.

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.

Why is my corned beef always tough? ›

Slow cooking at a low temperature gives the collagen in the meat time to become soft and gelatinous, which makes your meat tender. If your meat is dry or chewy, it's likely because it was cooked too hot and too fast.

Do you boil corned beef fat 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.

What is the liquid in corned beef? ›

The brisket is cured for hours in a brine of water, salt, spices and preservatives and can also be injected with the brine. Some producers of corned beef add their own blends of spices. Some stores sell lower-sodium versions.

Is corned beef supposed to be submerged in water? ›

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.

Do you discard the liquid that the corned beef package? ›

To make the corned beef, open the sealed package right over the slow cooker, because you want to include the brine in the cooking liquid. Don't discard the brine.

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 is the difference between corned beef and corned beef brisket? ›

ANSWER: They are both beef, but not the same thing. Fresh beef brisket is like a big roast. Corned beef starts out as beef brisket and is brine-cured first. The brine-cure is what makes it corned beef and that curing process is where it gets its color from.

What is corned beef seasoning made of? ›

Add coriander seeds, mustard seeds, peppercorns, anise seeds, fennel seeds, dill seeds and whole cloves to a skillet, or pan, on the stove over medium heat. Toast for 1-2 minutes, until fragrant. Grind the spices. Add the toasted seeds to a spice grinder, along with the bay leaves and red pepper flakes.

How to make corned beef more tender? ›

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.

Why add beer to corned beef? ›

The alcohol and hops in the beer add a rich, slightly bitter flavor that complements the salty and savory taste of the corned beef. What is this? Beer also contains enzymes that help to tenderize the meat, making it more tender and juicy.

Should you use the juice in the corned beef package? ›

To make the corned beef, open the sealed package right over the slow cooker, because you want to include the brine in the cooking liquid. Don't discard the brine.

Should you soak corned beef before cooking? ›

Essentially, you'd soak the brisket for one hour in a large pot with cool water, then dump the water and repeat one more time to decrease the sodium before cooking. Note: Be sure to place the beef in the pot back into the refrigerator while doing so to maintain proper food safety procedures in place.

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