Corned Beef by Alton Brown

Transform your home kitchen into a deli-worthy culinary haven with Alton Brown’s corned beef recipe, a masterclass in traditional meat curing. This recipe features a flavorful brine crafted from aromatic spices like mustard seeds, cinnamon, allspice, and cloves, combined with kosher salt and a hint of fresh ginger for depth. After a meticulous 5-7 day curing process, the beef brisket is simmered to tender perfection, yielding melt-in-your-mouth slices that are perfect for sandwiches, hearty dinners, or St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. With its easy-to-follow steps and emphasis on bold, homemade flavors, this corned beef recipe is sure to become a family favorite.

Nutriscore Rating: 55/100

Prep Time:30 mins

Cook Time:1440 mins

Total Time:1470 mins

Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 1 gallon Water
• 1 cup Kosher salt
• 0.5 cup Sugar
• 1 teaspoon Saltpeter (optional)
• 1 Cinnamon stick, broken into several pieces
• 1 tablespoon Mustard seeds
• 1 tablespoon Whole black peppercorns
• 8 Whole cloves
• 8 Whole allspice berries
• 2 teaspoons Fresh ginger, grated
• 2 Bay leaves, crumbled
• 4 pounds Beef brisket, trimmed
• 10 cups Ice

Directions

Step 1

In a large pot, combine 1 gallon of water, kosher salt, sugar, and saltpeter (if using).

Step 2

Add the cinnamon stick, mustard seeds, peppercorns, cloves, allspice berries, grated ginger, and bay leaves to the pot.

Step 3

Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring to dissolve the salt and sugar completely.

Step 4

Remove the pot from heat and allow the brine to cool to room temperature.

Step 5

Once cooled, stir in 10 cups of ice to further chill the brine.

Step 6

Place the trimmed beef brisket into a large zip-top bag or a non-reactive container.

Step 7

Pour the chilled brine over the beef, ensuring the meat is fully submerged. Seal the bag or container tightly.

Step 8

Refrigerate the beef in the brine for 5-7 days, turning the brisket every day to ensure even curing.

Step 9

After curing, remove the brisket from the brine and rinse thoroughly under cool running water.

Step 10

Place the brisket in a large pot and cover completely with water.

Step 11

Bring the pot to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook the brisket for 2.5-3 hours, or until the meat is fork-tender.

Step 12

Remove the corned beef from the pot and let rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(7240.9g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	5045.4

Total Fat 333.7g	0%
Saturated Fat 129.7g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0g
Cholesterol 1524.1mg	0%
Sodium 108599.6mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 135.7g	0%
Dietary Fiber 15.2g	0%
Total Sugars 100.7g
Protein 386.3g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 703.2mg	0%
Iron 52.7mg	0%
Potassium 5503.9mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 59.0%

Protein: 30.3%

Carbs: 10.7%