Having a cow butchered and wondering if anyone here has made corned beef from fresh brisket

[capayvalleychick]

Thanks for that recipe. We have our own beef and I have some briskets that I wanted to corn. I don't want to use the nitrates, yet read that the meat will be an ugly gray if you don't. So my briskets have remained in the freezer. Did your corned beef look gray?

 

[Oregon Blues]

Thanks! Wonder if you could do the same thing with deer meat? Youth hunting is Saturday .

I'm mentally trying to put the flavors together in my mind, and Yes, I think it would work. The only issue is that corned beef is rather fatty, so it does not dry out with long cooking. Venison is just about totally fat free. But maybe that would be OK because you can cook corned beef completely submerged in water. I suspect the venison would cook a lot faster. Corned beef gets cooked all day because it is made out of the toughest cut on the cow.

 

[Oregon Blues]

................ I don't want to use the nitrates, yet read that the meat will be an ugly gray if you don't. So my briskets have remained in the freezer. Did your corned beef look gray?

Color is not neon pink like the corned beef from the grocery store. I didn't think the color was at all bad. It looks like meat. Nobody in my household even mentioned the color; they just gobbled the corned beef and cabbage down and went back for more.

Tell your family and guests that it is extra expensive all natural corned beef without any chemicals or preservatives (yeah, I know. The salt is a preservative). If they think it costs more, they will like it even better.

Try it. Your briskets aren't doing you any good sitting in the freezer.

 

[Chicks on DL]

I have also made corned beef using a similar recipe as Oregon. It turned out wonderful. I was so proud of myself. I enjoyed finding new ways to cook using the different cuts we got from our 1/2 a beef. I also asked for all my bones and made beef broth. I have a wonderful recipe for oxtail soup, it's my sons favorite.

 

[Mskayladog]

I have also made corned beef using a similar recipe as Oregon.  It turned out wonderful.  I was so proud of myself.  I enjoyed finding new ways to cook using the different cuts we got from our 1/2 a beef.   I also asked for all my bones and made beef broth.  I have a wonderful recipe for oxtail soup, it's my sons favorite.  

I was so upset when my daughter and son in law did not tell the butcher to save me the bones. I love making broth for soups from the bones.

 

[chefchick]

Corned venison IS rather dry, but the flavor is pretty close. If I had to choose, I'd pick the beef for sure. But the deer is pratically free.

 

[duckinnut]

Thanks for that recipe. We have our own beef and I have some briskets that I wanted to corn. I don't want to use the nitrates, yet read that the meat will be an ugly gray if you don't. So my briskets have remained in the freezer. Did your corned beef look gray?

The gray comes from the curing process. Gray corned beef is usually a flat cut brisket, or more commonly know as Irish corned beef here in N.E. It is often used in New England boiled dinner( traditional NE boiled is with a smoked shoulder) although it is sometimes called Irish American boiled dinner.It is usually served on and about St Patty's day, but with corned beef is an American idea, true Irish people use smoked shoulders but there is no such holiday in Ireland. The red corned beef is considered Jewish corned beef or NY corned beef that can be a point cut or flat cut but always be red/pink. No good for boiled dinner or smoking. Brisket for smoking is best using an fresh uncured one as the smoking does the curing as does any salt based rub aids as well.

 

[wekiva bird]

Thanks! Wonder if you could do the same thing with deer meat? Youth hunting is Saturday .

We have it is great.

 

[Mskayladog]

We have it is great.

That's nice to know! Bow season here and so far no one has gotten a dear. The cow is still at the butcher.

 

[bigmike&nan]

I suggest Morton TenderQuick, I use a couple teaspoons in the marinade I make when I smoke beef jerky.
Here is a recipe from Morton for corned beef using TenderQuick

http://www.mortonsalt.com/for-your-home/culinary-salts/recipes/228/deli-style-corned-beef

And while that corned beef is curing check out this recipe. Has worked wonders many times in my house

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/173521/bigs-baking-bag-corned-beef-dinner