15 Leftover Corned Beef Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How long can you keep leftover corned beef in the fridge? ›

The flavor and texture will diminish with prolonged freezing but the product is still safe. After cooking, corned beef may be refrigerated for about three to four days and frozen for about two to three months.

Leftover corned beef broth can make an excellent base for starting a French onion soup.

Follow these simple directions and you'll produce a succulently tender brisket -- perfect for hot or cold sandwiches -- and all the fixings. Cook's notes: Corned beef shrinks while cooking, so plan on ¾ to 1 pound per person to allow for some leftovers.

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.

If you suspect that your corned beef has gone bad, there are some key signs to look for, including a “bad ground beef taste,” “abnormal stool smells,” or a “rotten egg smell thing” that goes beyond the normal aromatic profile of corned beef.

Reheating Corned Beef in the Oven

Add a small amount of beef broth, onion soup mix or barbecue sauce to add extra moisture and flavor. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 15-20 minutes until heated through. For added flavor, unwrap foil and broil 3-5 minutes until lightly browned. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.

Editor: Jane, yes — you may have to add a little more water or stock if the broth is very salty, but it will make a delicious soup. Here are a few more ideas for reusing leftover corned beef braising liquid: → What Can I Do With Leftover Braising Liquid?

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.

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.

Boiling is the most common method, but you can also slow cook, bake, grill, or pan-fry your corned beef. Each method has its distinct flavor and cooking process, so it's worth trying them all to find the best fit for you. The most common method for cooking corned beef and cabbage is boiling.

Is it best to boil or bake corned beef? ›

Is it better to boil or oven-bake corned beef? Boiled and baked corned beef are delicious, and both methods create a juicy, tender corned beef when done properly. Traditional recipes, like corned beef and cabbage, simmer corned beef in spiced water for about three hours.

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.

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.

Today's corned beef is now brined or cured using a salt water or sodium nitrite mixture, which fixes the pigment in the meat and causes it to be pink in color. That's why corned beef remains pink after cooking, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service.

Any corned beef left over from a meal should be refrigerated promptly-within 2 hours of cooking or reheating. Use cooked-ahead or leftover corned beef within 3 to 4 days or freeze 2 to 3 months.

Information. Packaged lunch meats can be stored in the refrigerator for two weeks before opening. After opening a package of lunch meats or buying sliced lunch meats at a deli, you can refrigerate them for three to five days.

Once you have popped the can's top, though, canned corned beef must be stored in an airtight container in the fridge to prevent spoilage. There, uncooked corned beef will last for three days. Meanwhile, cooked beef will last for up to four days. Read more: What Happens If You Accidentally Eat Mold?