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Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with Corned Beef!

Corned beef
Corned Beef
Photo: Canva.com

To start, what does the term “corning” mean? It is a form of dry-curing beef brisket with “corns” of salt. These corns are not actual corn, but refer to the size of the salt crystals.  Originally, this was a way to preserve beef during the winter months and through the season of Lent.

Today, corned beef can be found throughout the year. It is traditionally served with cabbage on St. Patrick’s Day but also as tasty meat for sandwiches.

You can buy corned beef that is ready to cook. It is in a salt brine with spices. Use a long, moist cooking method either in the oven, on top of the stove or a slow cooker. It should be “fork-tender” with an internal temperature of 160°F. It will likely have a pink color after cooking because of the nitrites used in the curing process. Cut into slices against the grain.

Learn more at https://extension.umn.edu/preserving-and-preparing/prepare-corned-beef and https://blogs.extension.iastate.edu/answerline/2021/03/09/diy-corned-beef/

 

About Karen Blakeslee

The Rapid Response Center was formed in 1995 as a resource for Kansas State University Research & Extension Agents. Resource topics included Food Science, Human Nutrition, Food Service, Textiles, Home Care and other consumer topics. Since that time, the Center has grown to be of valuable assistance to Kansas State University Extension Specialists in those areas.