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Beef brisket is one of those comforting foods that bring to mind memories of a Sunday dinner or a fun Texas barbecue. Even though it is a tough cut of meat beef brisket cooks up beautifully and it is something anyone can do at home. So how do you cook beef brisket?
When it comes to cooking beef brisket there's one thing to remember: low and slow. Brisket cooked at a low temperature over several hours will yield that tender melt-in-your mouth texture you crave. Let's take a closer look at how you can achieve this.
How To Cook A Beef Brisket On The Stove Top
To cook a beef brisket you'll need to braise the meat. Braising implies cooking the meat with a bit of liquid at a low temperature until tender. This can be accomplished on the stovetop or in the oven.
The steps are fairly simple:
-allow brisket to rest at room temperature for 45 minutes before cooking
-trim off excess fat from the beef brisket
-season the beef brisket liberally with salt and pepper or a spice rub -sear the brisket in a heavy bottomed pot such as a Dutch oven
-remove brisket from the pot and add onions, garlic and preferred herbs
-deglaze the pot with beef broth, wine or beer
-return the beef brisket to the pot and cover half way with broth
-bring to a boil then lower to a simmer
-cover with a lid and cook for 3 hours or until fork tender
If cooking in the oven set the temperature to 325 F (160 C). A 3 lb beef brisket will require anywhere from 3 to 4 hours of cooking time.
Cooking Tips
You can check the pot every hour or so to see if the broth has evaporated and you need to add more. The braising liquid should only cover the beef brisket halfway.
Remember to allow the meat to rest before cutting. Slice the beef brisket across the grain for maximum tenderness. However, if you braised it long enough the beef brisket should fall apart easily.
How To Cook Texas-Style Beef Brisket
Now that you've learned the basics of cooking brisket you may want to venture out and prepare your own Texas-style smoky feast. This video from Poor Man's Gourmet Kitchen that will help you make your meaty dreams come true:
