Brisket is a cut of beef from the breast or lower chest of a cow. It’s a tough, fatty cut that requires long, slow cooking to become tender. There are two main types of brisket – corned beef brisket and regular brisket. But which is better?
What is corned beef brisket?
Corned beef brisket is brisket that has been cured or “corned.” This curing process involves soaking the brisket in a brine solution typically made from salt, spices, and preservatives like sodium nitrite. This both preserves the meat and gives it a distinctive pinkish color and robust, seasoned flavor.
Traditionally, corning was used as a way to preserve meat before refrigeration. The high salt content of the brine prevents bacteria growth. Today, corned beef brisket is more of a specialty deli meat product, like pastrami. It’s especially associated with Irish-American and Jewish cuisine.
Key features of corned beef brisket:
- Cured or “corned” in a seasoned brine solution
- Pinkish color
- Robust seasoned flavor
- Traditionally served on holidays like St. Patrick’s Day and Passover
What is regular brisket?
Regular brisket refers to uncured beef brisket. It has a brownish color and often a less pronounced flavor compared to corned brisket. However, regular brisket also takes well to all kinds of seasonings and rubs.
Many barbecue aficionados consider smoked regular brisket to be the pinnacle of barbecue meat. Famously tender and flavorful brisket barbecue can be found throughout Texas, Memphis, Kansas City, and beyond.
Key features of regular brisket:
- Uncured beef brisket
- Brownish color
- Takes well to seasoning and rubs
- Popular choice for barbecue when smoked low and slow
Nutritional comparison
There are some notable nutritional differences between corned beef brisket and regular brisket. Here is a quick nutrition comparison for a 3 oz serving of each:
Nutrient | Corned beef brisket | Regular brisket |
---|---|---|
Calories | 230 | 194 |
Fat | 18g | 11g |
Protein | 18g | 22g |
Sodium | 540mg | 48mg |
As you can see, corned beef brisket tends to be higher in sodium and fat compared to regular brisket due to the curing process. Regular brisket is lower in sodium and provides more protein.
Cooking differences
There are some notable differences in how corned beef brisket and regular brisket are cooked due to the differences in preparation method:
Cooking corned beef brisket:
- Typically simmered or braised in liquid like water, broth, or beer
- Takes 2-4 hours to become tender when braised
- Delicious paired with potatoes, cabbage, carrots
- Well-suited to slow cooker or instant pot recipes
Cooking regular brisket:
- Typically smoked or roasted in the oven
- Takes up to 16 hours to become tender when smoked
- Fantastic when paired with barbecue sides like baked beans, coleslaw, cornbread
- Tough to cook well at home without a smoker; better left to the barbecue experts
So corned beef brisket can be cooked relatively quickly in moist heat. Regular brisket requires much longer, low and slow cooking under dry heat to break down the tough fibers. Overall, corned brisket is easier for most home cooks to prepare.
Flavor differences
The biggest difference between the two types of brisket comes down to flavor:
Corned beef brisket flavor:
- Salty and seasoned from brine cure
- Spicy and savory seasoning penetration throughout meat
- Very beefy, tender texture
Regular brisket flavor:
- Natural beefiness allows seasoning flavors to shine
- Smoked brisket takes on notes from wood smoke
- Texas-style simple salt and pepper rub
- Kansas City-style thick barbecue sauce coating
With its pronounced corned beef spice flavors, some find corned brisket to have more going on in terms of taste. But high quality smoked regular brisket is hard to beat for many barbecue fans.
Price differences
There is often a noticeable price difference between these two types of brisket. Based on current supermarket pricing:
Brisket Type | Average Price (per pound) |
---|---|
Corned beef brisket | $7-9 |
Regular brisket | $3-5 |
The additional processing makes corned beef brisket cost about twice as much per pound compared to regular brisket. For shoppers looking for budget-friendly options, regular brisket is the way to go.
Factors affecting regular brisket pricing:
- Choice grade vs. Select grade
- Fresh vs. frozen
- Flat cut vs. point cut
- Untrimmed vs. trimmed
Higher quality grades and cuts command premium pricing. Savvy brisket buyers can get good deals buying untrimmed, frozen flat cuts.
Serving suggestions
Here are some classic serving suggestions for each type of brisket:
Corned beef brisket:
- Corned beef and cabbage for St. Patrick’s Day
- Reuben sandwiches with rye bread, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut
- Hash made with potatoes, onions, carrots
- Broiled with glaze or mustard sauce
Regular brisket:
- Smoked brisket sandwiches with barbecue sauce
- Chopped brisket in baked beans
- Brisket chili with beans and tomatoes
- Fajitas made with sliced brisket
As you can see, corned beef brisket lends itself well to holiday meals and cold sandwiches, while regular brisket works great in hearty barbecue dishes.
Conclusions
So which is better – corned beef brisket or regular brisket?
There’s no clear winner. They are simply different takes on the same cut of meat. Here are some key takeaways when comparing the two:
- Corned beef brisket has more intense seasoning and spice flavors.
- Regular brisket has a more pure beefiness and takes well to smoking.
- Corned brisket cooks faster in moist heat while regular brisket requires long, slow cooking.
- Corned brisket costs considerably more per pound.
- Each lend themselves to different classic serving preparations.
The choice comes down to personal taste preferences and how much time you have for cooking. Purists may prefer regular brisket for authentic barbecue. Folks short on time who enjoy strong corned beef flavors will gravitate to the convenience of pre-brined corned brisket. There’s a time and place for both types of brisket in any meat lover’s kitchen!