Difference Between Beef Brisket & Corned Beef

Corned beef is delicious on rye

The difference between beef brisket and corned beef is that beef brisket is a cut of meat, while corned beef is a processed food produced from that cut.

Description

Beef brisket is cut from the underside of the cow near the front legs. It contains two cuts, the point cut (which is triangular and fattier) and the flat cut (which is leaner).

Considerations

Because briskets are tough and contain much connective tissue, they require a slow, moist cooking method, such as braising.

History

Before refrigeration, meats were preserved by salting, or "corning." Corned beef got its name because it was preserved in salt before cooking.

Culture

Beef brisket is a popular part of Jewish cuisine. The traditional corned beef and cabbage dinner for St. Patrick's day originated in the United States, where Irish immigrants learned to make corned beef from Jewish immigrants.

Fun Fact

Corned beef's traditional pink color comes from the preservative potassium nitrate (saltpeter).

References

• The Virtual Weber Bullet: Meat Charts
• Food Network: Corn the Beef

Resources

• Cruft: How to Make Homemade Pastrami and Corned Beef
• Food Network: Beef Brisket