Things You'll Need:
- Beef brisket
- Onion
- Seasoning
- Roasting pan
- Water or broth
- Gravy or sauce ingredients
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Step 1
Choose between a point cut or flat cut brisket according to your preference. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. The point cut contains more fat but is by most accounts the most flavorful. If less fat or more servings per pound is desired pick the flat cut which also works well for shredded beef.
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Step 2
Leave the fat on when you cook beef brisket and remove it before serving if desired. If you are making gravy you may need to remove some of the grease from the drippings.
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Step 3
Season beef brisket liberally. When cooked with onions, salt and pepper is sufficient for a pot roast style taste but some enhancements such as garlic powder, Italian seasoning and multipurpose seasoning adds more flavor. Consider a beef rub or mesquite seasoning for BBQ-style brisket or use cumin and fajita season for Mexican dishes.
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Step 4
Dredge the brisket in flour if cooking it in the oven and seer it on each side for one minute in a hot oil-coated pan set to medium-high.
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Step 5
Choose between a crock pot / slow cooker or oven to cook beef brisket unless you want to take a stab at smoking the meat. For more flavor cook beef brisket on low (300 to 325) in the oven, using little water. The browned bits will also make excellent gravy. A slow-cooked crockpot brisket may turn out well if you use minimum water and cook the beef brisket on low for 5 to 6 hours or more.
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Step 6
Place the brisket fat-side up in a greased roasting pan and optionally use a rack or lay the brisket on vegetables such as carrots or onions. Cover the brisket with a lid or foil and set the oven to 325 degrees. Cook uninterrupted for one hour.
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Step 7
Add 1 cup of water or low-sodium broth (vegetable or beef) enough to cover the pan but not soak the bottom of the roast. Recover and continue cooking another 1 to 2 hours until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees. Use only 1/2 cup of liquid if you plan to add BBQ or other sauce.
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Step 8
Add vegetables such as potatoes and carrots during the last 45 minutes of cooking beef brisket in the oven or 90 minutes prior in a slow cooker. Alternatively, add BBQ sauce at this time.
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Step 9
Let the beef brisket set 15 minutes before serving and cut along the grain. You will notice two distinct textures as you slice, one is stringy and,though tasty, may not appeal to some people. Serve briket whole like a pot roast or slice and serve with your favorite side dishes along with gravy or sauce.
