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All Things Considered => General Discussion--Food Related => Topic started by: okie smokie on February 01, 2019, 04:55:23 PM

Title: Smoking a Corned Beef Flat
Post by: okie smokie on February 01, 2019, 04:55:23 PM
Just picked up a 4.25 lb "Paddy Oniell's" repacked corned beef flat produced by Premium Foods in Greeley, Co.  (Just revealing this in case someone has done one of these.  It has separate instructions for smoking which are: 
1. Rinse. (I called the producer and asked "for how long to rinse?") and he said that it was fine without a rinse or just a quick rinse would do.  After I closed the call I realized that they have either pre-rinsed it or have really changed the brining process.  He was very specific about this.
2.  Season with your own favorite beef rub.
3.  Smoke naked at 275 for about 3 hrs or to 165*
4.  Foil and ad 1/2 cup water, and continue at 275 for another 1.5 hrs or a temp of 185-190.
5.  Let it set wrapped for 15 minutes
5.  Slice and serve.

Does anyone have better suggestion? I sure am concerned that if the corning process is the usual, that it might be too salty unless I soak it longer in the rinse process.?? :help:
Title: Re: Smoking a Corned Beef Flat
Post by: Bentley on February 01, 2019, 05:50:37 PM
Salt intensity is such a personal thing.  I have never understood folks that will soak a CB before making pastrami.  But I am a salt fiend.  So I would not even know how to advise you on the soak question.

You are wanting it to taste like corned beef and not pastrami correct?  I would cook more towards feel, using temperature as an extra guide.  Gonna assume you want it the texture and tenderness of your briskets?

CB sandwich, that is another wonderful meal!
Title: Re: Smoking a Corned Beef Flat
Post by: okie smokie on February 02, 2019, 11:39:20 AM
Salt intensity is such a personal thing.  I have never understood folks that will soak a CB before making pastrami.  But I am a salt fiend.  So I would not even know how to advise you on the soak question.

You are wanting it to taste like corned beef and not pastrami correct?  I would cook more towards feel, using temperature as an extra guide.  Gonna assume you want it the texture and tenderness of your briskets?

CB sandwich, that is another wonderful meal!
Yup, we want corned beef for sandwiches.  Love Reubens. Best corned beef to my liking used to come from Denver (Kosher) according to my grandmother, and had enough retained fat to keep it very tasty.  Sliced very thin and thickly applied to  marbled rye with thousand island, sour kraut, swiss cheese. First butter fry both pieces of rye and then apply the fixing.  Yup.  Don't like it too salty. The big kosher dill pickle on the side (unsliced).
Title: Re: Smoking a Corned Beef Flat
Post by: Bentley on February 02, 2019, 12:34:04 PM
Since you are going to dry heat cook it instead of steam like me, a soak is probably best for your tastes!
Title: Re: Smoking a Corned Beef Flat
Post by: Bar-B-Lew on February 02, 2019, 03:15:51 PM
That is a small cut of meat.   I'm not sure you need to go more than 6 hours with it.  Maybe try it after six with a slice.  If it is not what you want, they go with the longer hour sous vide recommendation.

What temp you think?

I would probably do 135°.  I only say that because the tri tips that I have sous vide after smoking first were at that temp and for 6 hours and were tender.  They were similar in size but probably a little bigger.
Title: Re: Smoking a Corned Beef Flat
Post by: okie smokie on February 03, 2019, 11:07:52 PM
 Lots of good advice.  Will have both the sous vide cooker, and plastic square tub and lid this next week. Report when available.
Title: Re: Smoking a Corned Beef Flat
Post by: Bentley on February 04, 2019, 03:12:22 PM
Ahh, 1000 Island over Russian dressing...the great debate.
Title: Re: Smoking a Corned Beef Flat
Post by: Bentley on February 06, 2019, 10:35:45 AM
We were stepping pretty hard on Okie Smoke's thread (he may not care but I try and show some respect...I am just real slow as you know), see Sous Viding a Corned Beef flat. (https://pelletfan.com/index.php?topic=3653.0) for continuation of that thread.
Title: Re: Smoking a Corned Beef Flat
Post by: okie smokie on February 07, 2019, 01:59:49 PM
Here goes.  Smoked the whole flat at 275 for 3 hrs.  Meat temp was 157*.  Cut in half and bagged and sealed for sous vide. Other half in the freezer for another time.  Into the sous vide. Fat made it float, so I added a small salad plate on top to keep it under.  Set temp and 160* and cook for 24 hrs. planned.  Lookin good! 
(https://i.imgur.com/IHq6Bh0l.jpg)
Here it is after 3 hrs on GS.
(https://i.imgur.com/rvckA2al.jpg)
Here it is with plate added for weight.
(https://i.imgur.com/Pwteukel.jpg)
Will pull at noon tomorrow and will cool before slicing thin for Reubens.  (Unless my wife changes her mind for thicker cuts with cabbage)
BTW, looks like it is a combo cut of flat and point.?
Title: Re: Smoking a Corned Beef Flat
Post by: Bentley on February 07, 2019, 02:07:55 PM
Never sure if I have terminology right.  I thought the fat between the point and flat was the deckle, and that looks like it has that and some of both point and flat.


(https://i.imgur.com/IHq6Bh0l.jpg)

BTW, looks like it is a combo cut of flat and point.?
Title: Re: Smoking a Corned Beef Flat
Post by: dk117 on February 07, 2019, 04:02:59 PM
 [ Invalid Attachment ]
did this last week, went up to 200 IT.   Still working on it.  Made a great one a few years back, still trying to replicate.
Title: Re: Smoking a Corned Beef Flat
Post by: okie smokie on February 07, 2019, 05:18:39 PM
Never sure if I have terminology right.  I thought the fat between the point and flat was the deckle, and that looks like it has that and some of both point and flat.


(https://i.imgur.com/IHq6Bh0l.jpg)

BTW, looks like it is a combo cut of flat and point.?



That's what I too think.  Should make excellent sammies.
Title: Re: Smoking a Corned Beef Flat
Post by: okie smokie on February 08, 2019, 11:06:01 PM
Final report:  Finished the corned beef at noon today.  3 hrs smoked at 275* and 24 hrs sous vide at 160.  I am sold on sous vide.  It came out perfect.  Chilled and then thin sliced for Reubens.  Classic Reuben with marbled jewish rye, swiss cheese, thousand island, corned beef, thousand island, kraut (don't forget to drain it well), swiss cheese again, and more 1000 island.  Toasted in butter on the griddle till the cheese melted.
My wife and I agree it was the best corned beef for both tenderness, and flavor.  Forgot to take pics of the slices-sorry.
Only change for next time:  When I took it off the smoker and divided in half (froze the other) I then vacuum sealed for the sous vide, and got liquid into my sealer, so had to seal it double to be sure. Then nasty clean up of my vacuum sealer.  Next time will freeze it before sealing--which means a day of delay. Afraid to use a zip lock for such a long cook. ?

(https://i.imgur.com/XvDMhdQl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/IU0ucMml.jpg)
Title: Re: Smoking a Corned Beef Flat
Post by: Bar-B-Lew on February 09, 2019, 07:19:21 AM
I don't eat corned beef or rueben's but that looks like a great sandwich.  Congrats.

I usually let the meat cool in the fridge after smoking and prior to vac sealing.  I have not had any issue with juices in the sealer then.  It is a two to three day process for me though.
Title: Re: Smoking a Corned Beef Flat
Post by: cookingjnj on February 09, 2019, 12:31:45 PM
Similar to Lew, prior to sealing, depending on the size of the meat or the amount of possible juices that will come from the meat, I par freeze in the freezer for 30 minutes up to an hour.  This will allow the piece to maintain shape (usually with fish) or keep the juices in because they start to freeze first, but not fully freeze.  Then I pull from freezer, vac seal and into the freezer til needed.
Title: Re: Smoking a Corned Beef Flat
Post by: okie smokie on February 10, 2019, 11:11:22 AM
I don't eat corned beef or rueben's but that looks like a great sandwich.  Congrats.

I usually let the meat cool in the fridge after smoking and prior to vac sealing.  I have not had any issue with juices in the sealer then.  It is a two to three day process for me though.
Well I did freeze the other half after the smoking, so that should work for me also.  Still can't get over the texture after sous vide.  The whole thing was very firm feeling until I cut the slices.  They just were wonderful and fell apart as you bite into them. Unlike any tenderness obtained by just low and slow on the pit.   :cool:
Title: Re: Smoking a Corned Beef Flat
Post by: dk117 on February 11, 2019, 01:18:29 PM
hijacking of thread in 3-2-1

smoking, sous vide  ... or was it the  thin sliced flat?  I'm getting increasingly serious about purchasing a real slicer.

DK
Title: Re: Smoking a Corned Beef Flat
Post by: Clonesmoker on March 16, 2022, 08:54:52 AM
Never done a corned beef before but trying out Okie's recipe here. Just have a 3 lb corned beef but will give it a try. Hopeful. Will post pics of finished product. Will be done before noon tomorrow.
Title: Re: Smoking a Corned Beef Flat
Post by: okie smokie on March 16, 2022, 09:13:20 AM
That was 3 years ago! I had forgotten about it.  Let us know how it turns out. :clap:
Title: Re: Smoking a Corned Beef Flat
Post by: Bar-B-Lew on March 16, 2022, 09:16:30 AM
That was 3 years ago! I had forgotten about it.  Let us know how it turns out. :clap:

Funny how time flies.  I didn't realize how long ago this board was born.
Title: Re: Smoking a Corned Beef Flat
Post by: hughver on March 16, 2022, 01:09:26 PM
Because they are on sale this time of the year, I picked up a 4 lb. point cut. In the past I've always bought flats, soaked for a day or two and made pastrami. This one, if there is a fat cap (package is still unopened but I can't see one) I'll remove it and cook similar to Okie only at lower temperatures and longer sous vide time. Probably will still soak.
Title: Re: Smoking a Corned Beef Flat
Post by: Clonesmoker on March 16, 2022, 04:23:13 PM
Here is a pic of it after pulling it off the smoker (fat side down). This was $3lb point that looked like Wagyu Beef just the way it was marbled. Took about two hours at 275 and IT was about 165.  Added a touch ofS&P for the smoke and then the flavor packet for the long bath in 160 degree water for 24 hours.

 [ Invalid Attachment ]
Title: Re: Smoking a Corned Beef Flat
Post by: hughver on March 16, 2022, 05:53:44 PM
The point that I bought was not marbled at all, which is why I initially thought that it was a flat, but bought it anyway.
Title: Re: Smoking a Corned Beef Flat
Post by: hughver on March 19, 2022, 06:15:30 PM
Soaked 48 hrs.,seasoned, smoked at 225° for 2.5 hrs. (IT=135°), sous vide 24 Hr. at 138°, steamed for 1hr till IT=205° then seared with torch. now cooling will slice when cool. Meat was not fork tender at end of sous vide, 1hr. of steam did the trick.

As you can see, I took a sample from the lower right corner, it tasted very good, it was tender and moist. Sandwiches tonight.
























9
Title: Re: Smoking a Corned Beef Flat
Post by: elenis on March 20, 2022, 11:03:37 PM
Everything looks very nice. I did a corned beef today for my mother in law's birthday / St. Patrick's Day party with my in laws. I didn't use the smoker at all for this one. I got a low sodium corn beef from Meijer, it has half the sodium of the regular corn beef they sell, which is important with my wife's dad having cardiac issues and her mom not doing well with much salt either. It was cooked sous vide at 180 for 10 hours with a cup of Guinness and an onion that had been quartered. It turned out to have a wonderful texture to it. All the liquid and onion was then put in a pot on the stove and brought to a boil with quartered potatoes and cut up carrot in it and then reduced to a simmer for 30 minutes before adding cabbage for the final 15 minutes. It all took on the beer and meat flavor nicely while being cooked well. and while that was cooking I seared both sides of the corn beef for a little color and let it rest so it would slice nicely for me. Wish I would have taken pictures, but folks were hungry and my prayers before meals can take a bit so we were eating before I thought of pictures.