Corned beef brisket is aclassic deli meat that makes for a tasty sandwich or dinner entree. Finding high-quality pre-brined corned beef brisket can be tricky though. As a brisket lover, I’ve scoped out the best places to buy pre-made corned beef brisket so you don’t have to.
Grocery Stores
Grocery stores are my go-to for picking up a corned beef brisket. Here are some of the best options:
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ALDI – ALDI has the Cattlemen’s Ranch brand flat cut corned beef brisket for just $489/lb, This USDA Choice beef is pre-brined and comes with a custom spice blend It’s an affordable option that still delivers on flavor,
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Costco – Shop Costco for their Kirkland Signature corned beef briskets They are usually around 3 lbs each and cost just $399/lb. The meat is nicely marbled for added moisture.
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Sam’s Club – Member’s Mark corned beef brisket is sold at Sam’s Club It’s comparable in price and quality to the Costco version. Expect to pay around $4/lb
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Walmart – Walmart sells Swift’s corned beef brisket flats. They tend to be a bit pricier at around $5.50/lb but still a good choice.
Butcher Shops
Local butcher shops are another excellent place to buy high-quality brisket. A good butcher can help you select the right size and amount of marbling. Prices tend to be higher than grocery stores but the quality makes it worthwhile.
Online Stores
If you can’t find a good corned beef brisket locally, check online. Stores like Rastelli’s and Porter Road sell premium brisket online. Expect to pay $6-8 per pound. The briskets ship frozen.
Direct from Farms
Ordering directly from beef farms is another online option. Check out companies like Crowd Cow that work with farms to deliver specialty corned brisket like wagyu beef. Prices start around $11/lb.
Tips for Buying
When buying corned beef brisket, look for:
- Uniform marbling for tenderness
- Flexible meat that bends rather than snaps
- Thick flat cut shape for even cooking
- Pickled aroma from curing brine
- Use by date at least 2 weeks out
With so many places to buy corned beef these days, you can easily find a quality brisket for your next Reuben sandwich or homemade pastrami. Just shop around for the best price and level of marbling for your tastes.
How to Season Your Corned Beef
Because you get to choose what pickling spices to use, you can make your own distinctively flavored corned beef. You know how BBQ masters have their own favorite homemade dry rubs? Its sort of like that.
Pretty much every packaged corned beef brisket Ive bought tastes about the same. The one I home cured? Wonderful and different.
While I researched several online sources for curing your own corned beef, as well as interrogating my colleague Hank, the source I referred to the most was Michael Ruhlmans brilliant Charcuterie: The Craft of Salting, Smoking, and Curing (high recommend). You can also see his instructions on Leites Culinaria.
I played around a bit with the spice mix, and kept the garlic out of the brine, but other than that, pretty much followed Michaels method.
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How Is Corned Beef Made?
Over the years, many of my friends have encouraged me to cure my own corned beef, insisting that it wasnt hard to do, and well worth the effort. After finally getting around to it, Im happy to report that my friends were right! It really is easy; it just takes about 5 days to cure.
Heres what to do:
- Make a salty curing brine with pickling spices like mustard seed, allspice berries, coriander seeds, and peppercorns.
- Marinate a beef brisket in the brine, for 5 to 7 days.
- Simmer the brined and drained brisket in water with more pickling spices for several hours until tender.
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How to Buy the Right Cut of Beef Brisket (Hint: There’s Two Types!)
FAQ
Does Costco have corned beef brisket?
Morton’s of Omaha Corned Beef Brisket, 4 lb avg wt | Costco.
Where do I find corned beef in the grocery store?
Look in the meat section of the grocery store for ready-to-cook corned beef. You’ll find it packaged in a vacuum-sealed bag in brine, weighing an average of three to five pounds. Ready-to-cook corned beef can be cooked exactly the same as one that was cured at home.
Do grocery stores sell corned beef year round?
‘Corning’ the beef was originally used as a preservation technique during winter months or during lent, but corned beef can be found year-round now. “It is traditionally served with cabbage on St. Patrick’s Day, but also a tasty meat for sandwiches,” Blakeslee said.
What is another name for corned beef brisket?
Corned beef, called salted beef in some Commonwealth countries, is a salt-cured brisket of beef. The term comes from the treatment of the meat with large-grained rock salt, also called “corns” of salt.