15 Leftover Corned Beef Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What can I do with canned corned beef? ›

Whether you're adding it to a classic casserole, stuffing it into empanadas, or combining it with rice to make a hearty burrito, canned corned beef can bring a depth of flavor that's both comforting and utterly satisfying. So grab that can opener and get ready to elevate your canned corned beef game!

After cooking, corned beef may be refrigerated for about 3 to 4 days and frozen for about 2 to 3 months for best quality. Corned beef is made from one of several less tender cuts of beef like the brisket, rump, or round. Therefore, it requires long, moist cooking. Keep food safety in mind when preparing corned beef.

When buying a brisket for corned beef, plan on about 3/4 pounds per person, or up to one pound per person if you want to make sure there are leftovers for things like sandwiches and hash.

Luckily, there are plenty of leftover corned beef recipes so you don't have to let the tender meat go to waste. Versatile and flavor-packed, it's even better the next day. You can bake it into golden pinwheels and calzones; whip it into creamy dips; chop it up for tacos and hash; or create reuben recipes with a twist.

Canned corned beef is already cooked. It is safe to eat straight from the can. You'll probably improve the texture by warming it up, and you'll probably improve the flavor by browning it a bit in a hot skillet. But technically, you don't NEED to do any of that.

You can bake, boil, or cook it in your slow cooker, but the key to a tender, flavorful meal requires at least a few hours. All of these methods are very easy, and you can add vegetables to the meat while it's cooking to create a one-dish meal.

It's recommended to drain the brine because salt encourages rancidity and texture changes. The flavor and texture will diminish with prolonged freezing, but the product is still safe. After cooking, corned beef may be refrigerated for about 3 to 4 days and frozen for about 2 to 3 months for best quality.

Storage of leftover corned beef

Any leftovers should be refrigerated as soon as possible within 2 hours of cooking or reheating. Use leftover corned beef within 3 to 4 days or freeze up to 2 months. May the “luck of the Irish be with you”... if you follow good food safety behaviors when preparing corned beef!

1. Not Rinsing the Meat Before Cooking. If you cook the meat straight from the plastic packaging or pulled the meat right away from the brine solution in the fridge without rinsing, you just might be in for a saltier meal than you bargained for.

Blood is removed from beef during slaughter and only a small amount remains within the muscle tissue. Since beef is about 3/4 water, this natural moisture combined with protein is the source of the liquid in the package.

Is it best to boil or bake corned beef? ›

The traditional way to cook corned beef and cabbage is to boil it, both the beef and the cabbage. Several years ago my friend Suzanne introduced me to her favorite way of making the corned beef—speckled with cloves, slathered in honey mustard and baked—not boiled—and then served alongside sautéed cabbage.

Corned beef can sometimes turn out tough when cooked in a crock pot for several reasons: Low Temperature: Slow cookers typically cook at relatively low temperatures, which can result in meats like corned beef not reaching a high enough temperature to break down the tough connective tissues and collagen properly.

Not filling the pot with enough water.

One of the keys to getting there is the amount of water in the pot. From start to finish, when there's not ample liquid to cover the meat, your dreams of tender corned beef might be crushed with a tough, chewy result.

You can overcook corned beef in a Crock-Pot if it's cooked for too long at too high of a temperature. Overcooked corned beef can taste tough and stringy. It's best to follow the recommended cook time and temperature within the recipe.

Yes, you can eat corned beef from a can without cooking it. It is fully cooked and ready to eat straight from the can. What are some creative ways to use canned corned beef?

It takes patience to get crispy hash. In a heavy skillet (preferably not a non-stick skillet) over medium heat, spread the hash in an even layer and do not disturb for 5 minutes. With a spatula, lift up a corner of the hash to see if it has developed a crust. If it hasn't, cook a few minutes longer.

Thankfully, you don't have to resort to downing cups of water to tackle this sodium-packed treat. Instead, you can use a technique borrowed from fresh corned beef recipes. Just as home cooks should rinse or soak fresh corned beef before boiling, so too should they soak the canned version.

Here are some creative ways to incorporate canned beef into your meals: Beef Stew: Add canned beef to a pot of vegetables, broth, and seasonings for a hearty and comforting beef stew. Beef Tacos: Use canned beef as a filling for tacos, along with your favorite toppings such as lettuce, cheese, and salsa.