Quick help!

[B'sgirl]

This may be a very stupid question, but how do I tell when the corned beef is done? Mine has been in the crock pot all day and it is totally pink all over. I have a hard time believing it's not cooked AT ALL. Maybe I did choose a bad way to cook it though. First timer with this dish.

 

[suziquzie]

pink is different than raw. Does it look like it did when you put it in?
i always boil mine.

 

[B'sgirl]

How long do you boil it. It's been boiling but in the crock pot. It's not AS red when I put it in. It doesn't fall apart easily or anything like that. I don't know if it's supposed to, but meat usually does when it's been in the CP for 7 or 8 hours.

 

[suziquzie]

It boils about 2 hours?? Cut into it, does it look raw inside? I'm thinking thats the only way to tell. DOn't cut in half or anything, just a peek, then you can still boil it a bit to hurry it up.

 

[AllenOK]

Because the beef has been "Corned", or cured in a solution of salt-petre dissolved in water, the meat will never turn "grey". The pink color is a result of a chemical reaction between the nitrate (or is it nitrite, I can't remember) and the protein in the meat itself, just like ham is "pink".

Most Corned Beef is made from Brisket, which is a really tough cut to begin with. Honestly, the only way to be certain that your meat is done is to temp it with a probe thermometer. It should read anywhere between 180 - 200 degrees F in the thickest part of the meat.

Take it out, and slice the meat across the grain. It should be OK, as long as it came up to temp. I usually only cook Corned Beef in a CP for 3 - 4 hours.

 

[Andy M.]

As Allen said, it will neverr change color. Temperature/tenderness are how you know when it's done.

If a fork goes into the meat easily and pulls out easily, the brisket is done.

 

[B'sgirl]

Thanks guys, the dinner was a big hit. The meat was as red as ever but completely done and very delicious!