Brisket is a cut of beef that can be prepared in a variety of ways. However, this cut is collagen-rich and can be challenging to cook properly. Cooking brisket in an electric roaster oven can help you slow-cook your meat so that it's juicy and tender.
Cooking Brisket in a Roaster
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You can choose among several ways to cook your brisket. Smoked Texas brisket is roasted until it's very tender, but can still be easily sliced. In contrast, traditional Jewish brisket is braised, resulting in a softer, juicer meat that falls apart more easily.
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Regardless, brisket can be challenging to prepare. Brisket comes from the lower chest of the cow, so it has a large amount of connective tissue. Connective tissue is rich in collagen, which takes time to break down.
Brisket is fairly low in fat. The USDA says that 100 grams of brisket has 144 calories, 23.3 grams of protein and 4.4 grams of fat, 1.7 grams of which comes from saturated fat. The American Heart Association recommends reducing your saturated fat intake and consuming low-fat meats, like brisket.
When cooking brisket in an electric roaster oven, it's best to cook it at a low temperature over a long period of time. Slow cooking brisket allows the connective tissue's collagen to break down, resulting in a tender piece of meat. If you don't allow the collagen to break down, you'll end up eating tough, chewy brisket.
Cooking Brisket in Roaster Ovens
Electric roaster ovens provide you with an easy and efficient way to cook brisket. If you're cooking brisket in a roaster oven, you'll need:
Things You'll Need
5 pounds of brisket
8 ounces of stock (chicken stock, lamb stock or beef stock)
2 tablespoons of ground coriander seeds
2 tablespoons of ground cumin
2 tablespoons of ground mustard seeds
1 tablespoon of ground black pepper
1 tablespoon of brown sugar
1 tablespoon of smoked paprika
1/2 tablespoon of cayenne pepper
3 teaspoons of sea salt
1 teaspoon of garlic powder
1 teaspoon of onion powder
Step 1: Preheat Your Roaster Oven
Heat your electric roaster oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit (121 degrees Celsius).
Cooking brisket at 250 F is guaranteed to result in tender, juicy meat. However, be aware that cooking your meat at this temperature will take longer than average. You're essentially slow cooking your brisket in an electric roaster oven.
Tip
You can cook brisket at a range of temperatures. However, brisket is best cooked at low temperatures (under 400 F).
Step 2: Season Your Brisket
Coat your brisket with the spice mix.
Step 3: Cook Your Brisket
Place the brisket in the electric roaster oven, then add in the stock or broth of your choice. Roast your brisket for six hours.
Step 4: Check the Tenderness
Check how tender your brisket is. You should be able to stick a thermometer or fork easily into the meat. It should not be so tender that it falls apart like pulled pork, though.
If you think your brisket is ready, check its internal temperature. The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service advises that meat is thoroughly cooked when it's reached an internal cooking temperature of 145 F (63 C).
Step 5: Rest, Serve and Savor
Let the brisket rest for a few minutes before carving it. The USDA recommends allowing your meat to rest for at least three minutes.
Cut the steak into serving-sized pieces. Serve with a vegetable-rich side dish, like our Farro with Charred Vegetables.