Everything You Didn't Want to Know About Corned Beef
By Rose West
Corned beef and cabbage is the traditional dish to eat on St. Patrick’s Day... in America, that is. Although corned beef isn't actually very popular in Ireland, Irish Americans love to celebrate their heritage by eating corned beef and cabbage. Even wannabe Irish join in on the fun on March 17th. St. Patrick's Day is considered a national holiday in Ireland, but those with Irish heritage have been celebrating the holiday in America since the 1700's. Corned beef and cabbage has become recognized as traditional food for St. Patty's Day, but in fact, the dish is more American than Irish. Read on to learn more about corned beef.
Corned beef and cabbage dinners are eaten almost exclusively on St. Patrick’s Day. The rest of the year corned beef consumption in the U.S. consists mostly of Reuben sandwiches and canned corned beef hash.
The corn in corned beef
The fresh cuts of corned beef you find at the grocery store are usually the brisket cuts. The brisket is from the front part of the cow. The beef is called “corned,” which refers to the curing method of the meat. Corned beef used to be dry-cured using “corns” of salt. Today, corned beef is brined with salt water. The method of preserving meat using salt has been around for millenniums, but the combination of corned beef and cabbage originated with Irish Americans in the 1800’s.
Corned Beef and Cabbage
Corned beef and cabbage is a result of the Irish dish bacon and cabbage. The people in Ireland didn’t often eat beef during times of need, eating bacon joint instead. But when the Irish came to America, they learned from their Jewish neighbors about corned beef, which was cheaper and easier to find.
Reuben Sandwiches
Reuben sandwiches are made with rye bread, corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and Thousand Island dressing. The origin of the Reuben is the source of much dispute. One story holds that Arthur Reuben invented the sandwich in 1914 at his New York City restaurant. Another account says that a grocer named Reuben Kulakofsky created the sandwich in Omaha, Nebraska in the 1920’s to feed a group of poker players at a late-night game. Whatever the beginning of the Reuben sandwich, the end result was a delicious and popular sandwich found at many delis nationwide.
Corned Beef Hash
Corned beef hash is a mixture of corned beef, potatoes, and onions all chopped up together and cooked on the stove. It is often served for breakfast with eggs. A canned version is available at grocery stores.
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Canned Corned Beef
I have my doubts as to whether canned corned beef is really corned beef at all. Personally, it reminds me of cat food. During the World Wars, canned corned beef was given to soldiers on the front, who nicknamed the meat “bully beef.” Much of canned corned beef is actually imported from South America.
Is it good for you?
Corned beef isn’t exactly a healthy choice for dinner. Let’s just say you should save it for St. Patrick’s Day only. And even then you might want to balance it with a healthy dose of Guinness. Although it contains good amounts of vitamin B12 and zinc, corned beef is high in cholesterol, saturated fat, and sodium.
Corned Beef Facts
- Corned beef and cabbage is an Irish American dish.
- "Corned" refers to the size of the salt used to cure the beef.
- Corned beef is considered a spring dish, because it used to be cured over the winter.
- Pastrami is really corned beef that is smoked.
- President Abraham Lincoln ate corned beef and cabbage at his inauguration dinner in March 1861.
- One of President Grover Cleveland’s favorite dishes was corned beef and cabbage.
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Comments
itakins, thanks for reading and confirming what I've heard about corned beef in Ireland. I would love to try genuine bacon and cabbage - sounds delicious!
I loved the fun facts to know and tell, though now I'm officially grossed out about canned corned beef!
Thanks for this intersting read - and some of the things I really didn't want to know. Another nickname for the canned variety, especially when served with a tomato and onion relish, is "canned missionary"! LOL! I leave it to your imagination to work out how that came about.
Have to confess I have never before thought of corned beef as connected in any way to Ireland. So that was a new one for me!
Love and peace
Tony
Jane, definitely opt for fresh over canned when eating corned beef! I don't even like to think about eating the canned kind.
Tony, I warned you in the title :) I've never heard the nickname "canned missionary"... oh dear, doesn't sound good! It really is funny to me how Americans think corned beef is Irish, when they really don't eat it there anymore.
I didn't even know there was any corned beef that doesn't come in cans! The canned stuff is vile. I wouldn't dare give it to my cats, because they would surely take some kitty revenge if I did.
WriteAngled, thank you for stopping by! Worse than cat food, haha :) Yes, canned corned beef is gross, but I do know some people who actually enjoy it for some reason.
I really love corned beef. Thanks for sharing this wonderful information, now I know the history of my favorite food. Corned beef is a really versatile food, you can eat it with eggs and coffee in the morning, and have it with beer in the evening. Great post!
Michael, thank you so much for reading! I'm glad you enjoyed learning about this interesting food.
A fun and informative hub. Never really thought about corn beef despite eating it on a regular basis.
I'm glad you came by, fiona_33! Thank you for reading.
Well my sister in law suggested canned corned beef hash as an omelate. And then my wife suggested canned corn beef in taquitoes. None the less I cracked open a can and good god... Looked nasty but tasted great! I'd much rather try an authentic corned meat, one with a good cut and cured properly over several weeks.
Hi Steve, tasted great? Really? The canned kind comes nowhere close to the "real" kind :) Thanks for visiting!
I had that "bully beef" when I was in the army back in 63. It was part of our rations wen we did field exercises. Unfortunately you often found bits of hide and hair in the mix. Turned me off canned corn beef forever :)
blackjava, thanks for your visit! Hide and hair? Now that's just gross! Yet another reason canned corned beef should be banned corned beef :)
Interesting article which i enjoyed coming across.Useful information that is well shared to every bodies understanding.
Hi crystolite, I'm glad you enjoyed this!
Surely if it's fresh corned beef will taste better, like most things. I've bought some of the canned variety in my local, and it is actually pretty good and tasty, and not very expensive. With a bit of nice english mustard and good bread it can go a long way...but it may just be me. (by the way, no hide nor hair here)
Hi bel, I think fresh is definitely better, but I know people who prefer the canned, as well. Plus, you're right, it is cheaper. I guess it's a matter of taste :)
found a clump of what looks to be cow hair attached to skin...(really digusting) in a can of libby's corned beef today...I vomitted everything i ate immediately. Never touching processed food again...it looked like those fake eylashes that girls wear but a big chunk...GROSSS!!!!!
Okay, that has to be one of the nastiest things I have ever heard. I don't think I will even come close to being in contact with canned corned beef ever again!
itakins 2 years ago
Rose West-
Great hub-The corned beef we get here is actually more like a bacon joint-I think I've only had it half a dozen times in my life-although I believe it's popular in some parts of the country.
Canned corned beef-perish the thought-yuk!
I have to admit bacon and cabbage-especially if the cabbage is cooked in the bacon water-now that's delicious,and very Irish.