Brisket is tender and rich in flavor fresh off the barbeque grill, but leftovers are sometimes dry and tasteless. A good brisket melts into the mouth with flavor. It can be difficult to keep it for reheating without losing a lot of quality and taste from the first time it was cooked.
Even the best-cooked brisket can be bland and tough if it turns dry by reheating it incorrectly.
So in this article, we are going to share the 5 proper ways to reheat brisket.
How to Reheat Brisket Overview
One of the most common mistakes people make when reheating brisket is that they just pop it into a microwave or put it in the oven. Reheating brisket is more than simply putting it in a microwave and nuking it for 2 minutes. In fact, undercooking your brisket will make it dry out and rubbery to eat.
The lack of moisture can even result in food poisoning. Being careful with the reheating process will ensure you have a great meal at the end of it all. Some people prefer eating leftover brisket cold, but if you want to reheat your brisket, here are five easy ways to reheat brisket’s so you can prepare this tasty dish at home.
You can never have too much brisket!
How to Reheat Brisket in the Oven
The best way to reheat brisket without drying it is not in a smoker or grill. Brisket in the oven taste like the smoke from the barbecue. A smaller cooking process with an oven means that your meat is less likely to have higher temperatures and thus less chance of drying out.
Preheat your oven to 300oF (148oC) trim off excess fat with a knife. Place your brisket along with pan juices which are saved during the process of cooking the meat in a baking oven. Cover pan tightly and place your brisket in the oven. It has to be reheated for 20 minutes up to an hour.
If the temperature at the end of the meal is 160 degrees or higher, make a test involving a meat thermometer. Place a couple of tablespoons of BBQ sauce on the bottom. You can use this as a sauce once the brisket heats once the meat has cooked as well as add some moisture to the original juices to avoid rinsing the meat dry.
How to Reheat Brisket in the Slow Cooker
It takes 4 hours to heat up with this method. In case the leftover Brisket is too big to put into the cooker then slice it and place it in a crockpot. If you don’t have leftover meat juice, use beef broth or barbeque sauce to ensure the meat stays juicy.
Put the meat into the slow cooker and leave it to cook on low for 4 hours. After that, shred your leftover brisket with a fork or you can use an electric mixer if you don’t have any forks. Then take out your shredded beef and place it back onto the hot barbecue sauce or barbeque broth in which you cooked it.
Cover the slow cooker, cook for one hour and serve hot with bread or noodles.
The process is slower than the other methods, but it is a good reheating option that avoids drying up your beef and does not need to be rushed from start to finish. A slow cooker is also an affordable option since it can be used for a number of meals.
How to Reheat Brisket Using the Sous Vide Method
Sous vide means to reheat food without cutting off or overcooking the product. It will help the food retain its moisture without the risk of burning or losing it. Sous vide is a cooking technique that utilizes precise temperature control to deliver consistent, restaurant-quality results.
To rewarm the brisket start by sealing it in waterproof plastic wrap. Underline it in a hot water – 160 degrees – 70 degrees Celsius. Keep it in the water for about 3 hours.
Once you take it out of the hot water, put it back on your meat pan, and then place it into a preheated oven at 300 degrees or above. There is no need to add anything else. The meat’s natural juices can be saved by sealing them inside the plastic wrap before the cooking process.
It will usually take between 4 to 6 hours depending on the size and amount of cuts you cut your brisket for. This will require the use of a meat thermometer.
How to Reheat Brisket in the Smoker
This is one of the best ways to reheat meat without having them lose its moisture. To reheat your brisket in a smoker, you must first make sure it’s cleaned and dry by wiping it down with a paper towel.
For this method, you will need to reheat the beef brisket 12 to 15 pounds by using a smoker as well as a charcoal briquette. Fill your smoker’s box with one cup of mesquite or any other kind of smoking wood. Make sure to read the best wood for smoking brisket for a flavorful brisket.
Place the brisket at 150 degrees for 8 hours. It can be kept moist through the use of a meat thermometer. When it’s time to check the temperature, gently lift the brisket and insert a probe into your meat. The probe must be inserted 1 inch into the thickest part of the brisket.
Cook until the final internal temperature reaches 185 degrees. Let your brisket rest for at least 30 minutes after cooking.
Best Smoker for Brisket:
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How to Reheat Brisket in the Microwave
We want to reach a temperature of about 140F/60C. According to the amount of brisket you order it can take anywhere from 2 to 4 minutes. Transfer it in a microwaveable container or Tupperware container.
Set the heat settings in your microwave to 20 percent this will stop food from drying out or overcooking. Make the meat thermometer available in one of the intervals and measure its internal temperature. It takes 2 to 4 minutes and may differ according to the meat size.
Use microwave for 30 seconds of pulses to prevent overcooking.
Reheating Brisket FAQ:
How to Properly Store Brisket
Reheating the Brisket after it has been stored for a good amount of time is quite simple. Follow these steps to properly store leftover brisket.
Place Your Leftovers in an air-tight container. Make sure that your wrap your brisket tightly to prevent moisture from evaporating. Place it in the refrigerator and store it below 40 degrees.
This will help you keep your food safe from bacteria as well as preserve its freshness for longer periods of time. Make sure that you wrap your leftover to avoid cross-contamination. Never leave uncooked brisket out to prevent spoilage if it is left outside then it will not be able to reheat well.
It can cause your meat to dry out. Always properly store your leftover brisket if you have extra and make sure that you eat within a few days. If you are going to leave the brisket for a good amount of time before eating, then freeze it the food should keep its freshness for up to three months when properly frozen.
How Do I Freeze My Brisket?
Grilled brisket will keep its moisture in the fridge for up to 4 days or frozen in the freezer for up to 3 months. At the moment you store oxygen and dehydration you face your greatest enemies. Your biggest defense against such problems is a good vacuum sealer.
It prevents evaporation keeps moisture in and stops the damage from freezing. Vacuum sealing your meat will also help in preserving the flavor and taste of the brisket.
How to Properly Thaw a Brisket?
Some people believe that leaving his food off the counter for hours or overnight for thawing could end in food poisoning. The preferred technique of thawing is by setting the meat up in the refrigerator. It will need a day or two but it’s safer to leave it in a bowl under cold running water and so it’s not leaky.
The outside side of the food may reside in the dangerous area where bacteria multiply rapidly in temperatures between 40 and 140 °F.
How to Reheat Frozen Brisket?
Frozen beef brisket can be reheated by wrapping it tightly with aluminum foil prior to heating up a grill or oven. Just wrap it around the top, bottom, and sides of the meat while still leaving room for heat to circulate. Heat up the grill or oven and start heating up the meat by setting it at about 325 degrees for an hour.
If you want to make frozen beef brisket in a slow cooker, then cook it for an additional 4 hours at high temperature.
Wrapping up
So, there you have five methods of reheating your brisket in a number of ways. To avoid drying out the meat when reheating it. The best way that we recommend to heat up your beef is by using a smoker and oven so as to get the perfect results every time.
It will also help to preserve its taste, flavor, and moisture. Make sure that you follow the steps in this article or risk having a tough time getting your brisket ready for eating. We know reheating barbeque can be frustrating, especially if you end up with dry and flavorless pieces of meat.
This doesn’t have to be the case though, and if you plan ahead a little bit then it’s not difficult to reheat your brisket properly.
Don’t miss our article 25 Essential Grilling Tips That Will Make You A Grill Master, it’s full of great tips for beginner and master grillers!