Home-Corned Beef

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Home-Corned Beef
For the true "do-it-yourself"er!

Prep: 10 minutes
Refrigerate: 8-12 DAYS
Cook: 5 hours
Servings: 1 beef brisket

For every gallon of water, you will need:

1 5-6 lb. beef brisket

2 cups Kosher salt

2 cups dark brown sugar

1-1/2 tsp. baking soda

4 tsp. saltpeter (available in most drugstores as sodium nitrate)

2 tsp. allspice, optional

1-2 cloves garlic, optional

	Mix the ingredients with 1 quart of water and when blended and dissolved, add the remainder of the gallon of water.
	Wipe the brisket with a damp cloth and pierce deeply with a heavy fork several times. Place the brisket in a glass, porcelain or earthenware container (never metal), and add brine mixture until the meat is immersed and brine level is about 1-1/2 inches above the meat.
	Cover container with a board weighted in place. Store in the refrigerator 8-12 days. The beef will become saltier the longer it is soaked.
	When ready to cook beef, discard the brine. Rinse the beef in cold water, place in a kettle of cold water and bring to a boil.
	Simmer 1 hour. Pour off water, add fresh boiling water to cover. Simmer until tender, 4 to 4-1/2 hours. Slice against grain.