5 Ways to Use Your Brisket Leftovers

Just mentioning brisket is enough to make many people’s mouths water. Brisket is ridiculously full of flavor, and different processes bring it out into the world. Corning, curing and smoking are all flavorful ways to use brisket, leftover or not.

Leftover Brisket ? That’s a Thing ?

Yes, believe it or not. It’s probably a pretty rare thing, but there wouldn’t be a need for this article if everyone gobbled it all up! Would there? As with any food, it’s a good idea to hold onto your leftovers. It can reduce waste and maybe minimize food costs.

When people think of brisket, they tend to think solely of the beef variety. Pork brisket is a thing, even if it’s not as popular. You can use beef or pork brisket interchangeably in the following food ideas.

Tacos

Good luck finding anyone who would say no to tacos. With some hard or soft tortillas, chop up some brisket and add some veggies and sauces. Just make sure to grab a taco before everyone else eats them up.

In the same vein, you can use the same ingredients to make some nachos.

Chili

The fourth Thursday of February is National Chili Day. Why not celebrate by using leftover brisket? Add in some black beans and kidney beans for added texture. Tomatoes and caramelized onions are fantastic, too. Did anyone mention that beer is one of the main ingredients?

Brisket Sandwich

The sandwich is probably one of humanity’s most customizable foods. Toast up some bread, slice up some brisket and add some cheese! Or, if you prefer, you can slap the brisket onto some bread and eat it that way. Brisket is flavorful enough as is.

Brisket for Breakfast

Brisket should be eaten at every meal. Every day. Just kidding. There wouldn’t be much to complain about, though. Get busy with some shredded brisket and create a protein-loaded omelet. Mix in some hashbrowns and tomatoes, and you’ll have a meal to get you going for the morning. Some red, green or yellow peppers wouldn’t go amiss, either.

Quesadillas

All you’d need for this delicious meal are some soft tortillas, cheese and brisket (obviously). Put it all together, and you have a great meal for lunch or dinner. For even more flavor, dip the quesadillas in some sour cream or guacamole.

Pork Brisket

Though you can get brisket from a pig, keep in mind that it won’t be prepared the same way, and knowing how to cook pork brisket properly will make all the difference. Pork tends to be on the dryer side, and cooking it too quickly could dry it out. Have you ever eaten pork with the consistency of shoe leather ? Yuck.

For pork brisket, make sure to cook it at a lower temperature for a more extended period. This way, the juices won’t evaporate, and the (frankly incredible) flavors stay packed inside. For sliced brisket that is art museum-worthy, use an extremely sharp knife and cut across the grain. Each slice will be floppy yet firm, perfect for sandwiches or even eating cold.

There are tons of other uses for leftover brisket, but part of the culinary adventure is discovering them! Just hold on to the leftovers. You might need them later.