Corned beef is a popular comfort food that is easy to prepare and very flavorful despite the limited amount of ingredients that are included when making the meat.
Corned beef is made by brining brisket to tenderize the cut of meat which is how the meat gets its pinkish color.
The delicious flavors of corned beef come from the brining process, which often includes a combination of spices within the brine mixture.
Corned beef is a very popular ingredient for St. Patrick’s Day meals and the famous Reuban sandwich.
There are several brands that offer nitrate-free corned beef, catering to health-conscious consumers looking for healthier meat options. Wellshire Farms is known for their all-natural nitrate-free corned beef, which is seasoned and slow-cooked to enhance flavor. Another popular brand is Applegate, offering organic and nitrate-free corned beef made from grass-fed beef. Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods Market also typically carry nitrate-free corned beef options, focusing on providing products with minimal processing and no artificial preservatives.
In this article, we will discuss the different corned beef brands that are available and share some popular corned beef recipes that you can whip up at home in a short amount of time.
Canned Corned Beef Brands
1.Libby’s Corned Beef
Libby’s corned beef is a popular brand for corned beef lovers. Reviewers describe the meat as delicious as corned beef in a can could come.
Libby’s corned beef is more fatty than other corned beef brands, so if you’re looking for extra fat to add to a comfort food meal Libby’s corned beef will do the trick.
Corned beef was actually the first product that the Libby’s company created and dates back to 1875. This means that Libby’s has specialized in the corned beef-making process for over 100 years.
2.Ox & Palm Corned Beef
Ox & Palm is another highly desired corned beef brand. This brand is a product of Australia and has really great reviews.
Ox & palm corned beef is a bit pricey, but it is well worth it for the taste. Their corned beef is “chunky” style and would be used best in recipes that call for chopped meat, such as hash.
3.Palm Corned Beef
Palm corned beef is a product of New Zealand and is a top corned beef brand. Customers who have ordered Palm corned beef say that it is savory and not too salty, which is a big plus for corned beef.
Palm was founded in 1974 by Hector McCallum who found New Zealand as the perfect place to begin producing quality beef products due its abundant natural resources and pastoral environment.
Palm products strictly adhere to New Zealand and USDA food regulations to ensure their products are high quality.
4.Iberia Corned Beef
Iberia corned beef is made in Brazil and is advertised as having natural juices. This corned beef brand is very economically priced at $5 for a 12 oz. can.
Iberia corned beef is made from quality meat and prepared with seasonings to bring a savory flavor.
5.Excelsior Corned Beef
Excelsior corned beef is also a product of Brazil and has great reviews. Similar to Iberia, Excelsior is another corned beef brand that is just $5 for a 12 oz. can.
This corned beef brand comes fully cooked and is ready to heat up and be served immediately.
6.Goya Corned Beef
Goya is a popular food brand that also has its own corned beef. The Goya corned beef brand is a bit pricier for a 12 oz. can with prices that range from $14 to $16.
This brand is ready to serve and can be easily heated up on the stove top or in the microwave in a microwave-safe container.
The Goya brand also supports the Feeding America non-profit organization by launching their “Can Do” campaign, which has donated over one million pounds of food to families in need.
Goya prides itself on creating authentic Latin cuisine and delivering high quality products to its consumers.
7.Hormel Corned Beef and Hash
You may recognize the Hormel brand for their canned chili with beans, but they also offer corned beef and corned beef hash.
The Hormel corned beef hash is a great source of protein with 17 grams per serving and it is fully-cooked, ready to be served once heated.
Hormel believes that quality food is of utmost importance and backs up their claim by stating they will give a coupon, credit, or refund if a customer is not satisfied with their product.
8.Chef-Mate Corned Beef Hash
Chef-Mate corned beef hash is a fully-cooked meal in a can. The hash contains corned beef, potatoes, and onions and can be prepared in a skillet or on a griddle.
This is a great corned beef brand option if you’re looking for an easy way to make a hash that is already prepared for you.
Chef-Mate’s corned beef hash is also prepared with seasonings and can be perfect for a quick and easy breakfast.
Chef-Mate is a sub-brand of the popular Nestle food brand and is dedicated to meeting consumer needs by providing high quality and dependable products that are shelf-stable.
Deli Corned Beef Brands
9.Grobbel’s Gourmet Flat Cut Corned Beef Brisket
Grobbel’s gourmet flat cut corned beef is a gluten and MSG-free brand great for preparing corned beef dishes or slicing for sandwiches.
This corned beef brisket is slightly lower in calories compared to other canned corned beef brands with 200 calories per 4 oz. servings.
Grobbel’s has been around for quite some time since it was founded in 1883. The founder, Emil Wilhelm Grobbel, built his business with the core values of producing premium quality products and striving to continuously improve their products to maintain customer loyalty.
10.Saval Deli Corned Beef Brisket
Saval Deli corned beef brisket is another great low-calorie corned beef brand. Saval Deli corned beef is also gluten and MSG-free.
This corned beef is tender and great for slicing up to make a sandwich or make a corned beef meal. It also comes with a seasoning packet to use when creating your delicious corned beef dish.
11.Buddig Corned Beef
Buddig corned beef comes pre-sliced in a bag and is ideal for corned beef sandwiches or could be useful for recipes that call for shredded corned beef.
It is gluten and MSG-free as well. One packet of Buddig corned beef has only 100 calories, which is pretty low compared to most corned beef brands.
12.Dietz & Watson Corned Beef Extra Lean
Deitz & Watson is a deli meat brand that makes an extra lean corned beef that is lower in calories and fat.
Dietz & Watson deli corned beef is a great option if you’re looking to buy a certain amount of sliced corned beef that is also easy to find. Another great thing about this brand is that it is gluten-free and no MSGs are added.
13.Signature Select Corned Beef
Signature Select offers a flat cut corned beef brisket that comes with a seasoning packet, perfect for preparing your next corned beef meal.
This brand is a pretty good deal with the cost around $22 for 3.5 lbs. of corned beef, especially if you are looking for a larger amount of corned beef for a special occasion or family meal.
14.Prima Della Corned Beef
Prima Della is a great deli meat brand that makes 96% fat free corned beef with no artificial flavors. Prima Della is a great economical corned beef option that is relatively low in fat compared to other corned beef brands.
Low-Sodium Corned Beef Brands
15.Grace Corned Beef Reduced Sodium
If you’re looking for corned beef that has a little less sodium, Grace offers a corned beef that has 28% less sodium than their normal corned beef.
Grace corned beef contains 350 mg of sodium, which is 200 mg less than the average corned beef brand. Even though 350 mg still sounds like a lot of sodium, for corned beef that is fairly low.
16.Hereford Corned Beef 25% Less Sodium
Hereford corned beef contains slightly more sodium than the Grace foods brand with 410 mg of sodium.
That is still over 100 mg less than regular corned beef brands. Another plus is Hereford’s corned beef is MSG and gluten-free. The beef used is raised with no added hormones as well.
Nitrate-Free Uncured Corned Beef Brands
17.Wellshire First Cut Brisket Uncured Corned Beef
Wellshire Farms makes a first cut brisket uncured corned beef that has some pretty impressive characteristics. The corned beef is free of added sodium nitrate and only contains natural nitrates.
Typically commercial corned beef brands add sodium nitrate to their products to help preserve it, but Wellshire Farms uses natural nitrates.
The uncured corned beef from Wellshire Farms is also an excellent choice if you’re looking for a corned beef brand with no preservatives, artificial ingredients, and gluten-free.
Wellshire Farms raises their beef cattle with no growth hormones, antibiotics, or animal by-products in their diet. This is a great all-natural and nitrate-free corned beef option.
18.Skylark Uncured Flat Cut Corned Beef Brisket
Skylark’s uncured corned beef brisket is another great option if you’re looking for a nitrate-free corned beef brand.
The only nitrate that is present in Skylark’s uncured corned beef is the nitrates that are naturally present in the celery powder.
This brand is also gluten and MSG-free and includes a spice packet so it is ready to be prepared.
Skylark Meats has been in business and specializing in butcher quality corned beef since 1975.
They believe in the “farm to table” food process and guarantee exceptional corned beef. Skylark also offers a regular corned beef brisket to enjoy.
What to Look for When Shopping for Corned Beef
Sodium
Shopping for a corned beef brand that doesn’t contain high amounts of sodium can be a little difficult. Since the process of corned beef requires sodium, it may be hard to find corned beef brands that offer the meat with anything less than 300 mg.
With that being said, sodium is one of the main ingredients you should take note of when shopping for corned beef.
Corned beef brands often have an average of 550 mg of sodium per 2 oz. serving. Reduced sodium corned beef is often at least 200 mg lower.
It is recommended to not consume large amounts of corned beef on a daily basis because of the amount of sodium the meat has.
Consuming too much sodium within a short amount of time can raise blood pressure levels and can lead to risks of heart disease.
This is especially important for people who have naturally high blood pressure due to genetics or stress.
Nitrates
Nitrates are used in foods to prevent bacterial growth and can add flavor. Sodium nitrate is a common ingredient found in canned corned beef and many other cured meats to help with preservation. Many vegetables, such as spinach and celery, naturally contain nitrates.
Consuming large amounts of sodium nitrate can increase the risk of heart disease, but consuming it in small quanitites will not be harmful. The maximum acceptable daily intake for sodium nitrate per day is 3.7 milligrams per kilogram of body weight.
Uncured corned beef brands are a great alternative for corned beef that contains natural sodium nitrate.
Uncured corned beef often includes ingredients such as celery juice or powder to act as a natural sodium nitrate replacement.
Additives
The common ingredients found in corned beef are:
- Beef / Cooked beef
- Water
- Salt
- Sodium nitrate
- Sugar
Additives to look out for when shopping for corned beef is artificial coloring or MSGs. While MSGs are debated to not be as bad for your health as previously thought, it is still an additive to be aware of.
Some corned beef brands are gluten and MSG-free, so corned beef does not require the addition of MSGs.
Any artificial coloring or added preservatives besides sodium nitrate may not be the best option. There are numerous corned beef brands, whether it be canned or from the deli, that do not contain artificial coloring, added preservatives, or MSGs.
Corned beef has a fairly low ingredient list compared to other processed foods which makes it easy to identify how it is processed and what ingredients are necessary.
Flat Cut Corned Beef
You may see options for flat cut corned beef. This is in relation to the type of cut the corned beef is. The other cut is point cut corned beef.
Point cut is generally less desirable than flat cut, so it is more difficult to find in stores. Flat cut corned beef is the preferred cut as it does not contain as much fat.
Some may like the fattier content of point cut corned beef as it can make it juicier, while others may enjoy the more lean flat cut.
Nitrate-Free Corned Beef Recipe
Sodium nitrate is a common ingredient in commercially processed corned beef. In order to avoid sodium nitrate, you can create your own brine to naturally cure corned beef at home.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds of brisket
- 3 bay leaves
- 2 tbsp mustard seeds
- 2 tbsp coriander seeds
- 4 cloves
- 1 tbsp cardamom pods
- 1 tbsp peppercorn
- ⅔ cup sea salt
- ¼ cup cane sugar
- 2 cups celery juice
- 2 cups sauerkraut brine
- 5 cloves garlic
Instructions
- Combine all the spices to make a rub
- Rub the spices onto the beef brisket
- Tie the brisket up with string
- Place the brisket in a large container with a lid, enough to hold the brine
- Pour the sauerkraut brine and celery juice over the brisket
- Place the garlic cloves in the brine
- Place the lid on the container to seal it
- Put the brisket in the fridge to marinate in the brine for 5-10 days
Notes
The celery juice in this recipe contains natural nitrates to mimic the sodium nitrate that is included in commercial corned beef products.
Delicious Corned Beef Dishes
The Reuban
The Reuben is a popular sandwich that is served at many cafes and sandwich shops, but also super easy to make at home.
This delectable sandwich includes corned beef, swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and a dressing, typically mustard, thousand island, or Russian dressing served on rye bread.
Corned Beef and Cabbage
This corned beef pairs well with cooked cabbage and veggies.
Corned beef and cabbage is a more traditional Irish dish that is made up of corned beef, potatoes, carrots, and cabbage cooked in a pot or Dutch oven with water until the beef and veggies become tender.
Seasonings can be added to taste for a homey dish full of flavor.
Corned Beef Hash
Hash is a quick and easy skillet-style meal typically made with chopped meat, potatoes, onions, and sometimes peppers.
Corned beef is chopped up, along with the vegetables, and cooked in a skillet that makes a wonderful comfort food meal. You can also add egg to the hash to create a lovely breakfast dish.
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Corned Beef Ingredients
Sodium nitrate
An inevitable ingredient in corned beef be used to prevent bacterial growth and preserve the meat.
Salt
High levels of sodium included for the brining process and preservation.
Water
Used for the brining process
Beef (Brisket)
The type of meat used for corned beef and tenderized during the brining process
Protein
Generally more than 10 grams of protein per serving
Iron
Approximately 6-8% DV of iron per serving
There is actually no corn in corned beef. The “corn” is associated with the rock salt that is used to brine brisket to make corned beef. Brine seasoning often includes peppercorn, mustard seeds, and allspice.
Overview of Corned Beef Brands
Corned beef is a popular meat in traditional dishes and great for making sandwiches. Oftentimes, corned beef is sold in a can or can be found in the deli case at the grocery store.
Corned beef is great paired with veggies like carrots, cabbage, and potatoes and can always be spruced up with some spices.
Corned beef is packed full of protein and a great source of iron. Even though it’s super delicious, it’s important to not consume too much corned beef on a daily basis due to its high sodium content.
My name is Keren Tayler. I am a stay-at-home mama to three lovely girls, Sarah + Rachel + Hannah. Prior to becoming a mom, I had a successful career in the accounting field, steps away from becoming a CPA. I decided to give up on my career in order to raise my own kids (as opposed to letting a nanny do it, no judgment here :)) I learned a lot and I love sharing it with other moms. Along the way, I also became a Certified Food Handler.