One of the most loved meat types all over the world is the smoked beef brisket, especially if it’s tender and moist. Knowing the best way to reheat brisket is important if you’re a barbecue lover and you like the beef brisket a lot!
Just like with any meat cuts, reheating the brisket is a somewhat tricky process. The beef brisket has the tendency to dry out easily, especially if you don’t know the proper way to reheat it.
Thankfully, there are several ways on how to reheat this meat. Below, we’ll give you a guide on how to properly reheat the brisket and achieve the best results.
In this post we'll cover:
Best Way to Reheat Brisket
First of all, drain the juice off using a fat separator. This helps to separate the fat from the good brisket au jus. Place the entire brisket in a large food pan along with the remaining au jus. Using a food saver expandable bag, vacuum-seal the pan. Place the brisket in a fridge for up to 3 days. You can also freeze it if you’re going to store it for a much longer time.
If you’re going to freeze the brisket, remove the meat from the freezer and place it in the fridge at least 2 days before you plan to serve it again in order for the meat to thaw properly. When reheating the brisket, heat it back to an internal temperature of 140°F. This is considered the proper serving temperature for brisket.
To reheat, open the bag and cover the pan with foil. Place the meat directly in the oven that’s preheated to 325°F. It should take at least an hour for the brisket to become warm enough to serve. You can follow the same process with the smoker grill, but the reheating time might be longer depending on the temperature of your smoker.
How to Reheat Brisket in Microwave
Although using the microwave may not be the proper way to reheat brisket, it’s still the most convenient and fastest way of reheating. The problem with reheating in the microwave is that it tends to dry the meat out, but if you’re in a rush, using the microwave should be fine.
Before you start reheating the meat with a microwave, make sure you place the brisket in a microwave-safe container.
Thing You Need:
- A microwave
- A dish or container microwave safe
Instructions:
Then follow the steps below:
- Once the meat is inside the container, place it in the microwave.
- Lower down the power of the microwave to 20% in order not to overcook the brisket.
- Begin reheating through a 30-second interval.
- After every 30 seconds, check the brisket. If you think it needs more heat, then continue reheating.
Depending on how big the brisket you’re reheating, this could take up to 4 minutes.
Reheating Brisket in the Oven
If you want to accomplish the same texture as when the meat was just cooked, then using the oven would be perfect. In fact, using the oven is considered to reheat brisket. This assures that the meat will outlast tender and delicious instead of becoming chewy and forgettable.
Thing You Need:
- Oven
- Baking sheet
- Aluminum foil
Instructions:
So here’s how to reheat your brisket using an oven:
- Preheat the oven to 325°F.
- Remove any of the leftover brisket meat from the fridge and place it in the kitchen counter in order to put it back to room temperature.
- Place the brisket in the baking sheet or tray that’s drizzled with the leftover juices.
- Cover the tray with a tin foil.
- Place the tray in the oven and heat it for up to 45 minutes. The total heating time varies depending on how big is your brisket.
Sous Vide Smoked Brisket
The sous vide method is a popular method for reheating brisket for as long as you follow the proper steps. If you are not usual with this method, then you must first familiarize it to ensure the best results. If you sous vide your brisket, this method will bring your meat up into a temperature that’s the same with the preheated water bath.
With this method, the meat will remain tightly wrapped in the sealed plastic and will be heated until it reaches the same temperature as that of the water. Thus, it’s entirely impossible for your meat to be overcooked.
Thing You Need:
- Sous Vide Cooker
- Container
- lid
Instructions:
- Fill the container with water 1 in. above minimum water line
- Put sous vide cooker on the edge corner of the bucket.
- Set the time to 3 hrs. in this case, it depends on the thickness of brisket. Check the table below what times suits your brisket. Soak your brisket in the container then close the lid
- Three hrs later take your brisket out the tank and take off sealed bag then slice and serve immediately
Brisket Reheating Times
| Fridge Meat | Frozen Meat | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Thickness | Time | Thickness | Time |
| 0.5 in (10 mm) | 8 min | 0.5 in (10 mm) | 12 min |
| 1 in (25 mm) | 25 min | 1 in (25 mm) | 40 min |
| 2 in (50 mm) | 1½ hr | 2 in (50 mm) | 2 hr |
| 2.5 in (60 mm) | 2 hr | 2.5 in (60 mm) | 2¾ hr |
| 3 in (75 mm) | 2¾ hr | 3 in (75 mm) | 4¼ hr |
| 3.5 in (85 mm) | 3½ hr | 3.5 in (85 mm) | 5¼ hr |
| 4 in (105 mm) | 5 hr | 4 in (105 mm) | 7½ hr |
| 4.5 in (115 mm) | 6 hr | 4.5 in (115 mm) | 9 hr |
Note: the water’s temperature is between 110 °F / 45 °C and 175 °F / 80 °C. more info from chefsteps.com
Leftover Brisket in Slow Cooker
Thing You Need:
- Slow cooker
- Aluminum foil
Instructions:
For a consistent reheating result,
- Arrange the brisket meat evenly in the pan.
- Pour any remaining drippings into the meat and cover with foil.
- Preheat at 325°F and cook meat until the brisket meat reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Slice the meat and serve immediately to achieve the most flavorful result.
Also read: this is the best wood to use when smoking your brisket
Store Leftover Brisket Properly is a Must
The way you store the leftover brisket will affect the overall result of your reheated meat. This is why proper storage is a must. The key to storing your leftover meat is to ensure that it’s kept in a tightly sealed container before you place it inside the freezer or fridge.
It is best to use a vacuum sealer. In fact, this is the most effective way to seal and store any leftover brisket. However, if you got no sealer, consider wrapping the meat tightly with a plastic wrap in order to preserve its moisture. Place in a freezer bag and seal.
Experts suggest adding a small amount of juice to the meat before wrapping it. While this is a truly messy process, it helps to keep the meat moist as the liquid soaks the brisket.
Clear Your Doubt
How to reheat brisket without drying it out?
The way to reheat brisket without drying the meat is to heat it until it achieves an internal temperature of 140°F. Upon reaching this temperature, open the bag and cover the pan with aluminum foil. Place it into the oven that’s preheated to 325°F. It should take up to an hour for it to become warm and be ready for serving.
How long does it take to reheat a brisket?
Smoked brisket can be reheated for around 20 minutes, as long as the meat is sliced. But if you prefer to reheat it whole, you can expect the process to take up to an hour.
