Emilie Meyer
Corned beef is a popular dish, especially around St. Patrick's Day, and cooking it in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to achieve a tasty, tender result. The air fryer locks in moisture while crisping up the outside, creating a perfect balance of texture and taste. The cooking time will depend on the size of the brisket, but it typically takes under 2 hours, which is much faster than traditional cooking methods. This guide will take you through the steps to cook corned beef in an air fryer, from preparation to serving suggestions for leftovers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Preheat Air Fryer | 360°F (180°C) for at least 3 minutes |
| Rinse Corned Beef | Rinse under running water to remove excess salty brine |
| Pat Dry | Use paper towels |
| Glaze | Mix brown sugar, dijon mustard, and apple cider vinegar |
| Coat Corned Beef | Glaze the lean and fatty sides of the corned beef |
| Wrap | Tightly wrap the corned beef in aluminum foil |
| Air Fry | 1 hour at 350°F (180°C) |
| Baste | Open the foil and baste the brisket with the remaining glaze |
| Air Fry Again | 40 minutes or until the internal temperature is a minimum of 145°F (63°C) |
| Crisp Top | Uncover the top of the brisket and cook for 5 minutes at 400°F (200°C) |
| Rest | Rest the brisket for 10 minutes before slicing |
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What You'll Learn
Preheat the air fryer
Preheating your air fryer is an important step in the cooking process. While not all brands of air fryers require you to preheat, it is highly recommended for this recipe. Set your air fryer to 360 degrees Fahrenheit or 180 degrees Celsius and let it preheat for at least 3 minutes. If you have a larger piece of corned beef, you may need to preheat for slightly longer to ensure the middle is warmed through.
While your air fryer is preheating, you can prepare the corned beef. First, rinse the corned beef under running water for about a minute to remove any excess salty brine. Then, pat the meat dry with paper towels. Next, mix your chosen seasonings with a liquid such as apple cider vinegar, honey, or mustard in a small bowl and set aside.
After preheating, you will place the corned beef in the air fryer basket. If you are wrapping your corned beef in foil, be sure to do so tightly so that the juices are retained and can be used to baste the meat during cooking. If you are not using foil, you can place the corned beef directly into the basket.
Once the corned beef is in the air fryer, you can set the temperature and timer according to your recipe, typically cooking for around 1 hour initially before opening the foil and basting the meat.
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Prepare the corned beef
First, preheat your air fryer to 360 degrees F or 180 degrees C for at least 3 minutes. You can skip the preheating step, but it is highly recommended for this recipe.
Next, prepare the corned beef brisket. Place the brisket in a pot of water and rinse it two or three times to remove any excess salty brine. Pat the meat dry with paper towels. Corned beef typically comes with a seasoning packet, which you can discard and make your own blend of flavours. Alternatively, you can use the pickling spices that come with the corned beef. Mix your chosen spices with mustard, honey, and apple cider vinegar in a small bowl.
Now, take a large piece of aluminium foil and place the brisket in the middle. Brush the mustard/honey paste over the whole brisket, reserving some for basting later. Wrap the brisket tightly in the foil and place it in the air fryer basket.
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Cooking times and temperatures
The cooking time for corned beef in an air fryer depends on the size of the brisket and the desired level of doneness. For a well-done corned beef, the internal temperature should reach a minimum of 145°F.
For a 4.4-pound brisket, cook at 360°F (180°C) for about 1 hour and 40 minutes. If you are cooking a larger piece of corned beef (4-5 pounds), the cooking time may be up to 2.5 hours. For a smaller piece (2 pounds), the cooking time may be around 90 minutes.
- Preheat your air fryer to 360°F (180°C) for at least 3 minutes.
- Prepare the corned beef by rinsing it under running water to remove any excess salty brine.
- Pat the corned beef dry with paper towels.
- Mix the glaze or paste: In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, Dijon mustard, and apple cider vinegar. You can also add honey and pickling spices to this mixture.
- Coat the corned beef with the glaze or paste.
- Place the corned beef, fat side up, on a large piece of aluminum foil and wrap it tightly.
- Place the wrapped corned beef in the air fryer basket and cook for 1 hour.
- After the first hour, open the foil and baste the corned beef with the remaining glaze or juices from the meat.
- Wrap the corned beef again and cook for an additional 40 minutes.
- For a crispy top, uncover the top of the corned beef and cook for an additional 5 minutes at 400°F (200°C).
- Let the corned beef rest for 10-20 minutes before slicing against the grain.
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Resting and slicing the corned beef
Once the corned beef is cooked, remove it from the air fryer basket and let it rest for 10 to 20 minutes before slicing. This allows the juices to settle and redistribute, ensuring the meat stays tender and moist.
When you're ready to slice, use a large, sharp serrated knife. Cut in a slow and steady see-sawing motion, going against the grain of the meat. Only slice as much corned beef as you plan to serve, as this will help keep the rest moist.
If you have any leftovers, wrap them tightly in foil and store them in the refrigerator. Corned beef should be eaten within three to four days.
Leftover corned beef is great for making sandwiches, hash, soup, or fried rice. You can also serve it with eggs and potatoes for breakfast or on rye bread with sauerkraut and Russian dressing for a traditional Reuben sandwich.
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Storing leftovers
There are plenty of delicious ways to use up leftover corned beef. One option is to make a classic Reuben sandwich by layering slices of corned beef with sauerkraut and Russian dressing on rye bread. You could also add corned beef to a breakfast hash with eggs and potatoes, or use it to make corned beef soup. If you're looking for something a little different, try adding leftover corned beef to fried rice.
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Frequently asked questions
It takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes to cook corned beef in an air fryer. However, the cooking time may vary depending on the size of the brisket and the cooking temperature.
Preheat your air fryer to 360 degrees F or 180 degrees C for at least 3 minutes. Then, cook the corned beef at 350 degrees F for 1 hour. Finally, increase the temperature to 400 degrees F or 200 degrees C and cook for an additional 5-10 minutes.
First, preheat your air fryer. Then, rinse the corned beef and pat it dry. Mix the mustard, honey, and apple cider vinegar to make a paste. Brush the paste over the corned beef and wrap it tightly in aluminum foil. Place the wrapped corned beef in the air fryer basket and cook for 1 hour. After 1 hour, open the foil and baste the corned beef with the remaining paste. Wrap again and cook for another 40 minutes. Finally, increase the temperature and cook for an additional 5-10 minutes to get a nice crust on top.
