One of the least tender cuts of beef is the brisket. It takes a slow and long process to cook it to its right tenderness. One good method in cooking the brisket is using the oven. The low temperature and the slow cooking in the oven will melt the connective tissues of the brisket, and its fat makes the whole dish tendered to taste. By doing it properly, the brisket comes out as a delicious and wonderful meal to enjoy.

Preparations:

1. Ask your favorite butcher to get you a good clean brisket.

2. Season with salt and pepper and make sure to rub well into the brisket.

3. You can trim off the excess fat in the brisket. You can also leave it on if you want, since the fat will add more flavor to the brisket while cooking.

4. Preheat the oven at 250 degrees.

Do remember that the brisket takes about 4 hours to cook. It is always to your advantage if you give more time for cooking just to get the tenderness and flavor you desire. It also depends on the size of the brisket, so cooking time is a very important factor to remember when cooking it.

Put the brisket in a baking dish with about 2 - 3 inches depth. This is because the brisket releases a lot of water while cooking. Cover the brisket with foil. You can check hourly to see if the brisket is cooked. It is cooked when you see the meat is almost falling apart. Then serve it hot with some barbecue sauce.

Another way to cook the brisket is to marinade it with salt, pepper and sauce. Mix everything and marinade the brisket for about 2 hours. Cover the brisket and cook for a couple of hours at 300 degrees. Then remove the cover and cook it for another 2 hours, this time uncovered. Allow the brisket to set for about 15 minutes before serving.

One important tip to enjoy your brisket is to serve it hot and cut across the grain, and serve with good barbecue sauce.

Jonathan Pitts

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