How to Roast Beef Brisket

Written By Ross Young

Published:

There are countless ways of preparing a beef brisket, which can often lead to confusion in the kitchen! Of all the options available, you might wonder if it’s safe and worthwhile to roast a beef brisket in the oven?

Roasting beef brisket is perhaps the best way of ensuring it is beautifully tender and delicious! The time you need to roast your brisket depends on its size. It will take around 3 to 4 hours for a 3 to 4 pound brisket.

How to Roast Beef Brisket

Roasting beef brisket can be as straightforward or difficult as you make it.

Because we like to keep things simple, we introduce some steps below that will help you roast beef brisket and ensure you have a tender piece of meat every single time. Here’s what you need to do:

  1. Preheat Oven
    Low and slow is the best way to go when roasting beef brisket. Begin by preheating your oven to 325F or 165C. 
  2. Prepare Beef Brisket
    Firstly, unwrap your brisket and dry it with paper towels before adding some simple seasoning. Then, you will need to prepare the liquid in which you plan to braise it. You will need 3-4 cups of braising liquid for a standard 3-4-pound piece of brisket. Once you’ve prepared the meat and liquid, add it to a covered baking pan and affix the lid. 
  3. Roast It
    Place your brisket in the centre of the oven and roast. It will take 3-4 hours to roast a 3-4-pound piece of brisket, so adjust your roasting time accordingly. 
  4. Serve and Enjoy
    When your brisket has been in the oven for the required time, you’re all set to serve it up to your family and enjoy.
Is Beef Brisket the Same as Roasting Beef?

No, beef brisket is not the same as roasting beef. Roasting beef tends to be chuck. Chuck is from the shoulder of the cow. Brisket, however, is from the chest or breast area.Chuck Roast

How to Roast Beef Brisket Successfully

If you want to have success 100% of the time, then stick to these 3 simple tips:

  1. Go Low and Slow When roasting a beef brisket in the oven, you need to employ a low and slow approach to ensure the meat is tender and delicious when it’s ready to eat. Even if your recipe calls for a slightly higher cooking temperature, it’s best to be cautious when roasting a brisket, as you don’t want to risk ruining it. 
  2. Add Flavours – One of the best things about oven roasting a brisket is that you can braise it in liquid containing delicious herbs, spices, and sauces. There are countless recipes, so be sure to find a flavoursome recipe that brings out the best in your meat. 
  3. Brown Brisket First – Some people like their brisket to have a little extra crisp once it has been roasted. And the secret to this is to brown your brisket on the stovetop before oven-roasting it. Some recipes call for you to do this as standard, so consider this when looking for the ideal way to prepare your beef brisket. 

Why You Should Roast Beef Brisket?

We love oven-roasting beef brisket for the following reasons:

Tender Meat

Oven-roasting beef brisket in liquid ensures that your meat will be delicious and tender every single time! It’s a truly delicious way to enjoy beef brisket.

This low and slow cooking method will also give the flavour plenty of time to develop.

Easy

Oven-roasting a beef brisket is super straightforward. You just need to prepare your braising liquid, and you’re all set. Once it’s in the oven, you can get on with the rest of your afternoon while it cooks.

Why You Shouldn’t Roast Beef Brisket?

Although we love roasting beef brisket, not everyone is likely to agree for the following reasons:

Lengthy

Regardless of how you cook beef brisket, low and slow is always the best way to go about it. If you’re looking for meat that you can cook quickly, it’s best to avoid brisket altogether. 

Braising is Essential

When you roast brisket, you must braise it with a liquid of your choice to get the meat nice and tender. You must choose a different cooking method if you don’t want to braise your brisket.

If you want to get that smoky flavour and charred crust on the brisket then roasting it might not be the best approach to take, unfortunately.

Is It Safe to Roast Beef Brisket?

Yes, roasting beef brisket is perfectly safe and is one of the best ways to cook your beef brisket thoroughly so that it is tender and tastes delicious.

As with cooking any type of meat, you can check its temperature at least 165F or 175C before serving it, but this should be a given for roasting beef brisket, given the cooking time.

Does Beef Brisket Roast Well?

Beef brisket roasts extremely well and is, in our opinion, the best way to prepare this delicious side of beef. Just be sure to braise your beef brisket in delicious juices, and you will have a tender and incredibly moreish serving for your family to enjoy.

Roasted Beef Brisket FAQs

If you’re left with questions about roasting beef brisket then these FAQs might help you out:

How Many Hours Does It Take to Cook a Beef Brisket?

As a rule of thumb, 45 minutes for every 1 pound of beef is a great guideline. This will, of course, depend on the cooking method and the temperature of your oven.

What is the Best Cooking Method for Brisket?

Ultimately, brisket must be cooked low and slow. It’s not good trying to speed this up. The best methods for cooking it include braising it, roasting it or cooking it on a grill using indirect heat.

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