SOUS VIDE PASTRAMI, A FIRST FOR ME!

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SmokinAl

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Jun 22, 2009
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I bought this sous vide immersion circulator a week or so ago. The only thing I have used it for was a trial run with eggs.

I have been doing a lot of reading about this & wanted to try a pastrami.

I just bought a corned beef to do a test run with.

I soaked it in water overnight, then coated it with pickling spices & black pepper.

Put it in the Lang running at about 225 for about 3 1/2 hours to get some smoke on it.

The IT was 152 when I took it out.

Next stop the vacuum sealer. I sealed it in a bag with just the spices that were on it.

Into the sous vide set at 155 degrees for 24 hours.

Next dry it off & a quick 30 second sear on all 4 sides.

Then it's ready to slice.

Here's how it went.

This is what I started with, a 5# corned beef.

It was a really nice one though, nice & thick & uniform in size.


Looks like a center cut.


Coated in pickling spice & black pepper.



Wrapped for the fridge.


I was so excited about the sous vide machine that I didn't get any photo's of the meat in the smoker.


Can't have enough toys!

I had to use a big pot because the corned beef was so big.

I guess I could of cut it in half & had 2 bags, but I had this canning pot.


3 1/2 hours of smoke & into a vac bag.


Into the pot set at 155. I put a foil cover on it so all the water wouldn't evaporate.


Here it is after 24 hours. Look at all that juice that came out!


I dried it off & got a big CI pan nice & hot.


Seared it on all 4 sides for 30 seconds each.


Let it rest for a few minutes.


Then started slicing it.


It was incredibly tender & juicy.


We just kept taking bites & just couldn't believe how it tasted & the texture of the meat was amazing.


I sliced it all up.


Time for a sammie, just mustard & a homemade rye bun.


Piled it nice & thick, with some pickles & chips on the side.


Even sliced as thick as I sliced it, it still just melted in your mouth.

And the flavor was just fantastic.


It took me a while to get my mind around the fact that I was cooking this to an IT of 155.

Normally I'm looking at 205. I just couldn't believe that a brisket could be tender at 155.

But I took a leap of faith & did it this way.

I know this phrase is getting old, but this is absolutely the best pastrami I have ever eaten.

It has nothing to do with anything that I did. There is no way I can take credit for this.

It has everything to do with this sous vide machine.

Now I'm thinking of all the things I can put in there.

Next up steak & lobster!

If you need something to get yourself for Christmas, I highly recommend one of these!

Thanks for looking guys!

Al
 
Great job Al, and certainly point worthy, You sound like you're rapidly getting close to that point where the SV circulator turns from being a toy into becoming an indispensable tool.

I've done pastrami with briskets from scratch a number of times using the hybrid smoker/SV procedure with just a slight alteration in what I've traditionally been doing when making pastrami for over 30 years. I used to smoke the pastrami to an IT of 165, refrigerate and rest for a day, then gently steam the meat to 165 again before slicing. SV eliminates the need for those finishing steps with equal, if not better, results.

You'll be saying "This is the best (fill in the blank) I've ever eaten" a lot in the future.

Nice work. 
 
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Al, the pastrami looks fantastic and you sure have some nice toys.     I am going to have to learn how to give points.      
 
Looks great! I have been wondering if a cooler would work with SV cooking any idea Al?
 
WOW.   That looks great.

I keep telling myself I don't need any more toys.        I don't believe it thou.     

Hate boiling meat.      Just joking.           That really does look great.
 
Looks great Al! I love mine, you have to give a Ribeye or NY Strip a go with the SV it is amazing!

points.gif
 
 
Great job Al, and certainly point worthy, You sound like you're rapidly getting close to that point where the SV circulator turns from being a toy into becoming an indispensable tool.

I've done pastrami with briskets from scratch a number of times using the hybrid smoker/SV procedure with just a slight alteration in what I've traditionally been doing when making pastrami for over 30 years. I used to smoke the pastrami to an IT of 165, refrigerate and rest for a day, then gently steam the meat to 165 again before slicing. SV eliminates the need for those finishing steps with equal, if not better, results.

You'll be saying "This is the best (fill in the blank) I've ever eaten" a lot in the future.

Nice work. 
Thank you Sir!

This is going to be a fun ride!

Al
 
Al, the pastrami looks fantastic and you sure have some nice toys.     I am going to have to learn how to give points.      
Thank you!

To give a point just click on the green thumbs up at the bottom of the post, then click "add to reputation"

Al
Looks great! I have been wondering if a cooler would work with SV cooking any idea Al?
Thanks B!

I think it would work great, except the way mine clamps onto the pot, I don't think it would open up enough to clamp on a cooler.

The next time I do a long one like this I think I will wrap towels around the pot to insulate it.

Although it didn't have any trouble maintaining the temp, and I doubt it used much electricity.

Al
 
Looks amazing Al, I just might have to get me one. Pastrami is one of my favs!
Thanks John!

I am beginning to think this may be one of the best investments I have ever made as far as kitchen tools go.

Al
 
WOW.   That looks great.

I keep telling myself I don't need any more toys.        I don't believe it thou.     

Hate boiling meat.      Just joking.           That really does look great.
Thanks Adam!

I have been researching these units for a long time & they are absolutely incredible!

Worth every penny!

Al
 
Looks great Al! I love mine, you have to give a Ribeye or NY Strip a go with the SV it is amazing!

points.gif
Thanks buddy!

I'm going to take your suggestion & probably do a ribeye & some lobster tails in the next few days.

As soon as we eat up the pastrami!

Al
 
Al that looks great! I don't have enough room for any more toys LOL Points

Richie 
 
That looks incredible!

Here, the whole time I thought an SV machine was the size of a huge crockpot, or something else that I have no room for...but instead something that you could submerse in your own cookware?

It's got my interest, now I need to research this.
 
I also use my sous vide to re-heat all my vacuum-sealed smoked meats.  Everyone always asks how to reheat leftover smoked meats...and it's almost universal to say "no microwave"...but now I just say to use a sous vide, and leftovers rock!
 
That looks incredible Al! It is hard to wrap your head around having tender Brisket at anything under 190 or so. Santa may be bringing me one of these gadgets as well. We shall see!
 
Awesome thread Al, that looks outstanding! I've been seriously thinkin of getting one of those sous vide units, you just may have convinced me to order one soon!
 
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Looks like Christmas came early to Al's house. Great toy, great food and a wonderful sandwich deserve points!

Disco
 
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