St. Patrick's Day food: Tips for making the perfect corned beef and cabbage for your Irish feast


St. Patrick’s Day in the United States is a huge affair. 

With parades, Irish music and plenty of beer to go around, it’s a holiday celebrated by many, Irish or otherwise. 

One main staple of any St. Patrick’s Day celebration is food. Commonly enjoyed during this day is corned beef and cabbage with a side of Irish soda bread. 

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If you want to indulge in Irish cuisine in honor of the day, follow these tips for cooking the meal to perfection. Following this guide, plus having a little bit of Irish luck will get you a delicious St. Patrick’s Day meal.

  1. Best seasonings
  2. Best cheeses
  3. Best sauces
  4. Best temperature for cooking
  5. Best bread

1. Best seasonings for corned beef

If you buy a packaged corned beef from the store, it is very possible that it has already been seasoned.

While it wouldn’t hurt to add more, make sure to check before you start adding extra ingredients.

Corned beef in a grocery store

If you buy a packaged corned beef from the store, make sure to check and see if it has already been seasoned. (Edwin Tuyay/Bloomberg via Getty Images/File)

Some of the best seasonings for corned beef, according to NewsCore, include peppercorn, bay leaves, allspice, cinnamon, ginger, coriander, cloves, nutmeg, mustard seed and garlic.

2. Best cheeses for corned beef

Many different cheeses pair wonderfully with corned beef. 

Because there are so many different variations of cheese that work, it’s up to personal preference as to which cheese you pair with the meat.

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That said, when it comes to making corned beef sandwiches, Swiss cheese is the favored choice, with provolone also being a popular option.

If you’re making a platter with a variety of meats and cheeses, maybe include Havarti and cheddar cheese. If you are someone who likes a little extra kick, add pepper jack to your tray.

Corned beef sandwich

Popular cheeses for a corned beef sandwich are provolone and Swiss. (Deb Lindsey for the Washington Post via Getty Images/File)

3. Best sauces for corned beef

If you’re making ham, you’ve got to have your ham sauce. If you’re making turkey, you can’t forget the gravy. When it comes to corned beef, mustard is the way to go.

There are lots of different sauces you can make with your corned beef, but mustard sauce is the most popular.

Mustard sauce is extremely easy to make. It is made with just a few ingredients that you probably already have around the house. 

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All you need to make your own mustard sauce is yellow mustard, vinegar, sugar, salt, pepper, and for extra flavor, you can add garlic powder. Include a raw egg whisked well for a creamier texture.

Plate of corned beef

There are lots of different sauce options for corned beef, one of which is a mustard sauce. (Paul Aiken/Digital First Media/Boulder Daily Camera via Getty Images/File)

Some other sauces to pair with your corned beef are horseradish sauce or gravy with a Guinness base.

4. Best temperature for cooking corned beef

Most corned beef recipes call for the meat to be cooked at 350°F for two to three hours.

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The amount of time that you cook the corned beef depends on how large it is.

The internal temperature of corned beef, according to Taste of Home, should be 195 F when it is done cooking.  

5. Best bread to pair with corned beef

One of the most popular breads to pair with corned beef is Irish soda bread. 

Irish soda bread

Irish soda bread is a commonly made dish for St. Patrick’s Day. (John Patriquin/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images/File)

Other breads that pair well with corned beef are sourdough or rye bread, brioche, ciabatta, focaccia, pumpernickel or challah bread.

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