How Long to Cook a 3 Pound Frozen Corned Beef and Cabbage

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Tender, buttery, flavor infused Instant Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage is the perfect dish to serve for St. Patrick's Day dinner. Plus it's sooo easy, made right in the Instant Pot with minimal hands on time!

corned beef with cabbage, carrots and potatoes on the side

This recipe was originally published in March 2018. It has been updated for content to better meet your needs.

Buttery, tender and packed with flavor, this Instant Pot Corned Beef is so incredibly easy to make and perfect for that St. Patrick's Day dinner. Or any dinner really.

Using the Instant Pot significantly speeds up the time it typically takes to cook a corned beef brisket. Without a pressure cooker, it can take up to 8 hours to cook a brisket - with the Instant Pot it cooks for only 90 minutes.

That's about 2 hours total before dinner is ready after pressure build-up, pressure releasing and cooking the vegetables. Not too shabby, huh?

**If you have leftover corned beef, don't forget to make this Corned Beef and Cabbage Soup .

Why This Recipe Works

The Instant Pot speeds up the cooking process and the pressure helps the corned beef to become buttery and tender.

The seasonings add just the right amount of flavor.

Adding just enough liquid in the Instant Pot helps to draw out the salt in the corned beef preventing it from being overly salty.

What Kind of Corned Beef Brisket Should You Use?

There are two different cuts of brisket - flat cut and point cut. Flat cut is the most common cut found in grocery stores, and is the cut I recommend using for this recipe. Read more about the difference between flat cut and point cut in this article from Eat Like No One.

Do You Rinse Corned Beef Brisket Before Cooking It?

You do want to rinse the corned beef before cooking it. Rinsing it eliminates any excess salt and brine from the outside. Don't worry, the corned beef is still plenty flavorful!!

Do You Cut the Fat Off Corned Beef Brisket?

This is optional. I personally like to leave the fat on as I believe it adds a wonderful flavorful to the beef. However, if you'd like a slightly less fatty brisket, trim the fat off, leaving a thinner layer. Be careful not to remove all the fat as you need some of it to help tenderize and flavor the brisket.

Step By Step Instructions

I use a 6 Quart 9-in-1 Instant Pot to make this recipe. Buy it HERE on Amazon if you don't have one yet! (affiliate link)

First off, you'll want to rinse your brisket to get rid of all that excess brine. Place the steamer rack in your IP and set the brisket on top, fat side up . Cooking fat side up allows the fat to add flavor to the beef as it cooks and drips down. Open the seasoning packet and rub it on top of the brisket.

If your corned beef doesn't come with a spice packet, make your own Corned Beef Spice Packet with this recipe from Hilda's Kitchen Blog (use 2 tablespoons). You can also substitute 2 tablespoons of pickling spice.

corned beef in a pot with seasonings

Place the garlic cloves, bay leaf and crushed red pepper on the corned beef.

corned beef in a pot with garlic cloves and seasoning

Pour the beer and stock over the top.

corned beef in a pot with seasonings and broth

Set the IP to pressure cook on high for 90 minutes .

photo of an instant pot set to 1 hour 30 minutes

Now, go binge on some Netflix while your delicious melt-in-your-mouth corned beef cooks away.

After it's done, let the pressure release naturally for 15 minutes then use the quick release to release any remaining pressure. Remove your corned beef, let it sit for 10-15 minutes to cool/rest, then slice against the grain .

a plate of corned beef with vegetables

How to Cook Vegetables in the Instant Pot

While your beef is cooling, strain the liquid to remove the peppercorns and seasoning and place the liquid back in the Instant Pot. Place the cabbage, carrots, and potatoes in the Instant Pot and pressure cook on high for 5 minutes.

carrots, cabbage and potatoes in a pot

Use the quick release to release the pressure. Place the vegetables and sliced corned beef on a plate, drizzle it with some of the cooking liquid, and serve with whole grain mustard.

a plate of corned beef and cabbge with potatoes and carrots and mustard on the side

If you don't have an Instant Pot, you can also make this in the slow cooker. Try this Slow Cooker Corned Beef from Dinner Then Dessert.

Serving Options

Potatoes, cabbage and carrots are the traditional sides to corned beef. You can also try some of these dishes that would be awesome with it:

Garlic Mashed Potatoes;
Crispy Baked Potatoes;
Cheesy Cauliflower Bake;
Hasselback Potatoes;
Creamed Corn.

Expert Tips

Use a flat cut corned beef brisket for the best results. However, if you can't find flat cut, point cut will work as well.

Letting the pressure release naturally helps the meat to stay tender. Be patient.

Make sure to slice the corned beef against the grain so it stays tender.

Make Ahead Options

Make the corned beef according to the recipe instructions, and store in the fridge (in a covered container) for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or in a 350 degree oven until warmed through.

Freezing Options

Make the corned beef according to the recipe instructions and slice. Place in an airtight container and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat in the microwave or a 350 degree oven until heated through.

Leftover Corned Beef Recipes

If you're lucky enough to have some corned beef leftover, these are some great ideas on how to use it:

- Corned Beef and Cabbage Soup - Went Here 8 This
- Corned Beef Tacos - Half Baked Harvest
- Corned Beef Hash - The Modern Proper
- Corned Beef and Cabbage Egg Rolls - Grits and Pinecones
- Irish Baked Potato Soup - Host the Toast
- Rueben Sandwich - Foodie Crush

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More Favorite Instant Pot Recipes

If you're all about using your Instant Pot, check out some of these other reader favorites:

Chicken Paprika;
Turkey Chili;
Pork Ribs (these are sooooo good!!);
Coq Au Vin;
Split Pea Soup;
Browse all the Instant Pot Recipes !!

Did you make this Instant Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage Recipe? Rate the recipe and leave a comment to let me know how it turned out!