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Corned Beef

(93 Posts)
Daddima Sun 21-Jul-19 19:50:38

Is there any particular reason this is still sold in those rectangular tins with the wee key?

crazyH Sun 21-Jul-19 19:54:22

Are they Daddima? I haven't bought one in a long while.....

Happychops Sun 21-Jul-19 19:54:30

I didn’t think you could still buy it. Oh the agony of the nasty wounds that I often ended up with opening the tins. I nearly always cut myself . Did anyone one else have this problem or was it just me?

Greyduster Sun 21-Jul-19 20:05:21

I quite like tinned corned beef, but only one particular brand. The tins are lethal though; I have fallen foul of them. They did try putting ring pulls on corned beef cans, but they didn’t work particularly well.

kittylester Sun 21-Jul-19 20:08:01

I hate corned beef but occasionally dh makes himself corned beef hash so he deals with the tins!

Auntieflo Sun 21-Jul-19 20:08:16

How else can you make Corned Beef Hash, without a tin?

Mossfarr Sun 21-Jul-19 20:11:08

I always have a tin of corned beef as a staple in my 'store cupboard'. Corned Beef Hash is a family favourite so I make it quite often. My 2yo granddaughter loves it too so she has a stock of measured portions in my freezer!
I've often wondered why the tins are that shape the key is a pain though. The key was missing from the tin I opened today so I had to use my battery operated tin opener!.

MiniMoon Sun 21-Jul-19 20:14:00

The answer to that question is interesting.
Corned beef was produced to provide soldiers with protein in the war, so they needed to be stored. Round tins waste space, square-ish tins tessellate so they can pack more into a space. You can't open a square tin with a tin opener, hence the weird key thing.
THEY CONTINUE to be made in their traditional tapered rectangular shape because it is easier to extract the contents in one piece, thus allowing the block of corned beef to be sliced.
So there you go.

Witzend Sun 21-Jul-19 20:16:38

Can't say I've ever had trouble with CB tins, but you do need to be careful.
I usually keep one of the small tins in for an easy (lazy) meal, with baked potatoes, salad or coleslaw - and Branston pickle!
Or I make a sort of hash by frying chopped onions and diced boiled potatoes, before adding diced CB and a lot of chopped, cooked cabbage. It's one of dh's favourites.

bluejay29 Sun 21-Jul-19 20:23:52

I used to buy the tinned corned beef ... it had a lovely flavour, but could never get the darned thing open without bloodshed. I have now conceded to buying it in a packet I'm afraid. Much safer.

Maggiemaybe Sun 21-Jul-19 20:27:24

I love corned beef, hate the tins. Why would the manufacturers be more keen on saving space than other producers of tinned goods? hmm

I usually end up with the key snapping off halfway round - it's even more lethal when you've to start digging past the jaggedy edge with a sharp knife.

Grandad1943 Sun 21-Jul-19 20:27:42

I believe that the design of the can goes back to the second world war when Corned Beef was a staple ration of the troops as it could easily be carried in their packs. The key made it easy to open when a can opener was not available.

I remember my father saying that when they were in North Africa they could open it up, and just pour it into their mess tin alongside whatever else might be available, such was the heat

One of our favourite meals is Corned Beef, egg and chips, but very unhealthy so eaten by us very infrequently, sadly. ?

Soozikinzi Sun 21-Jul-19 20:31:18

There’s a restaurant in Manchester which specialises in corned beef hash ! I couldn’t believe it either but my DSS had it when we went and gave us a taste and they make the corned beet themselves it’s really good!

Iam64 Sun 21-Jul-19 21:04:32

Soozininzi, Sams Chop House corn beef hash is different league to that we cobbletogether from a can. Going to Sams on a grey Manchester day and eating their hash takes some beating (and some eating) it’s fab

annsixty Sun 21-Jul-19 21:50:50

Can anyone give a really good recipe for corned beef hash?
The ultimate I suppose.

Urmstongran Sun 21-Jul-19 21:54:34

Ooh I must go to eat CBH at Sam’s chop house. I love calling in there! Only go about once a year. It has a 140y history with a statue of Lowry sitting at the bar.

Mind you I bet us aficionados all have our own variations on a theme!

I simmer potatoes, onion and carrots in a cup of beef stock for 20 minutes, then add the corned beef, a tin of tomatoes, a big handful of frozen peas plus 2 tablespoons of Lea & Perrins Worcester sauce. No salt needed as the corned beef contains enough.

Food of the gods indeed.
❤️

Urmstongran Sun 21-Jul-19 22:02:27

Image from Sam’s. - so cosy in the winter!

The bronze statue of Lowry (this was one of his favourite haunts) is on the right of the photo.

Mossfarr Sun 21-Jul-19 22:10:46

I make it with carrots, onions & frozen cauliflower cheese florets. I sometimes add peas too. Mash it all together with butter, some pepper and a dash of lee & Perrins.
Sprinkled with grated cheese then put in the oven until the cheese is all melted and crispy. Delicious.

Urmstongran Sun 21-Jul-19 22:20:19

Sounds delicious Mossfar but it can’t be CBH if it’s not got spuds in it!
We ‘Mancs’ love our potatoes.
?

Coolgran65 Sun 21-Jul-19 22:22:32

In USA I went out for breakfast and ordered corned beef hash. It was very different from our corned beef. It was an actual cut of corned (salted) beef and thin slices were carved off and added to the hash of fried potatoes, onions and runny fried egg. Delicious.

BoadiceaJones Sun 21-Jul-19 22:28:42

Here in the Antipodes, corned beef is always corned silverside, bought in big chunks, still in its brine. I slow cook it with vinegar and brown sugar, and an onion studded with cloves. With a mustard sauce made with some of the cooking water and egg yolk, it's a meal fit for a queen. However, I love the good old tins, beloved of my WW 2 Digger dad.

annep1 Sun 21-Jul-19 22:50:40

My mum used to substitute it for nince in cottage pie. I loved it with a dollop of HP.

annep1 Sun 21-Jul-19 22:51:04

Mince!

Callistemon Sun 21-Jul-19 22:59:17

How else can you make Corned Beef Hash, without a tin?
With the sliced stuff?

Callistemon Sun 21-Jul-19 23:00:22

BoadiceaJones oh yes, it's quite different Down Under - yours sounds lovely, makes a great dinner.
What time is dinner?