Steaming pastrami before or after rest?

[Happy Highwayman]

Would you smoke a pastrami and then let it rest, perhaps even overnight, and then steam it before serving or steam finish it right after smoking and then letting it rest?

[Jason TQ]

I normally steam right after smoking and really like it. Though doing it after letting it rest probably would work well too.

[bigabyte]

Brother thirdeye has some great details on this on his blog at this link...

http://playingwithfireandsmoke.blogspot.com/1996/05/beef-pastrami.html

[HeSmellsLikeSmoke]

After refrigerating works great. Just did that this evening for two hours.

Best Pastrami so far.

[Happy Highwayman]

Decided to steam it right away. I love doing pre-corned beefs...they're usually only 3-4 lbs, take very little time to get to 165 and then I then I steam for 20 min in pressure cooker. I was lazy this time and instead of doing my usual manual grind/toast of Montreal steak spice ingredients I bought some "Montreal steak spices" and just covered it in like half the bottle.

Did it fat side up:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dJ7rT3b2LIs/TiOp0UIGYmI/AAAAAAAAASo/i9znRWLM9FI/s640/Smoked%252520Meat%2525207-17.jpg

Pre-steaming.

[Rookie'48]

I cook mine up to about 145* to 155* then tent for 45 minutes, let cool & refrigerate overnite. Then I run it through the slicer and vacu-suck in 1/2 pound bags with one ice cube in the bag. Then they go in the freezer. When I want some pastrami the frozen bag goes in the microwave for one minute, take it out & turn it over, nuke again for one minute. Do this 3 or 4 times & your pastrami will be steam finished. Don't cook for over one minute at a time or the bag just might explode - yep, it happened :icon_blush:.

[bigabyte]

Nice looking pastrami there!:cool:

[martyleach]

I guess I don't understand why you would want to refrigerate it first then steam later. Ihave always used Thirdeyes' suggestion and it has always come out great. I steam it in a tightly sealed foil bag (tent) on my smoker. It is part of the cooking process, right??

[landarc]

I do both, depending on the timing. It works fine either way as well.