My favorite daube comes with the instruction to prepare it 3 days ahead, then re-heat and cool it each day before (finally) re-heating and serving the darling.
After it's done braising, I cool the whole thing, unsliced, in the liquid overnight. The next day I remove the fat from the liquid, slice the brisket thinly, and put back in the liquid. It can then be reheated and served anytime within the next day or 2.
I do the very same thing. After braising for a few hours, let that thing cool and then sit refridgerated, over night, just as you took it out of the oven. The next day, de-fat the liquid (which is likely gelatinized), scoop the meat out. Re-heat the liquid, strain and reduce for a perfect sauce. Slice the cold brisquet and store as mentioned above.
I absolutely make mine two, even three, days ahead. I leave it whole and slice off what I need, then reheat it gently in the sauce. I even freeze the leftovers unsliced. (It slices so much more easily at room temperature than it does when it's hot. If it's refrigerator-cold, I use an electric knife; it's a little TOO firm to hand-slice easily at that temperature.)
I usually sear, then braise it on top of the stove for about 2 hrs, slice, then braise another hour or so until it's completely tender. If reheating a day or two later, I just reheat it in the sauce.
Yes. I sear it before it spends about 3 to 4 hours in the oven. Do you agree that slicing it before reheating is better than slicing after it comes out of the oven?
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