The corned beef sandwich has many variations, with the Reuben being the most common, made with Swiss cheese, Russian dressing, and sauerkraut. Corned beef can be cured in different ways, and the sandwich has different variations in different countries. The Reuben has a disputed origin, and there are alternative versions like the Rachel. In 1965, the Gemini 3 crew smuggled a corned beef sandwich into space.
A corned beef sandwich in its simplest form is a portion of corned beef placed between two slices of bread. There are numerous variations of this basic composition, and most incorporate some combination of toppings and condiments. Among the most common is called Reuben, which adds melted Swiss cheese, Russian dressing, and sauerkraut.
Corned beef is meat that is cured using salt in one of several methods. It can be cured soaked in a spiced brine bath, dried by salt rub, or ground and mixed with salt and gelatin, and then canned. Most corned beef sandwich recipes call for dry-aged or dry-aged beef. The third method results in a generally cheap but low-quality meat product that is less preferable for sandwiches.
There are many variations of the corned beef sandwich, particularly in melting pot nations like the United States. A typically Jewish version of the corned beef sandwich calls for rye bread and brown mustard along with thinly sliced corned beef. In the Caribbean, where corned beef was imported by British ships during the 18th century, the corned beef sandwich was prepared with the addition of local staples, such as onions and peppers. Mayonnaise, pickles, cheese, and other meats like turkey and roast beef are just a few options often found in a corned beef sandwich.
The classic iteration of the corned beef sandwich known as the Reuben has a muddy history and would likely have been invented in Nebraska or New York in the United States. Whether it was created by German Arnold Reuben in New York City in 1914 or Lithuanian born Reuben Kulakofsky in Omaha during the Great Depression, the composition of the Reuben is undisputed. Corned beef, Swiss cheese, Russian dressing, and sauerkraut comprise a Reuben, and it’s generally served hot on rye bread.
Like nearly all sandwich recipes, the Reuben is no stranger to variation. The most popular alternative is the Rachel, which replaces turkey with corned beef and coleslaw with sauerkraut. Many also substitute corned beef for pastrami, which is smoked corned beef with spices.
The corned beef sandwich has the distinction of being the only sandwich to threaten manned spaceflight. In 1965, the crew of the Gemini 3 spacecraft smuggled a sandwich containing corned beef on board and, once in orbit, each of them took a bite before returning it to its packaging. While nothing bad turned out, crumbs from the sandwich could have gotten into the aircraft’s instruments and disrupted their operation. Clearly in the eyes of the astronauts, the risk was worth it.
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