I am simmering a beef brisket. Fat side up or down?!
Answers:
It depends on whether you are cooking on top of the stove or in the oven. If in the oven, fat side up, so the fat melts and bastes the meat. However you said you were simmering it. This means to me that you are cooking it on the stove and it is covered in liquid. If that is the case then it should be fat side down so the fat layer protects the bottom of the meat. If the top of the meat is sticking above the water cover it with a piece of scrunched up baking parchment.
cookery instructor
If it is covered with hot water, it makes no difference.
If you are braising it in a small amount of liquid, or in any dry roasting method, cook it fat side up.
Doc Hudson
Fat side up so it will render down, giving you a more juicy and tender brisket.
http://www.ehow.com/how_2290471_cook-bee…
Fat side up. It will self baste that way.
Good luck!