Ever wondered how to make perfect ground beef every time? This post will tell you everything you need to know about how to cook ground beef and create mouthwatering dishes with it!
Ground beef is so versatile and can be used in a lot of dishes. It is a much-loved and sought-after food ingredient.
Whether you throw it in some taco shells for taco night, or mix it in some spaghetti sauce, or make sloppy joes, you can't go wrong with ground beef!
And the best part is that it contains minimal carbs, making it low carb, keto-friendly, paleo, and gluten-free.
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What is ground beef?
Ground beef is simply beef that has been diced, minced, or ground up. It is cooked in various ways. You can sauté it, fry it, grill it, or boil it. It all depends on what you're going to use it for.
From hamburgers to meatloaf, ground beef adds much-needed bulk and proteins to your dishes!
Types of ground beef
There are three different main types of ground beef. They are ground chuck, sirloin, and round, and these parts are all gotten from different parts of a cow.
Even though ground beef is generally considered lean meat, ground chuck, which is the cut of meat around a cow's shoulder, contains at least 15% fat.
Ground sirloin is made from the cut of meat from a cow's back, while the 'round' cut is gotten from a cow's hindquarters. As a result, these two kinds of lean ground beef do not contain much fat.
Best ground beef to use
Generally, people use different types of ground beef for different dishes. For example, ground chuck is excellent for making burgers due to its higher fat content.
Because sirloin and round ground beef do not contain much fat, these cuts can be used for dishes like meatloaf or meatballs.
The best choice for you will ultimately come down to what your recipe calls for.
Ingredients to make ground beef
To make ground beef, you only need a few simple ingredients you most likely already have in your pantry.
- Raw ground beef: You can easily get different types of ground beef from a grocery store near you.
- Spices: Black pepper, cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, thyme, garlic powder, salt. You can also add any of your favorite spices or herbs like onion powder or dried parsley.
- Olive oil: This is optional, and it depends on the fat content of your ground beef.
How to cook ground beef
- You can use fresh ground beef from the meat market or butcher shop when cooking ground beef. However, if you already have it frozen, let the ground beef thaw to room temperature.
- Add a little olive oil to a cast iron skillet, if you're using a lean cut of ground beef.
- Place the ground beef in the skillet and break it into smaller pieces. Let it cook for a few minutes on medium-high heat.
- As it starts to brown, add the spices and stir, breaking the pieces into tinier pieces. This browning of the ground beef is known as the 'Maillard reaction,' and it's what gives browned meat its wonderful, distinct flavor.
- Cook till ground beef is browned and no longer pink.
- Taste and adjust for salt.
- If you wish, you can drain the extra fat from your ground beef.
Cook it in the oven
- Preheat the oven to 450F.
- Line a wide baking dish with aluminum foil.
- Break the meat into pieces and spread it in the baking dish.
- Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for 30-45 minutes.
- Halfway, take the baking dish out of the oven and use a wooden spoon to break down the ground beef.
- Take the ground beef out when the meat is fully browned.
Cook it in a slow cooker
- Spray the crockpot with nonstick spray, so the ground beef doesn't stick to it.
- Break up the ground beef into pieces and then place it into the crockpot.
- Add your spices to the crockpot.
- Set it to high and cook for 2-3 hours. You may also choose to set it on low and cook for 4 - 6 hours.
- While the meat cooks, occasionally stir it so it cooks evenly.
- Drain and store the ground beef in an airtight container for later use.
Tips when cooking ground beef
- To help the ground beef cook more evenly, remove it from the fridge about 20 minutes before you cook it so it can come closer to room temperature.
- To help the ground beef brown evenly, press the beef into an even, flat layer in a large skillet and let it cook untouched for 5 minutes.
- You can store ground beef in the fridge for 2-3 days or freeze it for up to 6 months for longer storage.
- You can use your favorite sauces like pasta sauce, tomato sauce, marinara sauce, or bolognese sauce.
Ground beef already contains moisture. Cook it over medium heat so it evaporates a little slower and browns more evenly. High heat will cause all the moisture to escape quickly, which would leave the ground beef dry.
Although it is generally believed that browned ground beef is appropriately 'done,' sometimes it is ready to eat if still pink a bit on the inside. The safest way to make sure harmful bacteria have been successfully destroyed is to cook the meat at an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit (160°F). Use a meat thermometer to make sure.
It takes roughly 7 to 10 minutes to cook a pound of ground beef on the stove. Be careful not to overcook or undercook it. Make sure you use a thermometer to check if it's done and safe to eat.
Cook the ground beef on medium heat. After browned and appropriately cooked, use a slotted spoon to gather the meat to one side of the pan. Use a spoon or folded paper towels to collect the oil from the other side.
Don't pour it down the sink, or it might clog the pipes. Instead, pour hot grease onto a glass bowl and allow it to cool before disposing of it.
If you need inspiration for easy dinners, check out these easy ground beef recipes!
📖 Recipe
How to Cook Ground Beef
Ingredients
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon thyme
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
Instructions
- If your ground beef is frozen, let it thaw to room temperature.
- Add a little olive oil to a cast iron skillet.
- Place the ground beef in a skillet and break it into pieces. Let it cook for a few minutes on medium-high heat.
- As it starts to brown, add the spices and stir, breaking the pieces into tinier pieces.
- Cook till ground beef is browned and no longer pink.
- Taste and adjust salt.
- If you wish, you can drain the extra fat and save it for later use in an airtight container.
Notes
- To help the ground beef cook more evenly, remove it from the fridge about 20 minutes before you cook it so it can come closer to room temperature.
- To help the ground beef brown evenly, press the beef into an even, flat layer in a large skillet and let it cook untouched for 5 minutes.
- You can store ground beef in the fridge for 2-3 days or freeze it for up to 6 months for longer storage.
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