Some people think ground beef is just for hamburgers and tacos, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But if you want to dig a little bit deeper, this is a versatile ingredient that can be transformed into a real showstopper. Learn how long your ground beef will keep before and after cooking, the ideal meat-to-fat ratio, and a host of other tips.
Wondering how to cut frozen ground beef so you don’t have to defrost it all? It’s a tricky prospect, and you could wind up injuring yourself if you’re not careful. This guide will help you explore your options. How To Cut Frozen Ground Beef To cut frozen ground beef, place it on a cutting board … Read more
Even if you buy your ground beef at the supermarket rather than grinding your own, you’re probably familiar with the meat-to-fat ratio. Packages of ground meat are often labeled “85 percent lean,” “81 to 21,” or something along those lines. Ground poultry tends to have a higher meat-to-fat ratio, while beef has a reputation for … Read more
Have you ever wondered how many cups of ground beef there are per pound? This information can come in handy when you’re following recipes for lasagna or other dishes that call for cooked hamburger meat. But the answer might not be as straightforward as you expect. How Many Cups of Ground Beef in a Pound? … Read more
We’ve all been there. You have a ton of ground beef to use up, but you’re not in the mood for hamburgers. Can you still fire up the grill? The answer is a resounding yes. Here are a few ideas to get you started. Ground Beef on the Grill Not Hamburgers Instead of making hamburgers, … Read more
No matter how you cook it, ground beef yields a lot of grease. Many recipes that call for browned hamburger advise pouring off some of the fat before adding other ingredients. What can you do with that fat afterward? We’ve brought you a few tips. How Dispose of Ground Beef Grease The best way to … Read more
Is it safe to eat pink hamburger? If so, how pink can a burger be and still be safe to eat? Our guide to safely cooked ground beef has all the information you need, including why raw hamburger is pink to begin with. Can Ground Beef Be Pink? When beef is cooked, it changes color … Read more
In ideal circumstances, ground beef has a pleasing texture. However, there are a few reasons why your ground beef might have turned out chewy instead of moist and tender. This guide will take you through the most common ones. Why Is My Ground Beef Chewy? Cooked ground beef can be chewy if it was undercooked, … Read more
Freezing ground beef is a useful way to ensure that it will keep until you’re ready to enjoy it. That poses the question: how long is ground beef good after thawing? It’s important to know the answer in advance. Otherwise, your meat might spoil. How Long Can Thawed Ground Beef Stay in the Fridge? Once … Read more
If the ground beef turned white in the fridge or freezer, is it still safe to eat? It’s important to follow food safety guidelines, but discoloration isn’t always a sign of spoilage. So what should you do in this case? Ground Beef Turned White There are often white spots in ground beef due to the … Read more
Do you season ground beef before cooking, or wait until the meat is browned? Depending on the seasonings—indeed, the entire recipe—the answer may vary. Let’s talk about the effect that seasonings have on ground beef, and why we add them when we do. When To Season Ground Beef When making burgers, we season the beef … Read more
When ground beef smells sour, what should you do? Is this ever normal, or is it a definitive sign of spoilage? This guide will tell you all you need to know about how ground beef is supposed to smell, and what to do when it smells off. Ground Beef Smells Sour If your ground beef … Read more
It happens to the best of us. We unearth a package of raw meat that’s been sitting in the fridge for days—maybe even a week. The question is, can we still salvage it, or do we have to throw it out? If you’ve had raw ground beef in fridge for 7 days or more, here’s … Read more
You might already know that you’re supposed to cook ground beef thoroughly before consuming it. What does that mean, exactly? How can you tell whether the meat is cooked? There’s only one foolproof method—but there are other guidelines as well. How To Know if Ground Beef is Cooked Ground beef is considered fully cooked when … Read more
When you’re cooking a batch of ground beef, is it necessary to add oil to the skillet? You’ve probably done so when browning stew beef, or even when searing a steak. So, does ground beef play by the same set of rules? Let’s find out. Do You Need Oil to Cook Ground Beef? You don’t … Read more
Have you ever wondered how long ground beef might last past the dates on the package? We’re here to share information about the dates themselves that might surprise you. When you’re through reading, you should know how long you can safely store beef in the fridge. That’s a useful skill to acquire, no matter what … Read more
So you’re thinking about grilling up some burgers for game day. Should you opt for ground sirloin, or stick with the package labeled “ground beef”? The answer might surprise you. In our guide to ground sirloin vs regular ground beef, we’ll show you which one is best for the grill—and why. Ground Sirloin vs Regular … Read more
If you enter the kitchen and find that you’ve left a package of raw ground beef on the counter, what happens next? Will the meat still be safe to consume after it’s cooked? Our guide to raw ground beef left out overnight will answer these questions, along with several others. What Should I Do With … Read more