How Long Should Ground Beef Cook

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Gear up for a more flavorful addition to your recipes? Learn how to cook basis beefiness the right way with our step-by-step guide.

Many recipes brainstorm by telling readers to "chocolate-brown the ground beef," but don't explicate how. Is it easy? Yes—just in that location are still ways it can go wrong. Here's how to cook ground beef the right way, then it'south tender, full of season and fix to utilize in your favorite basis beefiness recipes.

Utilise this method whether you need to know how to cook ground beef for tacos, how to cook footing beef for spaghetti, or any other dish you're peckish for dinner.

How to Cook and Brown Footing Beef

This recipe is for 1 pound of ground beefiness and is set up in 8 to 10 minutes. For larger amounts of meat, use a large skillet or brown the meat in batches.

Ingredients

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• 1 pound footing beef
• Table salt and pepper, to season the beef once cooked

Editor'southward Tip: If using very lean footing beef or a stainless steel skillet prone to sticking, add a tablespoon or two of vegetable oil to the pan before calculation the beef.

Tools You'll Need

• A stainless steel, cast iron or nonstick skillet is a must. Await for a good-quality pan that distributes estrus evenly.
• A sturdy wooden spoon or spatula similar this i is perfect for breaking up the basis meat during cooking.
• This gadget helps to hands drain grease from the pan. A colander will too do the trick.

Directions

Step 1: Heat your skillet

Gear up a medium- to large-sized skillet on a burner set to medium-loftier heat. Allow the pan to get hot.

Pace 2: Break upwardly and add together the beef

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Tear the ground beef into chunks and add together to the hot pan in a single layer.

Step three: Allow the beefiness to melt

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Let the beef cook without moving it for the first 5 minutes. The beefiness will begin to brownish and develop color forth the lesser.

Step 4: Pause upwardly and move beef around

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Use a wooden spoon to break up the larger chunks of beef and gently move the beef around. You don't desire to overwork the meat; just move it enough to dark-brown information technology evenly. If the bottom is getting as well dark, turn the rut downwards to medium.

Step 5: Drain the grease

Nancy Mock for Taste of Home

Cook the beef a few minutes more until it's browned and no pink colour remains. Use a draining utensil, a strainer or even a small plate to pour off nigh of the grease into a rut-proof container. (Never cascade grease down the drain!) Proceed a small amount of fat in with the beef; this will aid the meat stay moist and flavorful.

Apply your browned meat right away in one of these creative ground beef recipes or, if saving it for afterwards, let it to cool. So spoon it into a sealed container and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. (Larn how to tell if ground beef is bad.) To freeze information technology, put the cooked-and-cooled beef in a freezer-prophylactic  zip-close purse and press out all the air. Keep it frozen for up to 3 months.

Tips for Cooking with Ground Beef

Defrost Frozen Footing Beef First

Ideally, for meat that is evenly cooked and moist, you want to dark-brown ground beefiness that is completely thawed. Here'due south how to defrost footing beef:

• Fridge method: 24 hours before cooking, remove the basis beefiness package from the freezer, put it in a bowl or naught-elevation bag, and place it in the refrigerator. Your beef should exist completely defrosted by the fourth dimension you're gear up to cook.
• Water method: If yous only take an hour or two, place your frozen ground beefiness bundle into a zip-top bag, pushing out as much of the air as possible. So, place the purse into a bowl full of cold water and let the meat defrost for an hour. You should change the water around the 30-infinitesimal mark to continue it cold.
• Microwave method: Transfer the frozen footing beef to a microwave-safety plate and identify it in the microwave. Ready your microwave to the defrost setting and microwave the beefiness in 20-thirty 2nd internals, flipping the beef each fourth dimension. Information technology should take about 5 minutes or and then for the meat to defrost. Annotation: The edges of the beef might start to melt as they start to defrost. This is fine every bit long as you lot fully cook the ground beef right later on.

Cook the Meat Evenly

Don't drop that brick of basis beef directly into the pan! To melt the meat evenly and prevent steaming, break up the meat before it goes into the pan. Tear the meat into chunks past manus or with a wooden spoon and add these to the hot skillet in a unmarried layer.

Use a Hot Pan

The nearly common mistake people make when browning footing beefiness is putting the beef in a cold pan. As it heats up, the meat begins to steam, which makes it expect dull or gray. The goal is to brown—as in sear—the meat, and to do this the pan needs to be hot. Then make sure your skillet is hot before you add together the ground beef!

Avoid Constant Stirring

Afterward you add the ground beef to the hot pan, let it cook untouched for several minutes. Many cooks brand the fault of constantly stirring ground beef as it browns, just this agitation drives moisture out of the meat, creating a tougher texture. Only after the beef has a good sear on the lesser and yous see the color creeping up the sides should you lot begin to gently move the ground beefiness in the pan.

Keep Some of the Grease in the Pan

Draining the grease from cooked ground beef makes your finished dish less greasy. However, for moist and flavorful meat, go along a tablespoon or ii of that fat in. Stir information technology through your browned beef. Y'all'll still be removing most of the fat while stillprotecting the meat from drying out.

Drain the rest of the grease into a rut-proof container. Once it solidifies, scrape information technology into your trash. (Some municipal compost programs may accept grease, but don't put it in your lawn compost.)

Season the Basis Beef

When it comes to seasoning your ground beefiness, await until after it has been browned and tuckered. Adding common salt to raw basis beef pulls out wet, drying the meat out and creating steam while it cooks, which prevents it from browning properly. The aforementioned goes for other seasonings, only for a different reason. Much of the herbs and spices will drain abroad along with the grease, leaving your ground beefiness underseasoned.

Once your ground beef has been cooked and drained, it can be seasoned with almost anything. Salt and pepper are the basics and could be paired with a taco seasoning alloy, Old Bay, herbes de Provence or garam masala, to proper noun a few options. It just depends what you're planning on making with the beef. For inspiration, check out our favorite ground beefiness recipes of the by year.

Don't Rinse Beef!

One TikTok user almost broke the internet when she shared a video of cooked ground beef poured into a strainer and rinsed under the faucet, which washed all of the grease off the meat and right down the drain. (The video has since been deleted, but you lot tin can take hold of it in @simplyfoodbyty'due south duet with the original postal service.) The user claimed it was a technique learned in a nutrition class, but you definitely should not rinse browned ground beefiness.

For one, grease and fats should never exist poured down the sink drain. (It's one of the things plumbers want you to know.) The grease can solidify in the pipes, creating clogs and a huge mess in sewers and septic systems. Additionally, while pouring off backlog fat from browned beef makes it healthier, removing every last drop of fat by rinsing it away will get out the beef tough, dry and tasteless.

If you're concerned most the amount of fat in basis beef, opt for the leanest option similar ground sirloin. Or, utilize basis turkey or ground chicken in place of beef, which are reasonably priced and take less fat.

How to Cook Frozen Ground Beef

While defrosted ground beef will take the best flavor and texture, you can cook ground beef from frozen. Hither's how:

• Heat your skillet as directed higher up.
• Add together the frozen ground beef, repeatedly turning the brick of meat in the hot skillet and peeling away the outer layers as they brown through.
• Continue until all of the beef is cooked.

Browning your ground beefiness this way should really be a last resort; it's more time-consuming and all that handling will consequence in beefiness that's tough and unevenly cooked. Those in a time pinch will love these quick and easy ground beef recipes instead.

At present that you know how to cook and brown ground beef, yous're ready to brand our best ground beef recipes.

Sense of taste of Habitation

Sloppy Joe Pie

To be honest, I don't hear many compliments on this dish...folks are always too busy eating! I developed the recipe past grabbing ingredients from my fridge and cupboards one "crunch time" when I needed an easy dish fast. —Kathy McCreary, Goddard, Kansas

Become Recipe If you're a sloppy joe fan, try out this loose-meat sandwich recipe.

Spaghetti Meatball Supper

It was such a joy to come home and find my mom making spaghetti and meatballs for dinner. This recipe has e'er been honey to my middle. —Debbie Heggie, Laramie, Wyoming

Cheesy Fiesta Beef Casserole

Over the years I've tweaked this recipe to end upward with a wonderful, quick weeknight meal. Experience gratis to spice it upwardly with jalapenos, if y'all prefer a little more than oestrus. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas

Piece of cake Beefiness Soup

This colorful, piece of cake beefiness soup comes together in minutes. Fifty-fifty my husband, who admits he's no cook, makes it on occasion." —Agnes Bierbaum, Gainesville, Florida

Meatball Cabbage Rolls

My mother frequently had these cabbage rolls simmering in her slow cooker when my family and I arrived at her house for weekend visits. The mouthwatering meatballs tucked within made these stand out from any other cabbage rolls I've tried. —Betty Buckmaster, Muskogee, Oklahoma

Find more than basis beef Crockpot recipes.

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When the weather'southward as well chilly to grill, I whip upwards a big pot of this cheesy pasta. Believe it or not, information technology tastes but like a bacon cheeseburger, and it'south much easier for my young children to savour. —Carly Terrell, Granbury Texas

California Burger Wraps

I love the way these fresh flavors blend. It's a snap to throw these wraps together for a quick, healthy lunch. The burgers can also exist served on buns if you similar. —Rachelle McCalla, Atlantic, Iowa

Piece of cake Stuffed Poblanos

My partner adores these saucy stuffed peppers—and I love how chop-chop they come together. Top with depression-fat sour foam and your favorite salsa. —Jean Erhardt, Portland, Oregon

Ability Lasagna

When my married man and I wanted to live healthier, our commencement step was to eat more power foods, such equally whole grains, fresh veggies and protein. Combined with our dearest for Italian food, this tasty lasagna is one of the nutritious results.—Jennifer Yaden, Richmond, Kentucky

Sassy Salsa Meat Loaves

Here'southward a twist on classic meat loaf. Y'all can make these loaves ahead, and they'll last for a few days. Make meat loaf sandwiches with the leftovers, buns and a little Monterey Jack cheese. —Tasha Tully, Owings Mills, Maryland

Bulky French Onion Potpie

I came up with this dish knowing my husband loves French onion soup. It's a good base for this hearty, compact potpie. — Sara Hutchens, Du Quoin, Illinois

Double-Chaff Pizza Casserole

After my husband and I got married, this biscuit pizza solved the what'due south-for-dinner trouble. Equally our family grew, I only made bigger and bigger batches. It never disappoints!—Pat Crane, Pino Urban center, New York

Saucy Skillet Lasagna

Thanks to no-cook noodles, this skillet lasagna makes a fresh, filling, flavorful and fast entree for any Italian repast. —Meghan Crihfield, Ripley, West Virginia

Taco Stew

The ingredients are simple, but together they make this awesome stew. If you want to a trivial added crunch, shell a few tortilla chips on top of each basin. —Suzanne Francis, Marysville, Washington

Frito Pie

Frito pie is legendary in the Southwest for being spicy, salty and cheesy fabulous. Here'southward my piece of cake take on this crunchy classic. —January Moon, Alamogordo, New Mexico

Vegetable Beef Goulash

This easy one-dish recipe has been a family unit favorite ever since my husband'southward aunt handed it down to me 35 years ago. Try calculation whatever vegetables you lot accept on hand. A simple salad goes nicely with this dish. —Evangeline Rew, Manassas, Virginia

Tiresome-Cooked Enchilada Casserole

Tortilla fries and a side salad plough this savory casserole into a fun and festive meal with very little attempt. —Denise Waller, Omaha, Nebraska

Upside-Downwards Meat Pie

This recipe, which my sis gave me more thirty years ago, is perfect whenever friends drop past. It mixes up in a jiffy, yet it's substantial and satisfying. —Cora Dowling, Toledo, Ohio

Cheeseburger Skillet Dinner

This skillet dinner is doubly quick. The leftovers-if there are any-can exist reheated to make a 2d meal equally tasty as the first. —Karen Grimes, Stephens City, Virginia

Chili Beef Cornbread Casserole

This recipe is my potluck standby. And when I hear that someone may need a comforting abode-cooked meal, I bring them this casserole. —Lorraine Espenhain, Corpus Christi, Texas

If you like this casserole, you'll love this beefiness chili recipe!

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A good friend gave me this recipe when I first got married. I was a bit humble to effort it since the ingredients weren't that familiar to me, but, years later, it'south at present one of our family favorites. —Shannon Koene, Blacksburg, Virginia

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This is the ultimate simple and fulfilling dinner that uses items I typically accept in my closet. It's so easy to prepare and cooking all in one skillet makes it a snap for clean upwards. —Juli Meyers, Hinesville, Georgia

Beef & Rice Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

This recipe is special to me considering it's an like shooting fish in a barrel one-pot meal that tastes like yous spent the whole twenty-four hours in the kitchen. My family unit loves it. —Lynn Bowen, Geraldine, Alabama

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Source: https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/how-to-brown-ground-beef/

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