The result? Once your ground beef is completely browned, your next step is to carefully separate the fat from the meat. Portion meat into plastic freezer bags, label, and freeze. Now it's time to drain the fat. Whether solid or liquid, fat will clog up your drain and lead to a future plumbing headache. The small size of meatballs sometimes makes them hard to read on an instant-read thermometer and can lead to overcooking. Okay, you can use a nonstick pan to brown ground beef if that's what you prefer. Use for recipes calling for browned ground meat. If you're using a … Moreover, we do not select every advertiser or advertisement that appears on the web site-many of the You should also refer to the sell-by date on each package. Ever wonder why your ground beef turned out more gray than brown? Choosing the meat that has a sell-by date furthest from today's date will ensure your ground beef won't go bad on you too soon. Add comma separated list of ingredients to include in recipe. Never dump it down the drain! Using frozen ground beef? boxes. Copyright Policy Though she has cooked since she could walk, she dedicated her career to all things food after attending a two-week course at the Culinary Institute of America in Napa Valley. If you would like to place an order and are unable to do so from our website, please call us at 662-236-9456. Directions for browning ground beef in the oven: Find our products in Kroger, Walmart, and other retailers. Use a slotted spoon to remove the ground beef and place it on a paper towel-lined plate. Fat is an inevitable by-product of cooking ground beef. Cast iron and stainless steel are the best choice for getting that beautiful, brown sear. Resist the urge to cook any form of ground beef to anything less than well-done as E coli is a real risk for undercooked ground beef. 5) Bake at 350 F for approximately 35-45 minutes OR 400 F for approximately 35 min. We do not ship to P.O. Create your favorite meatloaf mixture or just mix ground beef with your favorite seasoning salt and one egg per pound for an easy version. ), Remove from oven, allow to cool slightly, and. (More on that below.). Place in 450 degree oven on bottom rack for about 30-60 minutes. Credit: Bring to a full boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to simmer. Plus, refer to our troubleshooting guide for all your ground beef questions. Learn how to properly defrost it before you start cooking. advertisements are served by third party advertising companies. Because the meat doesn't have enough contact with the pan, it's not going to sear — it's going to steam. And not all nonstick pans can handle the high heat that's required for browning meat. Add comma separated list of ingredients to exclude from recipe. Keep it stored in an airtight container or freezer bag. Cook until all water has evaporated and meat is browned. Cut your favorite vegetables -- onions, carrots, red or green bell peppers, potatoes or whatever you have on hand -- into pieces about the width of the beef patty so they will cook evenly. This is a good choice for most culinary purposes. Ground beef is a freezer staple, especially if you're following a low-carbohydrate diet such as Atkins or Paleo -- or you have a big family. The beef I am using is local, from the whole cow we purchased last summer. Really, it comes down to personal preference and how you intend to use it. (The time depends on the poundage of meat and fat content. Watch out for any splatters of hot fat. But switching up your side dishes can bring a refreshing change to a classic comfort food dish. But never leave ground beef out at room temperature for more than two hours. Open the foil carefully as the steam will have built up during cooking. And while it might seem fairly intuitive, there's a lot that can go wrong without proper technique. Lightly spray or gently brush more oil over the meatballs before placing in an oven preheated to 400 F. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, shaking the meatballs after 7 minutes to ensure they don't stick and get brown on all sides. The material appearing on LIVESTRONG.COM is for educational use only. Thaw Ground Beef Quickly Without the Microwave. Wet and gray ground beef. If you're cooking a large amount of ground beef, either cook it in batches or make sure you have a skillet that's large enough to accommodate it. Meatballs are done when the inside registers 160 degrees on an instant-read thermometer. Marty Baldwin/Meredith, How to Cook and Brown Ground Beef the Best Way. Heat the oil in a large stainless steel or cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. The LIVESTRONG Foundation and LIVESTRONG.COM do not endorse If you want to achieve that crisp, brown crust, overcrowding the pan is only going to work against you. Let the meat brown without touching for about five minutes. Lean or extra-lean ground beef on the other hand is best for taco meat, since it won't shrink up when cooked quite as much as beef that is higher in fat.