Knowing the secrets to perfect ground beef can help level up your favorite dinners! Read on to learn how to cook ground beef perfectly.
Ever wonder how to get your ground beef looking and tasting as wonderful as it does at your favorite restaurant? If you're tired of dry, bland ground beef, you're in the right place.
Making juicy, mouth-watering ground beef is the first step in many amazing recipes. We'll help walk you through the process of selecting, prepping, and cooking your ground beef. Then, we'll show you some of our favorite stress-free ground beef recipes you can follow to test your new skills.
Secrets to Amazing Ground Beef
Some people come from a long line of talented home cooks, and preparing meals comes naturally for them. If you're someone who doesn't feel blessed with a knack for whipping up recipes, making appetizing recipes with ground beef might seem intimidating.
The good news is that making the best ground beef is easier than you think. It all starts with knowing how to shop for meat. Keep reading to see a few things to keep in mind.
Know What To Look for in Your Ground Beef
Remember that not all ground beef packages are the same at the grocery store. When you're in the refrigerated meat section, there are three things you want to look for.
- Fat-to-lean content: When picking up different packages of ground beef, check the fat percentage compared to the lean meat in your beef. If you see a label that displays "85/15," that's an acceptable ratio for all-purpose ground beef. You might opt for lean ground beef if you're making a meat sauce. But higher fat content might be better if you're making burgers or meatloaf. If the label only reads, "Market ground beef," try asking the butcher about the lean meat percentage.
- The sell-by date: You don't want to buy beef that will go bad soon. Select a package with a sell-by date far from your purchase date. The further out the date, the fresher your meat will be.
- The color: As you shop for ground beef, you'll want to evaluate the color of each package you pick up. If your tray has any type of grayish tint, avoid it.
Shop in the Right Order
When you're out at the grocery store, shopping for your non-perishable items is a good idea. Round up your chips, noodles, and anything that doesn't require refrigeration. Then, when you're almost ready to check out, head to the meat section to load up on ground beef and other fridge-stored ingredients.