How To Cook Ground Beef (With Easy Steps)

Ground beef is one of the dishes that is easy on hand and beginner-friendly. These can be used in different ways and any level of cooking can be done with ground beef.  Here are the ingredients to make a ground beef recipe: 

1. Ground beef

As the most important ingredient, it is most important to recognize which ground beef to use in what type of dishes to get optimal results and the best taste. There are four different types of ground beef, and although all of these do look similar while purchasing from the grocery, all these types of ground beef have different uses and different purposes.

1. Types: The four different types of ground beef are divided by their lean-to-fat meat ratio are, ground beef, ground chuck, ground round, and ground sirloin. These are also known by their ratio where ground beef is known as 70/30 ground beef. Ground chuck is called 80/20 ground beef, Ground round is known as 85/15 ground beef, and Ground sirloin is popular by the name 90/10 ground beef in accordance with the lean-to-fat.
2. Fat content and sources: About the fat percent and source, ground beef is actually a mix of trimmed leftover beef which has 70 percent lean meat and 30 percent fat. Ground chuck is the meat from the neck and shoulders carrying 80 percent lean meat and 20 percent fat. Ground round is sourced from the hind portion and is 85 percent lean meat and 15 percent fat. As for ground sirloin, it is the leanest among all types 90 percent lean meat and 10 percent fat cut from sirloin mid-back.
3. Variation and methods: Because of its high fat, ground beef is grilled usually to make juicy hamburgers. Ground chuck is also used in burgers and meatballs and because of its fat content gives the flavor, the more fatty is the ground beef, the more flavorful it becomes. However, Ground round it is perfect for baking meatloaf, making tacos meat, and even doing crumble meat dishes. As for the Ground sirloin, it is the best choice to use for meat sauces, steak as well as lasagna. 

2. Seasoning and Flavoring

• Salt: Enhances the blend of flavors.
• Black Pepper: Provides heat to the seasoning.
• Paprika: Gives a mild peppery flavor for spice and color for the appetite.
• Garlic Powder: Works as aromatic for savory taste.
• Oil: To grease the utensil and kick in a slight flavor with a temper. 

3. Herbs

• Parsley: Brings a slight peppery flavor.
• Thyme: For a subtle earthy flavor.
• Oregano: To add a Mediterranean touch.

Alternatives:

• For seasonings and flavorings, Cumin Powder, and ginger powder can be a good option to add with garlic powder.
• In place of oil, animal fat like bacon fat can be a good substitution for use. And chilly can be used instead of paprika for hotter spice.
• As for herbs, any dry herb can be used as an option or as a choice with preference.

Ingredients:

• 2/3 tsp salt
• 2 tsp oil/fat
• 2 tsp oregano
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp dry thyme
• 1tsp garlic powder
• 1/3 tsp black pepper
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1/2 tsp cumin powder
• Pinch of dry and 3 of fresh parsley

Instructions

Even if it is assumed that ground beef is unhealthy due to it being full of binders and cooks late due to water. It is a sensational fact that this versatile food product may not even contain any water and phosphates lest the binders. It is one of the healthiest food products to use if purchased right.

Here is the guide to be followed in a step-by-step process.

1. Prepare the seasoning:

Before preparing the seasonings, wash the hands with soapy water and rinse them thoroughly to prevent contamination. Then to start the preparation, take a small bowl add the following seasonings, and whisk them together to make a seasoning mix.

1. Paprika: This powdered spice from red peppers has a sweet and peppery taste with a subtle earthiness. However, if it's smoked over an oak wood fire, it will also have an added chargrilled flavor with the prior flavors
2. Pepper: This spice is not only bold in itself but also brings out the bolder variation of other spices. With an earthy, woody, brash, and pungent flavor, its hotness surprisingly pairs amazingly with some sweet foods and any savory ones. 
3. Garlic powder: This flavoring spice has a savory taste with a little undertone of bitterness. Milder than the fresh garlic, this flavoring spice is more concentrated and also has a slightly sweet taste.
4. Cumin powder: This flavoring agent is commonly used as an alternative to cinnamon, because of its nutty element and warming flavor. Although slightly sweet, this pairs with chili flakes like a charm to add the richness of the earthiness

2. Prepare the ground beef

After purchasing the ground beef, take it out of the package and set it aside on a plate. If cooking ground beef is planned for later, keep the beef in a container with a lid on. Take it out when cooking.

In the case of frozen ground beef, fill a bowl with normal water and submerge the frozen pack in the water. Keep changing the water every 15 minutes until the meat is thawed. 

To thaw, the frozen can also be kept in a refrigerator at 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

3. Cook the ground beef

Take a medium skillet or pan, pour oil into it, and heat it. Temper the oil with dry herbs and then put the beef in the oil. Cook the ground beef by breaking the block of ground beef with a spatula or wooden spoon into uneven large and small pieces.

After breaking, stir it continuously and properly to coat the oil evenly, and cover the pan to let the ground beef cook for 5 minutes on low to medium-low heat without disturbing it.

As it is done, uncover the lid and stir the cooked ground beef. Take a thermometer to check the insides, the inside temperature must not exceed 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. Season the ground beef

Put all the seasoning in a small bowl and whisk them together to make a mix. As the ground beef cooks, it might look brown by the time the lid is uncovered add the seasoning mix with salt and mix it all thoroughly to spread the flavors.

As an optional step, the spice mix can also be tempered to enhance the flavors. For tempering, carom seeds, fenugreek seeds, and fennel seeds will be the best option.  However, this step can also be skipped if not preferred.

However, in the case of the beef being still a little pink or not cooked well, stir the ground beef in the pan again for a while after seasoning it and let it cook covered by the lid for about 2 to 3 minutes more. This will cook the ground beef properly and it will be ready for further use.

5. Garnish and serve

As the ground beef is done being brown in the pan, it means that is cooked pretty well and now is ready to be plated. Spread the ground beef on a plate and embellish it with the fresh herbs on the top. This is an important step to take as garnishing will give color to the cooked beef.

The garnish makes the food look not only presentable but appetizing as well, therefore, when it is time to eat, the food does not get boring.

As one of the most versatile meat products, ground beef can give different results to different cooking methods. The four varieties of ground beef are used for different cooking methods to get different results.

• Frying and sauteing (7 to 10 minutes): For frying and sauteing, ground sirloin is the best choice because it is the leanest type of ground beef. To fry, spread the beef in a pan with oil and keep stirring gradually, not to let it burn.   
• Grilling (10 to 15 minutes): For grilling, regular ground beef with 30 percent fat is the best to choose. The fat makes the ground beef juicy and most suitable for juicy burgers.
• Boiling (5 to 7 minutes): In the case of family gatherings, boiling ground beef with seasonings is a simple and quick method to integrate beef into the meal. Using ground sirloin is appropriate for soups and gravies however using other varieties of ground beef can also save the day as they leave fat inside the water due to heat. Thus, enriching the flavor of the soup or the water which can later be used to make another recipe.
• Baking (25 to 30 minutes): Browning the ground beef by using the baking method not only preserve the nutrients but also gives a perfectly done ground beef without having to put on more efforts. Once the ground beef is seasoned and set inside the oven to bake, it comes out all ready.

• Ground round beef is the best choice to make to cook browned ground beef because it has a higher meat percentage than fat and the fat is just enough to give flavor without shrinking the meat while cooking.
• While cooking, the ground beef should not be stirred too much. Instead, it should be cooked without much disturbance.
• The frozen beef should never be thawed by keeping it on the countertop overnight or in warm water as the bacteria will be produced on the outer layer when the inner layer is still thawing.
• To prevent cross-contamination, keep the raw meat away from other cooked foods. If stored in the fridge, make sure that the meat doesn't leak as well.
• After washing hands, do not touch the raw meat, this will help to prevent cross-contamination on a high scale.

1. Meat Sauce

This sauce is a versatile recipe that works with everything. This sauce can be used as a topping or as a side dish to have to complement other edibles from flatbreads to different kinds of pasta.

The rich flavor bursts inside the mouth to make the food experience much better. Use this meat sauce for dishes, like penne, spaghetti, gnocchi, lasagna, etc. Serve it hot with the grated cheese on top.

2. Beef Stuffed Potato

Beef stuffed potato is a simple and quick hands-on dish that can be used during any meal. The easiness of this recipe is not only because of it being small in size but because this can be done with meal preps and can be eaten later by warming it up.

This handy recipe is a beef stuffed in potatoes with cheese on top works wonders.

3. Moroccan Meatball Soup

Although sounds difficult, Moroccan meatball soup is a friendly dish to start with during the beginning stage of cooking. Serve it hot for the best results.

In case of being sensitive to the heat, breaking the balls in half will prevent them from burning the mouth or this recipe can also be eaten after cooling it at room temperature for 15 minutes. 

4. Pizza Burger Bomb

This Pizza Burger Bomb is ana simple dish that is quite easy on the hands. This recipe looks a little complicated on the surface because of the need to make sauce, burgers, and patties to make the whole pizza but this is easy enough that can be made in a single sitting.

It pairs best with the sauce itself therefore the same sauce can be used as a dip on the side while serving.

5. Meatloaf

This amazing and easy recipe is a game-changer. Preferably made with lean meat and a little countable seasonings, this recipe works amazingly well for the appetite as well as to show off the skill.

It is the best choice to take during picnics or trips as it can be cut into bread-like slices and distributed to multiple people. It can be shared during a family gathering or potluck. This recipe can be eaten when hot, but, if kept at room temperature to cool before cutting gives the best-looking and fine-cut slices.