How to Cook Ground Beef
Ground Beef Food Safety
Keeping it Safe: Always be sure to cook ground beef until no pink color remains. Ground beef can host harmful bacteria that are destroyed only by cooking the meat all the way through.How to Cook Ground Beef
Cooking Ground Meat: Part of knowing how to cook ground beef is knowing how to do so safely. Ground beef, veal, lamb and pork should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160°F, while ground chicken and turkey should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F. For accurate results, use a digital instant-read food thermometer, inserting it into center of meat. If the meat piece is too thin to check from the top, insert thermometer sideways into the piece of meat or burger.
Draining Ground Beef: Many recipes call for ground beef to be drained after cooking to reduce the amount of fat and moisture going into the final recipe. An easy way to do that, is to cook the ground beef until no longer pink and then drain in a colander in the sink. You can also blot with paper towels to remove even more fat and moisture, but be careful not to go overboard as the fat and juices also contain the flavor too.
Make Ahead: If ground beef is a staple in your cooking routine, save time by cooking it in advance. Refrigerate the ground beef promptly after cooking, and it will be safe in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days, or frozen for up to 3 months. Never partially cook ground beef for later use; it should be fully cooked to destroy bacteria.
Storing Ground Beef
Storing Ground Beef: Store ground beef in the coldest part of the refrigerator for up to 2 days. (The refrigerator temperature should be no higher than 40°F.) For longer storage, wrap the meat tightly in foil or freezer-weight plastic wrap and store in the freezer. When thawing, place the meat on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator to prevent any drippings from cross-contaminating other foods.How to Make Meatballs
Making The Best Meatballs can be sticky work. If you have a medium-size stainless steel scoop, consider using it to create uniform meatballs without the mess, or if you are doing by hand, dip your hands in cold water to keep the meat from sticking while you shape the balls.
Frozen meatballs are great to have on hand for a busy weeknight. To properly freeze meatballs, loosely pack cooled meatballs in freezer-weight resealable plastic bags. Lay bags flat in freezer so meatballs freeze individually. Store up to 3 months. Thaw in refrigerator several hours or overnight before using as desired.
On a bun, over noodles or skewered for a different twist, try these recipes where meatballs are the hero: Cheesy Meatball Subs, Easy Baked Parmesan Meatballs, Sweet-and-Sour Meatball Skewers, Classic Cocktail Meatballs.
How to Make Better Hamburgers
Getting fired up about burger season this summer? Here are some burger recipes to get you in the mood….let the mouth-watering commence! Cabo Beach Cheeseburger, Bold ‘N Saucy Cheeseburger, Mini Memphis-Style BBQ Burgers.
Going beyond advice on just how to cook ground beef, we’ve got lots of tips to guide you through the finer points of building a better burger. Check out the Burger Basics video to enjoy a juicy, perfectly grilled burger every time.