How Long Does Ground Beef Take to Cook

Updated on October 6th, 2023

Remarkably, ground beef can be used in a variety of dishes, and you will definitely want to use ground beef all the time once you have learned how to cook it. So, if you find yourself with some in the fridge and no idea what to do with it, grab it and try the excellent recipe highlighted in this article.

In my opinion, knowing how to cook ground beef well is a crucial skill. There are so many meals that need ground beef. You can use it in your basic spaghetti sauce, baked ziti, nacho dip, and this quick Mexican skillet supper, among other things. However, those are only a few recipes. Ground beef can be used in almost any recipe.

Ground Beef Nutrition Facts

Tips on How to Cook Ground Beef

Learn how to cook ground beef properly so that it stays juicy while browning nicely. I’ll show you how I do it, so it’s flawless every time.

Selecting the right beef – You can use lean beef or beef with a little fat in it for ground beef. The fat content of most ground beef ranges from 5% to 25%. The 5% of beef is commonly referred to as lean meat.

You need to also make sure to get the freshest ground beef possible. Begin by selecting a package whose sell-by date is the furthest away from today’s date.

You should also look at the color of the meat. While a bright red color can be deceiving since the meat may have been packaged with carbon monoxide to keep the red color for its typical shelf life, any trays that appear gray should be avoided.

Finally, make the meat counter your final trip before the checkout line if you want the meat to stay cold.

Avoid overcrowding – Overcrowding the pan will only work against you in terms of getting that crisp, brown crust. Since the meat does not have enough contact with the pan, it will steam rather than sear, so be careful.

If you are preparing a lot of ground beef, cook it in stages or make sure you have a big enough skillet.

Keeping it cool – The USDA recommends that we put the ground beef in the cart at the finish of your shopping session to keep it cooler. By keeping the beef in an ice-filled cooler on the trip home, you can keep it chilled. To avoid the growth of hazardous bacteria at home, you will have to immediately put the beef in the refrigerator or freezer.

Refrigerated ground beef should be used within 1 or 2 days of purchase, according to the USDA. It’s preferable to use frozen ground beef within four months of purchase.

Cooking temperature: – If you are cooking from frozen, keep in mind that the shape of the meat as it goes into the pressure cooker will affect the amount of time it takes to cook. Check for doneness with a meat thermometer – 160°F is safe.

Using this method, I discovered that some pink remained, but the meat thermometer placed all the way into the center registered over 160°F, indicating that it was fine to eat.

Reducing fat – You can place the cooked ground beef in a colander or sieve to remove even more fat. To remove any leftover fat, pour hot but not boiling water over the cooked meat. Then allow 5 minutes for the meat to drain. As needed, you should season with extra spices.

How to Cook Ground Beef

You can follow these step-by-step directions for tasty ground beef.

Heat a Skillet – On the stovetop, proceed to heat a big and deep-bottomed pan over medium-high heat.

Add the ground beef – You can scoop pounded beef clumps into the heated skillet. Then break apart the clumps with the spatula into smaller pieces.

Season it up – Using salt and pepper, you can season the ground beef. Season with more ingredients, such as garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, or oregano, if preferred. Aromatic vegetables, such as diced and cooked onion or garlic, can also be added.

Cook and stir – As the ground beef cooks in the skillet, stir it every 3 to 5 minutes. More frequent stirring will keep the outside from becoming crisp and brown. If desired, you can break apart the meat with the spatula to make the bits smaller.

Drain it of fats – You will need to tilt/move the skillet gently to allow the fat to drain to one side. Then scoop the ground beef from the other side of the pan using a slotted spoon, allowing the fat to drain as you scoop.

Presenting the cooked beef – To absorb any residual fat, you can place the cooked ground beef on paper towels. To absorb a bit of extra fat, just gently pat the meat with another paper towel.

How Long to Cook Ground Beef

You can cook for 8 to 10 minutes, or until no pink appears in the center of the ground beef pieces.

The ground beef is done when all of the chunks are browned, but if you like a crispy outside, continue frying the meat. Check that the beef has achieved an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure it’s properly cooked, according to the USDA.

How To Cook Ground Beef Perfectly on Stovetop (4 Servings)

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• Author: Bobby

Ingredients

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• 1 lb. of ground beef – 85% lean
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• ¾ teaspoon of salt
• ¼ teaspoon of pepper

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Instructions

1. You can start the recipe by removing the beef from the fridge about 15-20 minutes before you plan to cook it to bring it closer to room temperature – this ensures that it cooks evenly.
2. Proceed to heat the olive oil in a big skillet – preferably cast iron – over medium heat for about 2 minutes until hot.
3. You can now add the ground beef and press it into an even, flat layer in the pan with a spatula, just like you are preparing a giant hamburger.
4. Then allow it to cook for 5 minutes without touching it. This is what aids in the formation of a brown crust.
5. You can start breaking the meat apart and flipping it over.
6. Cook for another 5 minutes, or until well cooked, and then break apart with a spatula into smaller clumps.
7. If desired, you can season with salt and pepper, then stir.
8. Take it off the heat and enjoy it however you want.

Learn how to cook ground beef properly so that it stays juicy while browning wonderfully. See this video recipe on how to cook perfect ground beef.