Can you cook frozen ground beef? Absolutely. Learn how to cook frozen beef by reading this article; it’s quicker and easier than you might imagine.
On busy days, a block of frozen ground beef can reduce the time needed for dinner. Even when frozen, ground beef cooks extremely quickly and is delicious. Additionally, you can read How to Cook Frozen Sausages or Frozen Chicken Breast in the Air Fryer for more information on how to prepare frozen food. See the end of the post for more ideas. Table of Contents [.
4 Tips for Cooking Frozen Ground Beef
Whenever you cook food straight from the freezer, you should expect it to take roughly 50% longer than it would if it were fresh or defrosted That’s the general rule of thumb.
As you can see from our cooking instructions below, it is still possible to quickly prepare frozen ground beef. Dinner can often be prepared and served in less than 30 minutes, which is not bad considering the solid brick of meat you just removed from the freezer.
Season after you’ve cooked your frozen ground beef.
Seasonings and sauces won’t stick as well to frozen, solid ground beef. Therefore, wait to add your preferred taco seasoning or pasta sauce until the frozen ground beef has been cooked. We promise, it will taste just as good.
Don’t worry about texture.
The texture of cooked ground beef from frozen is one of the main issues we hear about. We understand that because cooked ground beef doesn’t necessarily look as attractive as fresh ground beef.
Fortunately, we’ve found that frozen ground beef is very forgiving. It comes out juicy, pliable, and tender whether it’s steamed in the Instant Pot or cooked on the stovetop. It blends beautifully into any dish, too.
Cook to an internal temperature of 160°F.
If you’re unsure whether your ground beef is cooked to the recommended internal temperature of 160°F, use a food thermometer to check it. Additionally, it ought to be hot throughout and completely brown (without any pink spots).
Two Simple Recipes To Cook Ground Beef From Frozen
Make sure to cook ground beef at sufficiently high temperatures when cooking it straight from the freezer. The “danger zone,” or the temperature range between 40°F and 140°F, where bacteria grow most quickly, must be avoided in order to achieve this.
Therefore, slow cooking frozen ground beef is not an option, but almost all other cooking techniques are acceptable. Since the stovetop and Instant Pot are two of the quickest and simplest ways to cook ground beef, these are the techniques we prefer to use.
Ready in 15 minutes, the stovetop technique is likely one you’ve tried in the past. Our method may be a little different than what you’re used to as we slowly chip away at the meat throughout the cooking process. Watch us cook ground beef from frozen or follow the instructions below:
- Preheat your skillet on medium heat.
- Include your preferred cooking oil (olive and avocado oil are both excellent choices).
- Place one pound of frozen ground beef in the skillet. After four minutes of searing, flip the block over, and use tongs or a wooden spoon to scrape the cooked beef off. Continue searing, flipping, and scraping the block until it is small enough to be cut into pieces.
- Add your seasonings or sauces, and enjoy!
The advantage of using the Instant Pot method over stovetop cooking is that you can set it and forget it until you’re ready to tuck into some delectable ground beef. Here’s how to get perfectly cooked ground beef:
- Pour one cup of water into your Instant Pot.
- Place your trivet inside the Instant Pot. Lay one pound of frozen ground beef on the trivet.
- Set the knob to sealing. Set your Instant Pot to Manual/High Pressure to 20 minutes.
- Give the Instant Pot five to ten minutes to complete a natural release.
- Drain the water, release any remaining pressure, and season or flavor your ground beef as desired.
4 Ground Beef Recipes to Add to Your Collection
Try these new takes on old favorites or let them motivate you to create something brand-new with ground beef if you’re looking to change up your dinner routine.
This recipe for Fennel Bolognese is an easy, weeknight-friendly variation on an Italian classic. To keep things simple, it calls for fennel, oregano, and a prepared tomato basil sauce. If anything needs to be defrosted but you forgot, it’s a great place to use frozen ground beef.
Simply cook your frozen ground beef on the stovetop or in the Instant Pot to adapt this recipe to use frozen ground beef. Add your cooked ground beef, remaining seasonings, and sauce after sautéing your vegetables. It’s that easy!.
For comfort in a bowl, top your favorite pasta or vegetable noodles with this delectable bolognese sauce.
Here is a dish that combines familiar flavors with a sophisticated, low-carb twist. With gorgeously charred eggplant rounds serving as the buns, these Eggplant Sloppy Joes have all the sweet and savory flavors of the traditional dish.
Tomato sauce, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, dry mustard, garlic powder, and honey are combined to create the traditional Sloppy Joe sauce. It’s the perfect balance of tangy, sweet, and savory.
Cook your ground beef on the stovetop or in the Instant Pot if you’re using frozen ground beef. Then, sauté your veggies and add your cooked ground beef. Work on your eggplant “buns” while the sauce simmers after the ingredients have been added. ”.
Quick Beef and Kidney Bean Chili
Great chili doesn’t have to take all day. You can prepare this Quick Beef and Kidney Bean Chili in only 45 minutes, and it will blow your taste buds away!
Even though it’s simple, the flavor of this chili isn’t compromised thanks to the addition of cumin, chili powder, garlic, and poblano pepper. The combination of kidney beans, tomatoes, and ground beef, of course, adds weight.
This recipe is simple to start with frozen ground beef. Either on the stovetop or in the Instant Pot, cook your frozen ground beef. Next, sauté your veggies in a Dutch oven. Stir in the ground beef, along with all the other ingredients, and simmer for 30 minutes.
Gluten-Free Beefy Mac n’ Cheese
This Gluten-Free Beefy Mac n’ Cheese is a dish that everyone will enjoy. Additionally, it’s the ideal method for preparing ground beef straight from the freezer.
To keep things gluten-free, this mac n’ cheese substitutes some wise ingredients, such as gluten-free elbow noodles and tapioca flour for the roux. The sauce’s base is Swiss cheese, which has a mild nutty flavor, but you can substitute any melty cheese you like.
Use the stovetop or Instant Pot method to cook your ground beef if you’re making this recipe with frozen ground beef. Make your noodles. The ground beef is sautéed with some onions, then the mixture is set aside. Make the cheese sauce next, and then combine everything in one dish. It’s indulgent and delicious.
How to Cook Frozen Ground Beef
FAQ
Can I brown ground beef if frozen?
Place one pound of frozen ground beef in the skillet. After four minutes of searing, flip the block over, and use tongs or a wooden spoon to scrape the cooked beef off. Continue searing, flipping, and scraping the block until it is small enough to be cut into pieces. Add your seasonings or sauces, and enjoy!.
Do you have to thaw ground beef before browning?
Although it is safe, some ground beef may have begun to cook while it was defrosting, you should still cook the meat right away. It’s also okay to start cooking ground beef that is a little bit frozen in the middle in your skillet.
How do you cook frozen ground beef quickly?
Absolutely. Learn how to cook frozen beef by reading this article; it’s quicker and easier than you might imagine. On busy days, a block of frozen ground beef can reduce the time needed for dinner. Even when frozen, ground beef cooks extremely quickly and is delicious.