Cooking time for boiled ground beef is under 20 minutes, making it simple and quick to prepare. The meat is juicy, tender, and flavorful. It can be used in bolognese, stews, tacos, pasta, and curries as well as eaten on its own. Learn how to boil ground beef in simple steps.
Why Boil Ground Beef?
When I see ground beef on sale (minced beef/meat for those of you on the British side of the language), I occasionally buy a lot. and if I don’t freeze it whole, that means I have to process it quickly. Instead of freezing it, I prefer to spend a little time cooking it all ahead of time. After all, it helps me build my purposeful pantry!.
- Since the meat isn’t used in a hamburger but rather in a seasoned sauce or casserole, boiling the meat in larger quantities is faster than browning it several times.
- produces meat with a finer texture, similar to the meat at Taco Bell.
- Easier cleanup – less splatter, fewer dishes, AND. The big thing is that fat cleanup is ultimately much simpler.
- Prepare hamburger meat for meal prep.
- Dealing with the fat that comes with ground beef’s higher fat percentage is easier than pouring it down the drain.
- Create a simple beef broth for use later!
- Easier to deal with less expensive, higher fat-content ground beef. Even ground beef with a lot of fat can be cooked this way to cut down on fat content because boiling separates the fats better.
Does Boiling Beef Make it Tasteless?
Contrary to popular belief, boiling ground beef does not completely remove its flavor. You shouldn’t boil the meat until it turns to mush. Just until its cooked thoroughly, then you stop.
There is no Maillard reaction because there is no browning, but you can always re-brown it in a skillet before using it.
No, there are no seasonings. You do that by adding it to a sauce that has additional seasonings and can simmer for a while.
Ways to introduce flavor:
- Brown the thawed beef much like fresh.
- To impart flavor, let thawed beef simmer in a seasoned sauce or dish.
- More aromatics should be added, and the meat should cook alongside them as they brown.
How to Boil Ground Beef or Hamburger Meat
- Set a pot of water on the stove to boil. To prepare larger quantities and make sure you have space, I advise using a large stockpot.
- The ground beef may splash back on you, so carefully break it up and add it to the pot. *.
- To ensure that the hamburger meat cooks evenly, stir from time to time.
- Boil for about 6 to 8 minutes, or until completely done and no pink remains. The internal temperature should be 145°F / 60°C.
- To remove the beef and place it on a cooling rack or a pan with paper towels underneath to drain the water, use a spider or a large slotted spoon. The Scott Blue Towels are my favorite because they absorb without tearing and allow me to use fewer of them.
- Once cooked, portion the meat crumbles into zip-top freezer bags or vacuum-seal them in Foodsaver vacuum bags for a six to twelve-month storage period in the freezer (your mileage may vary depending on the bag type you select).
*If you’d like, add the beef before the water in the pot boils. Since I can’t gauge how long something will take to cook, I don’t like this method, but that’s just a matter of preference. Just make sure no meat is pink.
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Because you’re rinsing it with hot water, the fat from cooked ground beef that you drain from your meat or, worse yet, strain out of your pan like I used to do with my mother may initially appear to be fine. Because it stays hot the whole time, right?.
The issue is that hot water and fat quickly cool off in your home’s and yard’s pipes, where they start to accumulate and quickly cause damage to your plumbing. and your wallet.
Even if you use pipe cleaners carefully, why not avoid the need for harsh chemicals altogether and simply avoid rinsing your hamburger in the sink?
When cooking ground beef that has been boiled, you can skim the meat from the pot, drain it on paper towels, a cooling rack, or even newspaper, and the majority of the fat will remain in the pot. The small amount of meat that is still inside will help your dish taste better and is minimal.
What to do with the Beef Fat
You have a couple of choices. Once youre done with all of your meat,.
- Cool the pot overnight in the fridge.
- With a spoon, scoop the fat from the surface into a container that can be covered.
- Store for up to five days in the refrigerator or up to six months in the freezer.
- Use the remaining broth to prepare other dishes, cook rice, or even can it for shelf-stable storage. You have the option of freezing it or canning it.
- Allow your pot to cool overnight.
- With a spoon, scoop the fat from the surface into a trash-disposable container.
- Pour the water into the sink after placing a strainer there and filling it with a rag or paper towels. What little fat is still present in the water is captured by the paper towel, preventing buildup in the sink.
- Use the broth for anything you would use any other broth for, such as cooking grains or making soup. You can freeze it or can it, as well.
Does Boiled Ground Beef Taste Good?
Compared to lightly browning it without any seasoning, it tastes like boiled meat. Because I want the beef to be a blank slate for whatever dish I want to use it for later, I prefer not to season the meat. I make sure to simmer it for a very long time so it can soak up the delicious sauce.
Although everyone is aware that the Maillard reaction, which results in the best-tasting meat browning and all the brown bits at the bottom of the pan, is the best, this article is about quickly processing meat for freezing when you’re doing meal prep or batch cooking.
To help it develop that browning goodness before using, you can quickly saute it in a skillet before adding other spices and seasonings or adding it to a sauce.
What Can I Do with Boiled Hamburger Meat?
- Tacos are among my favorite foods because I adore their delicate texture, which is similar to Taco Bell taco meat.
- Casseroles.
- Spaghetti, lasagna, and other dishes in sauce.
- Stuffings – tomatoes, peppers, squash, etc.
- Anything you use other than ground beef (other than hamburgers).
- Dehydrate it. In order to make it shelf stable until you need it, you can dehydrate it.
Like most meats, you can easily get six to twelve months if properly stored in an airtight package (vacuum seal is best), though I’ve used meat that was two years old before. Because you don’t eat it by itself, it becomes part of the flavor of the food you prepared.
Remove all of the air from a freezer zip-top bag before placing meal-sized portions of boiled hamburger meat in the small freezer.
Put these smaller zip-top bags into a larger one for double protection for best results.
Vacuum seal (I use a Food Saver similar to this one, but any brand will do) your boiled ground beef into meal-sized portions, then place into your deep freeze.
TIP – Always label your freezer packages, even if you THINK you’ll remember to do so!
Yes, ground beef can be dehydrated safely and effectively. Although shelf-stable storage is still a possibility, freezer storage is best for best results!
For shelf-stable storage of ground beef, adhere to these drying instructions!
Watch my easy step-by-step video below.
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Other Pantry Building Ideas
If you have ever boiled ground beef (or if you ever would), let me know the outcome. Just leave a comment down below.
How to Boil Ground Beef for Freezing or Dehydrating
- Set a pot of water to boil. To prepare larger quantities and make sure you have space, I advise using a large stockpot.
- Be careful when adding the ground beef to the pot because it might splash back on you. *.
- Stir occasionally to help meat move.
- Boil for about 6 to 8 minutes, or until completely done and no pink remains.
- To remove the beef and place it on a cooling rack or a pan with paper towels underneath to drain the water, use a spider or a large slotted spoon. The Scott Blue Towels are my favorite because they absorb without tearing and allow me to use fewer of them.
- After cooking, portion out the food into zip-top freezer bags or vacuum-seal Foodsaver vacuum bags for storage in the freezer for six to twelve months (your results may vary depending on the bag type you select).
Nutritional information is an estimation only. Nutrient information for dehydrated foods is based on fresh. For the same nutrient information, use 1/4 of the servicing size. So, 1 cup of fresh fruit has the same amount of sugar as 1/4 dried fruit.
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How to Boil Ground Beef
FAQ
Can you boil ground beef to cook it?
If you want to cook with leaner, less fatty meat, boiling your ground beef is a fantastic idea. The meat is covered in water, browned on medium heat for about 3 minutes, and then it is quickly and easily cleaned up. Given that it is a great source of protein, boiled beef is frequently fed to dogs.
How do you boil ground beef for dogs?
Bring a second pot of water to a boil. Carefully add your protein, and boil for 5-10 minutes. Any fat that is present should float to the top of the water when the protein is boiling. Pour through a colander to drain any water and fat after the water has finished boiling.
How do you know when boiled ground beef is done?
Use a food thermometer to cook ground beef to an internal temperature of 160 °F. The color of cooked ground beef can be quite variable. A safely cooked patty may appear brown, pink, or some shade of brown or pink at 160 °F.
How do you boil raw hamburger?
Set a pot of water on the stove to boil. To prepare larger quantities and make sure you have space, I advise using a large stockpot. To ensure that the hamburger meat cooks evenly, stir from time to time. Boil for about 6 to 8 minutes, or until completely done and no pink remains.