The concept of boiling ground beef might seem odd or even disgusting. But there are times when simmering ground beef is a very smart choice. Particularly when making meals for the freezer or specific recipes that call for lean beef
Ground beef cooked in the boiling method has less fat overall after cooking. You can get ground beef with a smoother consistency by continuously stirring as the water and heat render the fat from the meat.
One of the benefits of boiling ground beef is that you can do so while lowering the fat content. This kitchen trick can provide you with leaner beef for your recipes, especially if you find lean ground beef to be prohibitively expensive.
You can then keep the rendered beef fat and use it in cooking or feed it to your pets, livestock, and even wild birds.
How to Boil Ground Beef, and Why You Should
In this article, you will discover how to boil ground beef rather than fry it, the benefits of boiling ground beef, and recipes using boiled ground beef.
Why you should boil ground beef instead of frying
A freezer emergency is what led to this post. I was unable to refreeze the meat because the freezer died without cooking it first.
I baked some meatballs and frozen them after pressure canning a canner’s worth of beef, but I still had quite a few pounds to deal with.
Although frying ground beef causes grease to splatter all over the stove and kitchen, the cooked meat still contains a substantial amount of fat.
Boiling ground beef actually reduces the fat in the meat. You now have leaner meat that you can use in your favorite recipes or freeze for a future quick meal.
Boiling ground beef is much healthier than frying because the majority of the fat is kept in the water after cooking.
How to boil ground beef
To begin, fill a large pot with water, and then bring it to a boil. A couple of inches of water will do.
I can only cook two pounds at a time in my pot, but if you have a pot that is big enough, you can cook up to five pounds at once.
Use your fingers to break up the ground meat, then add it to the boiling water.
Soon after adding the ground meat to the water, stir it with a large spoon.
Stir the meat frequently and smoosh the pieces with your spoon to achieve finer crumbles. If you prefer larger chunks (which, in my opinion, would be preferable to finely-ground meat in chili), don’t stir as frequently or ferociously.
The time it takes to cook the meat depends on the temperature of your stovetop, so I am unable to advise you on how long to boil it.
Youll know when its done: when its no longer pink.
Straining the beef from the cooking water
Pour the cooked meat and water from the cooking pot into a strainer that has been placed over a large bowl to catch the water and fat.
The fat will clog up your sink pipes if you pour the greasy water or let it go down the drain in your sink.
I reused the water for each batch of ground beef because I was boiling multiple batches. I merely poured it from the bowl back into the pot.
The water was then chilled overnight after all the meat had been cooked so that I could skim off the layer of grease that had formed on top of the water. The water could then be safely poured down the drain, though I must admit that I actually dumped it in the woods behind the house.
Packaging your cooked ground beef
If desired, you can run hot water through the ground beef strainer to remove any remaining fat.
Let cold water run over the meat in the strainer for a few minutes to help the meat cool down before freezing.
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Let the meat drain well on paper towels, then divide the cooked meat into meal-sized portions and package it for the freezer in freezer containers or zippered freezer bags. Or vacuum seal the cooked ground beef using a Foodsaver vacuum sealer.
For the two of us, a “meal-sized portion” is roughly 3/4 of a pound of ground beef, which yields about two cups of cooked beef crumbles.
Dont forget to label the packages with the contents, amount and date. These labels will stick even in the freezer.
Not only beef, but any type of ground meat can be boiled. Venison, pork, bison – whatever you have.
Remember to rotate your frozen foods. If you throw away food because it’s too old or freezer-burned, you’re not saving money, are you? (That’s why I love my Foodsaver; it really does keep food fresh longer.) ).
How to use your boiled ground beef
Dinner is so quick and simple to prepare thanks to the frozen ground beef that has already been cooked.
Simply rinse the frozen crumbles in hot water for a few minutes before adding them to the pot of whatever dish you’re preparing, whether it’s chili, sloppy joes, or another delectable dish. You don’t even need to thaw it beforehand.
Use it to make lasagna, enchiladas, or spaghetti sauce.
For their dogs, several of my friends boil ground beef.
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How to Boil Ground Beef
FAQ
How long does ground beef need to boil?
How long should ground beef be cooked?Once the water comes to a boil, cover the pot and let it simmer. About 15 minutes should be sufficient to completely cook it. When the meat is done, it will turn brown, so keep an eye on it.
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 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 long to boil ground beef for dogs?
There isn’t much to do if you’re using ground beef, but if you’re using chicken breast or other whole cuts of meat, trim as much fat as you can before chopping into bite-sized cubes. Bring a second pot of water to a boil. Carefully add your protein, and boil for 5-10 minutes.