Follow these 10 tips and you’ll brown ground beef that has the best flavor, texture and color (not bland, grey and boring).

 

Browning beef is a basic kitchen skill.

This week, I decided to go back to the basics by discussing how to brown ground beef. Anyone who cooks at all can use this skill to make good meals better.  Ground beef is the basis for many entrees, and browning it should not be haphazard. It makes a huge difference if the end result is savory, golden, and laced with brown bits. Pale, grey, spongy meat is not appetizing at all!!

 

Click here to download the Episode!

 

In the following podcast, I talk about choosing ground beef and browning it with golden, crispy bits rather than soft, gray pieces of meat. I also share some tips + tricks that I use along the way. For those who prefer video, I share a short video of how I brown ground beef.

Choose your beef.

Ground beef has various levels of fat depending upon what you choose.  Starting with the highest fat and moving to the leanest includes the following: ground beef, ground chuck, ground round, and ground sirloin. I prefer ground chuck, which is typically 80% lean beef to 20% fat.

Salt beef and let it sit.

First, season beef with kosher salt and allow it to sit at room temperature for 30-45 minutes. This allows the salt to season and tenderizes the beef before cooking it. Letting it sit also helps the meat brown better, as the meat won’t be cold. It is best to leave most meats at room temperature for at least 30 minutes so that it will sear better. 

Use a good skillet.

A good skillet for browning ground beef should be large enough for meat not to be crowded. In my opinion and experience, cast iron skillets do a superior job of browning all meat, including ground beef. In a recent blog post, why a cast-iron skillet is the best thing you’ll ever buy, I talk about cast iron skillets. I discuss the advantages, maintenance, and recipes that go well in cast iron. I also link to my favorite skillets and where to buy.

Add fat and heat.

No matter what beef I have to brown, I always add a bit of oil for superior browning. For one pound of ground beef, I add about a tablespoon of oil~canola or extra virgin olive oil. The skillet should get hot enough for water drops to sizzle when they hit the pan. This combination of hot fat in the skillet helps the meat to brown and form a golden crust.

Salt along the way.

Salt before the meat hits the pan, and also salt the meat while it cooks. Once the meat is fully cooked and brown, add a touch more kosher salt to finish it off. Adding salt in layers/stages makes for a much more flavorful beef.

Let both sides brown before flipping.

Like cooking pancakes, browning beef does best when letting each side sit in the skillet undisturbed until a golden crust forms. Then it is ok to turn. After both sides develop a crust and brown bits, the meat can be separated into smaller pieces which can cook until done. In the short video below, I show how to brown ground beef from start to finish.

Drain excess liquid.

Most beef, especially the higher fat versions, will release liquid that needs to be drained if there is enough to start covering the meat. Liquid will make the meat steam and prevent it from crisping and browning properly.

Cook until no pink whatsoever.

Make sure the meat is completely cooked to 165 degrees or higher. A meat thermometer is helpful in measuring the temperature. If you don’t have a thermometer, just cook until almost every piece is golden and nearly crisp. Breaking meat into tiny pieces safeguards against any uncooked meat.

Finish with salt.

Once the meat is cooked, finish with a final sprinkle of kosher salt. Because you salted before and during cooking, you don’t have to use a heavy hand at the end. It is best to taste and add salt as needed.

Freeze for later.

If you want to freeze the beef, simply let it cook, place in a ziploc freezer bag, remove the air, and label the bag with date frozen. Flatten the meat if possible for easier storage in the freezer.

Can I brown ground beef and onion together?

I used to brown ground beef and onion together, but now I do them separately. Onions release a lot of liquid, and they make the beef steam and prevent crisping. I now use a separate skillet to saute and season diced onion, peppers, celery, etc….. It makes a difference and is worth the extra trouble.

Some favorite recipes using ground beef.

• Best baked ziti for a crowd.
• Baked spaghetti pie with four cheeses.
• Best homemade spaghetti sauce with meat.
• Beef & butternut squash chili.
• Spicy hamburger vegetable soup.
• Taco meat for taco salads, tacos, burritos etc…..

 

I hope this basic blog post is helpful! If you know a young cook or newly married guy or gal who could use this basic information, please share it with them. As always, thanks so much for stopping by. Be blessed, and stay savvy!!!