Ground Beef Know How - Canadian Beef | Canada Beef

Ground Beef

Ground beef’s got a lot going for it — it’s fast and easy to cook, versatile and enjoyed by all. Is it any wonder that ground beef is the #1 Canadian meal-maker! And there‘s more to ground beef’s benefits – plain and simple, ground beef’s good for you! Here’s all you need to know to make dinner – made easy with Canadian Ground Beef!

Get Ready

Forever flexible, ground beef can be pan-fried for meat sauces and casseroles or shaped into burgers, meatballs and more.

  1. COOK ground beef in non-stick skillet over medium-high heat for 8 to 10 minutes, breaking into small chunks with cooking. Cook thoroughly, until browned throughout.
  2. DRAIN.
  3. ADD to pasta sauce or soups or use in chili, casserole, taco and soup recipes, seasoning to taste.

Watch

Common Cuts

Extra lean ground beef
Maximum fat content 10% (90% lean)

Lean ground beef
Maximum fat content 17% (83% lean)

Medium ground beef
Maximum fat content 23% (77% lean)

Regular ground beef
Maximum fat content 30% (70% lean)

Myth Buster

MYTH:

Ground beef has colour added to it – that is why it is purple in the centre of the pack but bright red on the surface.

TRUTH:

Ground beef is 100% beef with no additives, fillers or colours. As beef is exposed to oxygen, it naturally develops a red hue – so the meat at the surface of a package is bright red. The meat at the centre will turn red too once it’s opened up to the air.

Tips for Ground Beef

Cook’s Notes:

  • All ground beef comes designated as Extra Lean, Lean, Medium or Regular, based on the maximum fat content. This designation is the same for all ground meats: beef, turkey, veal, chicken, pork and lamb.

Ground beef types

  • EXTRA LEAN (10% maximum fat) great for flavour-packed recipes that you don’t drain after cooking. Use in meat loaf or cabbage rolls.
  • LEAN (17% maximum fat) Canada’s No. 1 grind is a good all-purpose choice. Use in all kinds of ground beef recipes.
  • MEDIUM (23% maximum fat)
  • REGULAR (30% maximum fat) use for grilling, broiling and drain to reduce fat before adding to your recipe. Use Medium in burgers and meatballs, and Regular or Medium in pasta sauces and casseroles.
  • Have you tried “Steak Experience” Ground Beef? Look for the names Sirloin, Chuck and Round on packages of ground beef. These names indicate that the ground beef is made from a single cut, not a mix. Ground Sirloin tastes like Sirloin Steak for example – it’s ground beef gone gourmet.
  • Refrigerate ground beef within 1 to 2 hours of purchase.
  • Refrigerate at 40° F (4° C) or lower, on bottom shelf to avoid dripping on to other foods.
  • Thaw in the fridge, allowing 12 to 15 hours per pound, OR thaw in the microwave, cooking immediately after thawing.
  • Cook all ground beef thoroughly to 160° F (71° C). Test temperatures with a digital read thermometer. Never eat ground beef raw.

The Question of Colour

Contrary to popular belief, the colour of beef is not a reliable indicator of freshness. In its initial state, beef is a deep purple colour. As it is exposed to oxygen in the air, the pigment turns cherry red. That same beef can turn purple again if oxygen is removed. The perfect example is vacuum-packaged beef.

With certain packaging types, that initial cherry red pigment will begin to take on a slightly brown hue quite quickly. The meat is still fresh and safe to eat, but just not as bright a red as when it was first exposed to oxygen. The Best Before date is still the best way to know if your fresh beef needs to be prepared and eaten right away or frozen.

Some ground beef can be brownish in the centre. This is because the small amount of oxygen present in the centre gives the meat pigment a brownish hue. However, the meat remains fresh and safe to eat up to its Best Before date.

Cuts used with Ground Beef

Ground Beef Options

regular-ground-beef-canadian-beef
EXTRA LEAN GROUND BEEF
Maximum fat content 10% (90% lean)

regular-ground-beef-canadian-beef
LEAN GROUND BEEF
Maximum fat content 17% (83% lean)

regular-ground-beef-canadian-beef
MEDIUM GROUND BEEF
Maximum fat content 23% (77% lean)

regular-ground-beef-canadian-beef
REGULAR GROUND BEEF
Maximum fat content 30% (70% lean)

Ground Beef recipes:

prep time

20 min

cook time

1:15
Best-Ever Traditional LasagnaThis ground beef classic may seem fussy to make but using a béchamel sauce and medium ground beef makes this so much better than a purchased lasagna. Béchamel is easier than you may think and using oven-ready noodles saves prep and clean-up time. BONUS: This recipe makes about 2 cups extra meat sauce that you can package up and freeze to use as a speedy weeknight spaghetti dinner.

prep time

15 min

cook time

40 min
Skillet Lasagna with SpinachTake pasta night to another level with this one skillet wonder. Use regular lasagna noodles (not oven-ready) for this recipe.

prep time

20 min

cook time

35 min
Swedish MeatballsThe fresh bread crumbs are easy to make with any stale bread and when soaked in the milk, become the secret to tender juicy meatballs – the panade. Meatballs are browned and cooked in the skillet before adding to the simmering cream sauce so they have good colour and flavour but don’t discolour the sauce. Stir in the sour cream just at the end so the cream sauce does not curdle or break. Serve over cooked potatoes or with buttered egg noodles. This recipe was adapted from Chef Alexandra Feswick’s original and modified, as necessary, for home cooks.

prep time

20 min

cook time

60 min
Traditional Italian Meatballs in Tomato SauceA restaurant favourite known as “Polpette al Sugo”, tender, flavourful meatballs are simmered in a simple tomato sauce to enjoy with toasted garlic bread. Chef Ponzo prefers to use medium ground beef for these meatballs but lean works well, too. This recipe was adapted from Chef Ponzo’s original and modified, as necessary, for home cooks.

prep time

20 min

cook time

25 min
Ginger-Miso Meatball and Vegetable Soup with BarleyGently poaching meatballs in a simmering broth has 2 benefits: it adds a meatier flavour to the broth and makes the most tender, juicy meatballs. Miso can be purchased in the refrigerated section in Asian grocery stores and keeps a long time in the fridge. Try using it as a rub for a steak as a for a flavour boost sometime. This recipe was adapted from Chef Buckett’s original and modified, as necessary, for home cooks.

prep time

15 min

cook time

40 min
Classic Beef ChiliFinally, a down-sized chili that’s good for a small household. Make this for two – or for one – with enough to make quesadillas the next day from any leftover chili. Serve topped with some shredded Cheddar cheese, sour cream, sliced jalapeño and torn fresh cilantro. If you’re ambitious, bake up some cornbread to sop up the bowl.

prep time

15 min

cook time

30 min
Mayai Mani (Beef and Egg Casserole)This Mayai Mani casserole, created by influencer Fareen Jessa, aka – Foodmamma, is quick to pull together with just a few basic ingredients and is reminiscent of Mexican Heuovos Rancheros.

prep time

20 min

cook time

53 min
Kofta ShakshukaMade with lean ground beef koftas, this kofta shakshuka will step up your brunch game in the most delicious way. This delicious addition to your recipe repertoire was created by Chef Erica Karbelnik. Chef Erica competed in Food Network Canada’s Top Chef Canada, where she took home the title and grand prize.

prep time

10 min

cook time

20 min
Speedy Gyro Beef SaladIf you love a classic Greek gyro, you’re going to love this speedy weeknight dinner for two! The star of the show is the delicious ground beef that is combined with gyro must-haves: feta cheese, tomato, Greek olives and cucumber dressing. The same great restaurant flavours, fast and easy at home!

prep time

5 min

cook time

15 min
Skillet Beef GnocchiIt’s easy to turn store-bought potato gnocchi into pillows of goodness with this simple and speedy dish. And the bonus… this makes 4 portions and the welcome leftovers are delicious reheated for lunch another day!

prep time

15 min

cook time

20 min
Personal Taco PizzasThese personal-sized taco pizzas are easy, crispy and delicious! Another bonus is that each person can choose their own toppings!

prep time

10 min

cook time

40 min
Patty MeltsPatty melts are hearty sandwiches that are pure comfort food. The juicy ground beef patty is tasty on its own and the slow-cooked caramelized onions give it even more crave-worthy flavour. Serve with a crispy side salad and your favourite grilled cheese accompaniments.

prep time

10 min

cook time

22 min
Doubled-Up Simple Beef and Spinach SoupWhat the heck is stoup? Well, it’s somewhere between soup and stew with extra-thick broth and chunky veggies. Everyone loves one-pot meals and nothing makes a person happier than a warm bowl of nourishing beefy goodness! NOTE: this recipe makes a big batch for just two, so there will be extras for another meal (see Tip).

prep time

10 min

cook time

15 min
Beef Stroganoff Open-Faced SandwichesWho doesn’t love beef stroganoff? How about a simple weeknight dinner for two that packs all the flavour, but is on the table in a lot less time? Delicious ground beef smothered in a sour cream mushroom gravy is the perfect solution!

prep time

10 min

cook time

25 min
Baked Scotch EggsThese are big, meaty and delicious. Enjoy them as a meal with steamed veggies or a side salad. Don’t forget to serve with some pickles and dipping sauce.
Heart-Shape Mini MeatloavesEmily has been making these meatloaves since her kids were little. The kids would recognize Valentine’s Day as Love Day, and this was the perfect way to shape one of their favorite dishes into hearts. If you have a heart-shaped cookie cutter, be sure to cut out hearts from potatoes and roast them to serve alongside.
Beef and Cabbage Skillet NoodlesOne-skillet meals are always a great way to celebrate a great day in school or at the office. This version comes together easily and the kids will be happy to get cooking so they can add those crunchy noodles at the end!

prep time

1:30

cook time

11 hr
Beef KreplachThis kreplach recipe by Chef Phillip Walters is a uniquely-presented version of these Jewish traditional dumplings in broth. The dumplings, filled with beef seasoned with fresh herbs, in an aromatic, richly-flavoured chicken broth are elevated even further with crispy carrot chips and a fresh dill oil for garnish.

prep time

40 min

cook time

20 min
Beef Bulgogi Dumplings (3 ways)An easy and delicious beef bulgogi dumpling recipe that allows you to say “no” to frozen store-bought dumplings forever! Dumplings are filled with seasoned cooked ground beef, green onions (scallions), fresh napa cabbage, sweet carrots, ginger, onions and garlic. Recipe developed by Christina Chow

prep time

30 min

cook time

60 min
Beef SamosasSpiced ground beef enveloped in pastry and fried to perfection, these beef samosas make the best kind of appetizer. I prefer using lean ground beef for this recipe. Traditionally samosas are deep-fried though sometimes when we get uncooked samosas from our families we use the air fryer. The samosa wrappers can be found in the freezer section in well-stocked supermarkets and at Southeast Asian grocery stores.