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.

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.
DRAIN.
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.

Big Batch Beef

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

Common Cuts | 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:

So-Trendy Sirloin Sliders

These lean mini burgers are oven-baked for maximum juiciness and easy cooking . To make regular size burgers, form meat mixture into six 3/4-inch (2 cm) thick patties and grill over medium-high heat for 5 to 7 minutes per side.

Tex-Mex Beef Tacos

Tacos are a great weekend night dinner solution. Prepare the Big Batch Tex-Mex Beef recipe ahead and scoop out the amount of meat you need to make these tacos. This beef mixture is also great lunchtime solution. Pack 1/2 cup of the meat mixture into a microwave safe lunch container. Pack the taco fixings. At lunchtime, heat the beef mixture and assemble with taco fixings.

Speedy Spaghetti Sauce

With Big Batch Beef in the freezer, made-from-scratch meat sauce has never been so quick to make!

Beef Chili Nachos

This simple chili is made easy with just what you have on hand. Make ahead for best flavour and serve straight from the pot or keep warm in a slow cooker as part of a buffet spread.

Moroccan Meatballs with Herbed Slaw

Ground beef and smashed kidney beans are seasoned with warm spices and formed into delicious meatballs packed with protein and fibre – perfect for make-ahead lunches and quick weeknight dinners. Use white kidney beans if you don’t want the kids to spot them.

Big Batch Beef Burritos

The Big Batch Beef Burrito recipe was created by Andrea Buckett and it’s a staple in my house. "As a mom to two active teenage boys it can sometimes be hard to keep up with the amount of food they require. Taking some time to make a batch of these burritos means we have an easy, healthy, grab and go lunch that is delicious and budget friendly. Setting up a burrito assembly line where the boys pitch in is a win win for everyone."

Huevos Rancheros Omelette

This omelette style of ranchers eggs is packed full of protein and fibre for a heathy breakfast or meal any time of day!

Mini Beef Meat Loaves

These mini meat loaves can be served hot from the oven or wrap each cooled loaf individually and freeze them for future fast meals – they heat from frozen in minutes. Children love this Mini Beef Meat Loaf recipe!