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:

Tortilla Beef Pie

Now here’s a contemporary version of the classic meat pie – no pastry to make, reduced fat and super easy. With lean Canadian ground beef and a few pantry-ready ingredients, this recipe for Tortilla Beef Pie is always ready to make.

Pantry Chili with Garlic Loaf

This is a snap to pull together with simple pantry ingredients. If you prefer a fiery version, add a teaspoon or so of chopped canned chipotle peppers.

Simple Skillet Ground Beef Stroganoff

By making Big Batch Ground Beef ahead, recipes such as this can be pulled together in just minutes — a perfect dinner for those nights when everyone is on the run. If you want to skip making the Big Batch Beef, substitute 1 lb (500 g) fresh ground beef, browned with 1 EACH large onion and clove garlic, minced.

Asian Beef Tortilla Bites

These awesome appetizers start off with a delicious ground beef base mixture that you can also use to make a simple stir-fry recipe (see Cook’s Notes).

Smashing Burger

The Smashing Burger is a great way to enjoy burgers in the winter season without firing up the grill in the snow! Enjoy burgers that are extra crispy on the outside, while still juicy on the inside. Crispy is the key! Chef Mathieu Paré of the Canadian Beef Centre of Excellence shows Canadian Women's Hockey Player Haley Irwin how to make these Smashing Burgers at home.

Skillet Perogy Shepherd’s Pie

This one-pot wonder will be a new family favourite that the kids will continue to make once they move out! It is a dinner classic with a twist that’s ready in less than 30 minutes, with perogies taking the place of traditional mashed potatoes.

Sunny Day Shepherd’s Pie

Shepherd's pie is comfort food at its finest. With just 241 calories per serving and a beta carotene-rich sweet potato topping, this version is a healthy twist on the old standby!

Argentine-Style Burgers with Chimichurri Sauce

In many Latin American countries, grilled meat is often served with chimichurri, a zesty pesto-like sauce that originated in Argentina. Made from fresh parsley, it is a source of essential nutrients and has a memorable flavour. Adding crushed corn chips instead of the usual bread crumbs gives these burgers an appealing crunch and an intriguing Latin flavour. This recipe can easily be doubled to serve 4.

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