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.

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

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:

Goulash-Style Beef Hamburger Soup

Hungarian flavours, lots of vegetables and seasonings make this main-course beef hamburger soup an interesting departure from traditional Hamburger Soup recipes. You can use almost any mix of vegetables you want, even frozen if you like.

Stuffed Beef Cabbage Rolls

Satisfying casseroles like this recipe for Stuffed Beef Cabbage Rolls are always a welcome choice when planning make-ahead meals for the freezer.

Sirloin Beef Burger Luxe

A fine-dining burger with no need for gooey toppings. Lean Beef burgers deliver an excellent source of protein, zinc and vitamin B12 – not to mention flavour!

Thai Curry Beef ‘Ramen’

Warm and rich Thai flavours come together in this take on a popular street food. Featuring slurp-worthy noodles and plenty of colourful vegetables, this recipe is a complete meal in a bowl.
Canadian-Beef-Indian-style-Beef-Burger

Indian-style Beef Burger

This original and delicious Indian-inspired burger combines lightly spiced, curried ground beef and Canadian Feta. The whole is topped with a creamy yogurt and coriander based garnish and sandwiched between warm multi-grain buns. These juicy burgers are sure to be the star of your next barbecue.

Italian Beef Stuffed Peppers

Stuffed peppers are a classic slow-cooker meal. Since they are quick and easy to prepare, this beef recipe will be a welcome addition to your family’s repertoire.
Canadian Beef Mini Beef Mushroom Burgers

Mini Beef Mushroom Burgers

By adding diced mushrooms to the meat, these burgers stay juicy even when made with Extra Lean Ground Beef. Dress burgers with low-fat toppings such as shredded lettuce and sliced tomatoes to keep them lean and wholesome.

Roasted Greek Stuffed Sweet Peppers

This recipe is an updated version of traditional stuffed peppers, having the peppers roasted before stuffing and using heart-healthy ingredients.

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