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:

Asian Beef Burgers

These Beef Burgers are so much more than just kid-fare. All dressed up with one of the Terrific Toppers featured in the recipe and these beef burgers make a most memorable meal!

Speedy Beef Sloppy Joes

With Big Batch Beef in the freezer, it's so easy to get a good-for-you super speedy weeknight meal! For singles in the kitchen, just divide ingredients by 4: 1/2 cup Big Batch Beef, 1/4 can of the pizza sauce, 1/3 cup frozen veggies, 1/2 tsp Worcestershire and a tablespoon of water. As a pantry staple, make up some Big Batch Beef for the first year college student in your life so you're sure they start off eating right.

BEEF AND PASTA FLORENTINE BAKE

This recipe is a snap to make with Big Batch Beef! To make with fresh ground beef instead of Big Batch, brown 1 lb (500 g) Lean Ground Beef in the Dutch oven pot before adding the stewed tomatoes.

Classic Oven-baked Stuffed Peppers

Tender sweet peppers stuffed with a delicious mixture of beef, rice, cheese and tomatoes makes a healthy, simple meal the whole family will love!

Mexican Beef Hot Pot

The recipe for this easy one-pot Mexican Beef dish is a satisfying beef soup takes only 17 minutes from start to finish.

Korean Bibimbap Burger with Cucumber Salad

A sweet-salty contrast and a touch of chili heat pack this Asian-inspired recipe with a real flavour punch. Topped with a mound of delicious sautéed vegetables and served with a cucumber side salad, this weeknight burger recipe will impress and satisfy all.

Air Fryer Beef and Blue Cheese Stuffed Portobellos

Add a new, quick weeknight meal to your rotation with these savoury beef and blue cheese stuffed mushrooms that air fry to juicy perfection inside with an amazing crust on top. Served up with a salad of greens, this recipe makes enough to serve 2 as a main course or 4 as a plated appetizer. Note: Cook times suggested are based on a counter-top family-size air fryer**; times will vary with different appliances so always check for doneness with a reliable digital instant-read thermometer and texture cues and adjust cook time as necessary. Ground beef is done when the thermometer reads 160°F (71°C).

So Simple Meaty Minestrone

This soup is ready in a snap with Big Batch Beef in the freezer. You can substitute 1/2 lb (250 g) lean ground beef if you like, browning in a pan with 1/2 onion (diced) and adding to soup.