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:

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!
Canadian-Beef-Argentine-Style-Burgers-with-Chimichurri-Sauce

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.

Cowboy Ground Beef and Bean Casserole

Round up your posse with this yummy quick and easy one-pot casserole. This retro-inspired recipe packs in some serious nutrition. Top with grated cheese to get all four food groups in each serving. Each serving is an excellent source of zinc and a very high source of fibre.

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.

Air-fried Beef and Blue Cheese Stuffed Mushroom Bites

Here’s a new take on stuffed mushroom hors d’oeuvres, filled with the classic combination of beef and blue cheese. The air fryer cooks these up in just minutes to juicy perfection. 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 Trendy Tortilla Beef Pie

By cooking up Big Batch Beef, this contemporary meat pie can be ready in a flash!
California

California Beef Burger

This beef burger recipe is flavoured with Mexican seasonings, topped with crunchy marinated onion and a tangy guacamole and tucked into flour tortilla instead of a bun.

MMMMM-Minestrone

Nothing says home quite as well as enjoying a bowl of this hearty homemade soup. Spaghetti is the perfect pasta for speedy soup since it cooks in just minutes. Each serving is an excellent source of zinc and vitamin A.

Mexico | Visit Now
Taiwan | Visit Now
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Japan | Visit Now

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