How To Brown Ground Beef
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Did you know there’s a secret to How to Brown Ground Beef to perfection? Learn how to make perfectly tender and delicious protein without drying it out or ending up with a greasy mess!
Learning how to brown a pound of ground beef is a great way to add a classic protein to any meal! Use it for tacos (or taco pasta salad!), burritos, air fryer nachos, air fryer beef empanadas and more.
Why Learn How to Make Browned Hamburger Meat
- Easy meal prep: Ground beef tends to cook fairly quickly and keep well in the fridge and freezer after it’s cooked, which makes it perfect for meals throughout the week.
- Versatile: You can use ground beef as a protein for salads, put it in wraps and sandwiches, make a rice bowl, a casserole (I recommend this Lazy Lasagna Casserole or these Cheeseburger Egg Rolls) and so much more!
- Affordable: Most types of ground beef are fairly budget-friendly and result in lots of food, which is great for feeding large crowds or to spread over multiple meals.
Ingredients you will need
- Raw ground beef: Check out the fat content of the beef and buy what works best for your diet and preferences. Some of the more popular options are 90/10 (extra-lean), 83/17 ground beef, and 70/30.
- Olive oil, salt, and pepper: For cooking!
Note: The ground beef numbers refer to the ratio of lean to fat. For instance, 90/10 is 90% lean and 10% fat. I prefer 90/10.
How to Brown Ground Beef
Step 1. Heat oil. In a large pan, heat the oil over medium high heat. Add the ground beef and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Step 2. Cook on one side. Allow the ground beef to cook untouched for 5 to 6 minutes, or until it develops a nice browned crust.
Step 3. Flip. Turn the beef over and repeat the process so the other side gets browned.
Step 4. Break into small pieces. Use a spoon, meat masher, or your spatula to break up the ground beef. Stir occasionally until no pink remains.
Tips to Brown Ground Beef
- Bring to room temperature: The beef will cook even better if you let it sit at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes before cooking.
- Hot oil: Make sure the oil is nice and hot before adding the beef so it cooks right away and doesn’t absorb any excess fats.
- Adjust oil amount: If you’re using a ground beef with a higher fat content, you might not need to use as much olive oil, if any at all.
- Dry the meat first: Use some paper towels to pat the meat dry before cooking for a nice golden brown crust.
- Season well: Taste a small piece of the cooked beef and add more salt and pepper if it needs additional flavor.
- Add water: Adding 2 tablespoons of water while cooking the beef will keep it moist and prevent it from drying out.
What to Look for When Buying Ground Beef
For best results, you’ll want to look for beef that has a nice red color and a tight plastic seal. If it’s vacuum sealed or sealed particularly well, that usually means the beef will be fresher.
Another way to test for quality ground beef is to do a quick smell test! Beef doesn’t have much of an odor to it, so if you smell anything remotely rancid or pungent, it’s probably a sign that it’s not super fresh.
What You’ll Need to Brown Ground Beef
For an easy process, you’ll want a nice cast iron skillet or your frying pan of choice, a spatula, wooden spoon, or ground meat chopper, and a spoon to stir and scoop the beef. Another great option is a slotted spoon to let all of the excess oil drain as you scoop the browned beef out of the pan.
How to Store Ground Beef
For best results, allow the ground beef to cool to room temperature to prevent excess moisture and condensation. Place the beef in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for 4 to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 4 months.
FAQ’s
It usually takes about 10 minutes to get perfectly browned ground beef, but depending on the heat of your stove top and how well your pan conducts heat, it can be anywhere from 8 to 12 minutes.
If you’re cooking ground beef from frozen and forgot to defrost it, you can pop it in the microwave on 50% power for 2 or 3 minutes, rotating every 30-45 seconds. Another option is to place it in a bowl of warm water inside its packaging. A defrosting stone is the best method because it won’t affect the taste or texture.
It depends on whether the beef is cooked or uncooked. Uncooked ground beef can be frozen pretty much indefinitely, although the quality might diminish as time goes on. For ground beef that’s been cooked, I recommend 3 to 4 months max in the freezer to maintain freshness and flavor, and prevent freezer burn.
There’s a few things you can do if you’ve accidentally over-seasoned your ground beef. Try adding water and/or lemon juice. The lemon juice will help balance the saltiness. If all else fails, you can take some of the beef out of the pan, rinse it in a strainer, and add it back in.
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How to Brown Ground Beef
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1/2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb ground beef
- kosher salt
- black pepper
- 2 tbsp water
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large heavy bottomed pan (like a cast iron) over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the block of ground beef and let it cook without moving for 5-6 minutes. Carefully lift it up with a spatula to see if the bottom has browned. It should have a nice dark brown coloring and look a little bit crisp.Flip the ground beef and cook for another 5-6 minutes on the other side.1/2 tbsp olive oil, 1 lb ground beef
- Using a meat masher, start breaking up the block of beef. Break it into small pieces, add the water, and continue cooking until the beef is no longer pink and is browned all over, about 5 more minutes.2 tbsp water
- Season the ground beef with salt and pepper before using in your desired recipe.kosher salt, black pepper
Notes
- Use a medium-high heat
- Use a large non-stick frying pan
- Do not overcrowd the pan
- Heat the pan and let it get hot before adding the ground beef
- Do not stir until the beef starts to brown. If you do it will release more water and not brown
