You are going to like this… but I can with about 75% certainty tell you that even though you think you are cooking your ground beef you aren’t doing it correctly.
I know! Big statement to make! But the hard, honest truth is that people cook their ground beef, but they don’t actually brown it, which is how it should be done. The difference in a recipe can be staggering and a fine line between “eh, t’s dinner” and “holy cow, this is the best ground beef recipe ever!”
We even went as far as to name this post “how to cook ground beef” because the average home cooks doesn’t realize it should be browned with a nice crust. Nope, it doesn’t dry out, in fact, it helps it retain those precious juices and flavor.
Even more truth- most ground beef recipes that tell you to brown it, also don’t actually give the correct instructions. So throw everything you knew about hamburger meat out the door and let’s learn how to brown ground beef the right way for crisp lacy edges and a juicy bite.
Cooking vs Browning
Yes, I understand that browning is essentially cooking, but it is SO much more.
| Cooking | Browning | |
| Color | greyish | brown with crispy edges |
| Texture | rubbery | slightly crunchy and tender |
| Taste | bland | beefy and acidic, interesting |
| Liquid Use | beef broth or oil | very little to no oil |
Why is Browning Important
In another post, we went into length about the chemical reaction known as the maillard reaction, otherwise known as browning. This changes the food on a molecular level by creating acidic, and with it, oodles of flavor. It also helps things like meat stay nice and tender. Wikipedia defines it as “chemical reaction between amino acids and reducing sugars that gives browned food its distinctive flavor.”
But the maillard reaction can happen with nearly any food, not just meat. Think about browning a marshmallow or vegetables, the char you get from a grill, all of these count!
The Meat
Many folks will refer to this hamburger meat, but ground beef is excellent for many recipes well beyond hamburgers and spaghetti sauce. In order to brown well, you do need a little fat, so my pick when asked to brown is a 80/20 blend. Lean beef will require you to add a little oil to aid in developing that beautiful crust, and therefore flavor.
Ground beef flavor can also vary greatly depending on what cut it was ground from. A ground sirloin will have more flavor than a standard package, which is generally made up of a variety of cut discards. Regardless of the type of beef, browning will add flavor and tender texture as long as there is enough fat, which helps it get nice a hot. A good product doesn’t require much more than salt to bring out natural flavors, but things like garlic powder, onion powder, chile powder and other spice blends are great for elevating it a bit more.
If you use a lower fat content, or another type of naturally lean meat such as turkey, chicken or lamb, consider adding a teaspoon or two of a neutral oil.
The Pan
Cast iron is hands down the best way to brown nearly any type of meat. You need a skillet that gets super hot and does so evenly. Stainless steel is a close second, but will likely require a tiny bit of oil to prevent sticking. Non-stick and aluminum are not recommended for browning.
The size of the pan is also crucial. How many times have we made something and said “don’t crowd the pan”- same goes for browning any meat. If it stuffed in there too close together, the moisture trapped in the food release- but hits the food next to hit, which prevents browning, but creates steaming. Now instead of an intensely browned and delicious chunk of meat, you are left with a kinda beige lump of chewiness.
I try to use a 10 or 12-inch pan for 1 pound of ground meat. If I have more, I work in batches.
How to Brown Ground Beef
First, browning meat properly can happen on the stove top and sometimes the grill, not really in a crock pot, instant or the oven.
- Prep the meat– Moisture is the enemy in the world of browning. Make sure your raw meat if thawed and then let it sit at room temperature for 30-40 minutes. The point here is to increase the overall temperature of the meat and also to dry it out a bit. If it is particularly wet, dab the exterior dry with paper towels. And if you are super serious about browning you meat, you can even let it sit, uncovered, in the fridge for several hours to further dry the surface. I like to work with one pound of ground beef at a time.
- Heat the pan. If you are using a well-seasoned cast iron skillet, you likely won’t need additional oil. If you are using oil, heat it in the skillet as well. Let the skillet get nice and hot over medium-high heat before adding the meat.
- Add the beef to the hot pan. Some folks like to break it up here, but I let it sit like a giant brick. The reasoning? Well, steam is the enemy and the more you break it up, the more liquid it released and the more steam you create. So I break it up in stages and thus control the steam.
- This is the hardest step, but I have faith you can do it. LET IT SIT. Do not touch it, do not flip it, do not move it around. The meat needs to have good, long contact with the hot skillet to do it’s thing. Let is sit for 4-5 minutes. I know, this is torture.
- Lift a corner with a wooden spoon, spatula or slotted spoon and see that the meat is browned and a little crispy, not just a golden brown- I want it to be brown. Break the brick into smaller pieces and flip them. Follow the same instructions for the other side.
- Now start breaking apart the four pieces, but allowing them to have contact with the pan after each breaking, while resisting the urge to move it around the pan. If it has any excess fat, this can be carefully drained off an edge or drain it all in a colander and place it back into the skillet.
- After all of the beef is nicely browned and totally dry, then you can season it with salt or other seasonings. Sometimes it is difficult to season with dry spices and get them evenly distributed, you can add a small amount of water, wine or beef broth to help toss them on the browned meat. Otherwise, go ahead and use it in the recipe it is intended for like a meat sauce or for taco night!
Common Questions
If thawed and blotted so the surface area is dry, yes. However, it would be very difficult to brown still frozen meat of any kind because of the release of moisture and uneven cooking when the outside is cooked, but the inside still frozen.
Oh goodness, don’t get me started. Not at the beginning when most recipes tell you too, especially if it is salt. Salt draws out moisture, which creates steam and prevents browning. Adding other types of spices and herbs runs the risk of browning them in the pan during the searing process. I highly recommend adding them at the end, which your beef is nice and crispy.
But now it is dry and dry spice blends have a hard time distributing evenly. Feel free to add a small amount of moisture here since the browning has already happened. A tablespoon of wine, beef broth or water added to the large skillet will help to coat the crispy meat.
You sure can! The meat will retain some of the flavor achieved from browning, but will likely lose the crispiness in the fridge. Store in an airtight container. Instead of microwaving it, try heat a small amount of oil in a skillet and browning it a little more. You’ll need the oil since most of the fat was used in the first browning sessions.
Also, taste for seasoning. Salt and other spices tend to become muted when chilled and require a little sprucing while reheating.
You sure can! Freeze it in an airtight freezer bag for up to 4 months. Try to pus out as much air as possible from each bag and store them towards the back of the freezer. After thawing, revive using the reheating instructions above.
You can do whatever you want, but the recipe won’t have the intended flavor if this step was skipped. Also, if you end up not getting the perfect brown- all is not lost.
It happens from time to time- different packages have more or less moisture and then just go awry. But all is not lost. Browning creates acid, so add a little acid into the recipe. Common pairings for beef recipe include Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, wine, vinegars or more garlic and onion.
Yes! The concept is the same regardless if you are making another ground meat recipes or using cubed chicken or beef, steaks and meatballs. Anything, really!
You can, as long as those other things don’t contain moisture. Avoid trying to saute onions or garlic while you are browning meats. Do it in stages and then add them together at the end.
If there is too much liquid in the pan, your chances of browning are gone. Instead, pour all of the meat into a colander and drain it. Transfer it back to the hot skillet and go from there. Do this as many times as you need to make sure it isn’t pooling.
Some lower quality meats will have this issue, but it doesn’t mean they won’t be flavorful in the long run. It just adds a few more steps and roadblocks.
The short answer is no, don’t shoot the messenger! Slow cookers, even on the high setting, never get hot enough to produce the chemical reaction. The high sides also trap excess moisture. It doesn’t mean your recipe will be terrible if you cook the ground meat in a slow cooker or instant pot, for that matter, it just isn’t truly browned.
Yes and no- if you have cooked ground beef, you can fake the browning process by putting it under the broiler and letting it char a little. It isn’t quite the same, but close.
According to the CDC, ground beef should be an internal temperature of 160°F. Any ground meat has more surface space and thus presents a higher risk for the yuckies. Handle carefully, wash your hands and cook fully. I am a lover of rare beef, but this is not the time to put that into play!
Easy Ground Beef Recipes
Now you need to practice your new skill with these recipes that use ground beef. Here are a few recipes that go beyond sloppy Joes and taco meat.
Salisbury Steak
Beef Goulash
Shepherd’s Pie
Bolognese Sauce
How to Cook Ground Beef (How to Brown Ground Beef)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound 80/20 ground beef
- 1-2 teaspoons vegetable oil , optional
Instructions
- Allow the meat to sit at room temperature for about 20-30 minutes. If there is any surface moisture, blot with a paper towel.
- Heat a large cast iron skillet or stainless steel pan over medium-high heat. If using stainless or a less seasoned cast iron, add 1 teaspoon of a neutral oil with high smoke point.
- Once the pan is hot, add the meat, and allow the brick to sit there for 4-5 minutes or until the edges are browned and crispy when you lift it up to take a peek. Do not move or touch it.
- Flip it and do the same on the other side. Break it into 4 pieces and start to crumble, allowing each crumble to get maximum contact with the hot pan.
- When beef is fully browned, add seasoning or salt, and add to your favorite recipe.
- If you’ve tried this technique, please come back to let us know how it was in the comments or ratings!
Video
Nutrition
This is such an informative post. Your directions are simple and easy to follow. I have bookmarked this page for future reference.
This is the perfect guide! I brown ground beef all the time now because of this and it comes out perfect and fail proof every time! Thank you!
Thanks. A very informative and helpful post.
Really interesting – I learned a lot reading this. Thank you!
Wow, I have learned so much about cooking ground beef from this post. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for the recipe!
Wow, ended up tasting great for meat sauce, spaghetti.