Boiling ground beef is a great way to reduce its fat percentage if you want to cook healthier. The process is quick and easy: cover the meat with water and cook it over medium heat for 3-5 minutes. Boiled ground beef is an excellent source of protein even for your four-legged companion. If you don't like the bland taste of boiled meat, you can flavor it with herbs and spices.
Ingrediants
- 0.5-1.5 kg of ground beef
- 15-30 g of spices of your choice (optional)
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Cooking the Ground Beef
Step 1. Place the meat in a large pot
It must have walls at least 10-15 cm high. Remove the ground beef from the package and place it in the center of the pot.
If the meat is frozen, let it defrost in the refrigerator for a few hours before cooking
Step 2. Add flavorings if you want to flavor the meat
If you don't like the taste of boiled meat, you can season it with a couple of tablespoons (about 30 grams) of your favorite spices. Spread them over the ground beef before adding the water. If you want to cook meat for your dog, it is best not to use any type of seasoning.
- For example, you can add 1-2 tablespoons (15-30 g) of a Mexican spice blend if you want to use ground beef to make tacos.
- For a more classic option, you can use minced garlic, thyme and rosemary.
Step 3. Cover the meat with 5-8cm of water
After sprinkling it with your favorite aromas, cover it with cold water. The amount of water needed depends on the size of the pot. In general, about 5-8 cm of water should be enough to completely cover the meat.
It is not necessary to measure the water accurately, what matters is that it completely covers the ground beef
Step 4. Break the block of ground beef with a spoon or spatula
Once you've covered the meat with cold water, you should be able to shell it easily with a spoon. Place it in the center of the block of meat and move it back, forth and to the side to separate the individual pieces of beef. Lift the spoon, insert it in a different place and continue until the meat is completely chopped.
Dividing the meat promotes faster and more uniform cooking
Step 5. Bring the water to a boil
At this point the meat is ready to be cooked. Turn on the stove and heat the water over high heat to quickly bring it to a boil.
The water should start boiling after 3-5 minutes. However, the time may vary by pot and stove
Step 6. Boil the ground beef until it turns a uniform brown hue
When the water is boiling, turn the heat to medium heat and continue stirring until the meat turns brown in color. It should be ready after 3-5 minutes, but cooking time may vary slightly depending on the type of pot and the stove.
Keep stirring to promote even cooking
Part 2 of 3: Drain the Meat
Step 1. Place a colander inside a large bowl
Do not drain the meat directly into the sink to avoid the risk of the fat blocking the drain pipes. Use a large plastic or metal bowl to catch the water and meat juices.
Insert the colander into the bowl and put the bowl in the sink. This way, the fat from the meat will stay in the bowl rather than go down the drain pipes
Step 2. Pour the meat and liquid into the colander
Empty the pot slowly to avoid spilling the meat or burning yourself. Make sure that the meat ends up in the colander and that the liquid is collected from the bowl.
Use oven mitts to avoid the risk of burning yourself
Step 3. If necessary, rinse the meat under boiling water to remove any residual fat
If the beef had a high percentage of fat, rinse it to get rid of the residual fat. Place the bowl under the tap and run the water into the colander. Try not to let the liquid in the bowl overflow to prevent the fat from the meat going down the drain. A short rinse is enough to eliminate any residual grease.
- It is not necessary to rinse the meat, once drained it is ready to use.
- If the bowl is almost full after draining the meat, use another bowl to rinse the meat.
Step 4. Let the cooking liquid cool before throwing it away
Wait for it to come to room temperature, then pour it into a glass or metal jar. Wait for it to solidify inside the container before throwing it away.
This is the correct way to throw away the fat from the meat and avoid clogging the sink drain pipes
Part 3 of 3: Using and Storing Boiled Ground Beef
Step 1. Prepare a healthy meal with the boiled meat right away
After draining it, use it right away to make tacos, stew, or whatever dish you want. Having boiled it, it will have a significantly reduced percentage of fat compared to when you brown it in a pan with oil. You can use it to make tons of healthy recipes.
For example, you can put the meat back in the pan and add the ingredients needed to make the chili: beans, peppers, onion, tomato sauce and spices
Step 2. Feed the boiled meat to your dog
On average, an adult dog should be fed a quantity of meat (weighed raw) equal to about 2.5% of its weight. To calculate how much ground beef you need to give your four-legged companion, multiply his body weight by 0.025. Weigh the meat raw and feed it to your dog every day in the right amount.
For example, if your dog weighs 10kg, boil 250g of ground beef
Step 3. If you don't intend to use the boiled meat right away, you can store it in the refrigerator for a couple of days
If you need to cook it in advance, after draining it, transfer it to an airtight container and let it cool. Keep it in the refrigerator to have it ready to use.
- Use a plastic or glass food container and seal it with the lid to protect the meat from the air.
- Use the meat within a couple of days to prevent it from becoming spongy.
Step 4. If you want to keep the boiled meat longer, place it in a resealable food bag and freeze it
If you want to always have it available for your recipes, drain it and let it cool. When it reaches room temperature, transfer it to a bag suitable for freezing food using a spoon. Fill the bag ¾ of the maximum capacity and place it in the freezer. You can use frozen ground beef for cooking whenever you want or for your dog's next meals.
- When you're ready to use it, let the meat defrost in the refrigerator for 2-4 hours.
- Consume frozen meat within 3 months to prevent it from losing its properties.
