What Actually Goes Into Ground Beef? Everything You Need To Know
What actually goes into ground beef? Wholesome trimmings, lean meat and fat, combined in a set ratio and ground. Here is everything you need to know.
Ground beef is one of the most commonly eaten types of beef in America. From chili to tacos, burgers, casseroles, and meat sauces, it is versatile, easy to prepare, and freezes well. But what actually goes into ground beef? What beef parts are used to make it? In this guide from Pre, we cover everything you need to know.
What actually goes into ground beef? The beef parts
There is a misconception that ground beef contains unwanted "variety meats" such as organs, ears, or snouts. It does not. Ground beef cannot be sold with organ meats unless it is specifically labeled as containing them. Under USDA guidance, heart and tongue can be used, but at Pre, we never use heart or tongue in our ground beef.
To begin the butchering process, the butcher separates the beef into primals, sub-primals, and whole cuts. Basically, the butcher segments it into big chunks, then trims and cuts it into the cuts you know, like chuck roast, ribeye, skirt steak, filets, and sirloin.
Butchers are great at cutting away meat and leaving minimal meat behind, but there are always some trimmings that stay on the bone and cannot be sold on their own. They are made up of both lean meat and fat, and they are wholesome and just as good as any other part of the cow.
Ground beef is a way to use these trimmings. We separate the lean meat and the fat, combine them in a specific ratio, such as 85% lean and 15% fat, and grind them into ground beef. A fun fact: we grind our ground beef three times for the best bite.
Cooking with ground beef? Browse all Pre products.
The difference between ground beef, ground chuck, ground sirloin, and hamburger
Name | What it is | Where the fat comes from |
Ground beef | Ground meat from trimmings left after butchering cuts. | Only from the trimmings. |
Ground chuck | A chuck roast loaded into a grinder and ground up. It comes from a cut, not from trimmings. | The chuck itself. |
Ground sirloin | A sirloin steak ground up. It also comes from a cut, not from trimmings. | The sirloin itself. |
Hamburger | Made from the same trimmings as ground beef. | Can have fat added from other sources. |
Any meat labeled "ground beef" is made using the trimmings method described above. Because the fat in ground beef can only come from trimmings, ground beef is a higher standard than hamburger meat.
Put it to work in Blue Cheese and Caramelized Onion Steak Sauce.
Pre ground beef: choose your lean percentage
Our ground beef uses only wholesome trimmings. It is 100% Grass-Fed & Finished, with no added hormones and no sub-therapeutic antibiotics, and Non-GMO Project Verified, a High Protein, healthy choice for the whole family. Pick your lean percentage:
Want to know what the labels on a pack mean? Read understanding the meat label and no added antibiotics explained, or contact us with any questions.
FAQ
Does ground beef contain organ meat?
No. Ground beef cannot be sold with organ meats unless it is specifically labeled that way. Pre never uses heart or tongue in its ground beef.
What is the difference between ground beef and hamburger?
Both use trimmings, but the fat in ground beef can only come from those trimmings, while hamburger can have fat added from other sources.
What lean percentages does Pre offer?
Pre ground beef comes in 85%, 90%, 92%, and 95% lean, all 100% Grass-Fed & Finished.
Where can I buy Pre 100% Grass-Fed & Finished Beef?
Pre Brands beef is a lean, High Protein, delicious way to keep dinner healthy. Use our store locator to find a store near you, browse all Pre products, or find us on Instacart.
