Cooking ground beef straight from the freezer is a great time-saving technique for weeknight dinners or meal prep While it may seem daunting, frozen ground beef can be easily prepared into delicious meals with the right methods This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know to cook frozen ground beef on the stovetop, in the oven, Instant Pot or slow cooker.
Tips for Cooking Frozen Ground Beef
Follow these tips for best results when cooking frozen ground beef:
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Allow Extra Time – Frozen beef takes 50% longer to cook than fresh, so plan for extra time. For 1 lb frozen beef, allow 15-30 minutes on the stovetop.
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Use High Heat – High heat helps thaw and cook frozen beef quickly. Use medium-high to high heat on the stovetop or high pressure in an Instant Pot.
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Break Up the Meat – As frozen beef cooks, break up the block into smaller crumbles using a spoon or spatula. This promotes even cooking.
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Don’t Worry About Texture – Frozen beef may look uneven as it cooks but turns out evenly cooked and tender
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Season After – Wait to add salt, spices and sauces until after cooking since seasonings won’t adhere well when frozen
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Cook to 160°F – Use a food thermometer to confirm beef reaches 160°F internal temperature when fully cooked.
Stovetop Method
The stovetop allows fast cooking of frozen ground beef.
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Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 Tbsp oil or butter.
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Add 1 lb frozen ground beef. Cook 8-12 minutes, breaking up block into smaller crumbles.
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Keep heat high and stir frequently until beef is fully cooked with no pink spots.
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Season with spices and sauces. Cook 2-3 minutes more until heated through.
Oven Method
The oven cooks large batches of frozen ground beef evenly.
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Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil.
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Arrange 2 lbs frozen ground beef on the baking sheet. Bake 25-30 minutes.
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Break up block and stir beef every 10 minutes during cooking.
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Cook until fully browned and internal temperature reaches 160°F.
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Drain grease, season as desired and use as needed.
Instant Pot Method
The Instant Pot steams frozen beef perfectly.
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Add 1 cup water to Instant Pot. Place trivet inside.
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Put 1 lb frozen ground beef on trivet. Lock lid.
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Manual High Pressure 20 minutes. Allow 10 minute natural release.
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Release pressure. Drain water, season beef and use in recipes.
Slow Cooker Method
Use the slow cooker to safely thaw and cook frozen ground beef.
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Place frozen ground beef in slow cooker. Add 1 cup broth or water.
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Cook on High for 1 hour to thaw beef completely.
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Turn to Low and cook 3-4 hours until tender and cooked through.
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Shred beef and season as desired. Use in chili, tacos, etc.
Helpful Tips
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For chili or pasta sauce, break into small 1/4-inch crumbles while cooking. For tacos or lettuce wraps, aim for 1/2-inch pieces.
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Partially thaw beef overnight in the fridge for faster stovetop or oven cooking.
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Add a bit of oil to facilitate browning when cooking on the stovetop or oven.
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Use a sturdy metal spoon or spatula to break up block and stir while cooking.
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Drain excess grease after cooking or blot with paper towels to remove fat.
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Cook any vegetables after ground beef is cooked through. They only need 5-7 minutes.
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Let cooked frozen ground beef rest 5 minutes before adding to dishes and recipes.
5 Recipe Ideas
Here are some great recipes for cooked frozen ground beef:
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Cheeseburger Stuffed Potatoes – Top baked potatoes with cheese sauce and cooked crumbled beef.
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Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry – Toss cooked beef with broccoli, rice, ginger and soy sauce.
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Shepherd’s Pie – Layer cooked beef with vegetables in a casserole dish. Top with mashed potatoes.
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Beef Tacos – Season cooked beef with taco seasoning. Serve in tortillas or lettuce wraps.
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Chili Mac – Combine cooked beef with beans, tomatoes and macaroni in a skillet.
Cooking ground beef straight from frozen just takes a little extra time and a few easy techniques. With the proper methods, you can make delicious meals with frozen beef any night of the week. Follow these tips for safely cooking tasty ground beef recipes your family will love.
Cooking Frozen Ground Beef
All you need is your protein and any seasonings you might want to use. Salt and pepper are a given but once I get it into smaller bits it is nice to add diced onions, Lawry’s, or taco seasoning. I’ll share a variety of ways this can be done so you can try them all, or choose your method of choice.
Prefer ground turkey and/or ground chicken because they tend to be lower in fat? No problem, you can use all of these techniques for those too. The only difference is going to be the texture. Without fat in the mix it will be a big chewier and drier no matter which way you “slice it”.
Ok so there is a way you can thaw ground beef in microwave beforehand that just takes 3 minutes. You can also cook ground beef in microwave If you are in a super hurry. If don’t have this countertop appliance, there are several ways you can cook from frozen.
Keep that in mind even with beef itself. A bit higher fat will make this protein more moist whether you cook it from frozen or raw like our air fryer ground beef. I would not suggest using that machine if it is rock hard as it will get too dry on the outside and kinda’ be a mess.
If you have a high pressure cooker you can try Instant Pot frozen ground beef and frozen ground turkey Instant Pot is about the same. Steamed essentially to the middle, it will still leave some pink. Then you can drain the liquid out, set to saute, and brown that way with seasonings you want.
A great way to make taco meat in about 15 minutes since you can go from rock hard to ready to throw into some taco shells in very little time. AND only one pot to clean from start to finish….and you know how much I love my Ninja foodi and Crockpot Express. All brands work for this.
If you are not a small appliance junkie like I am, no worries, it’s easy to cook this way. All you need is a pan with a lid to do the same thing. This is probably the best way to add salt, pepper, garlic powder etc…. into the pan and have it soak in. You can use water but broth would add even more flavor.
You just pour the cup of water or broth into a pan over medium heat with the block of ground beef. Cover with a lid to heat and steam it to tender. Lift the lid and use a wooden spoon or spatula every 2 minutes cooking time or so to scrape defrosted meat off the outside of the roll.
Cover again and continue scraping every minute or so until all of it has thawed to the middle. Remove lid and then brown the meat in the pan to cook until there is no more pink. Then remove cooked meat from heat source, taste, add seasonings and use inside pasta sauce or add into a ground beef casserole with potatoes.
Probably the easiest cooking method for cooking ground beef and keeping it moist. This will take closer to 20 minutes with time to heat up the pan, thawing and cooking from beginning to end. Probably the best if I had to compare all the methods listed here. Instructions below in printable recipe card.
I mean this is the least desirable because not only will it not brown but you are going to leach out all the flavor. Just as if you were boiling vegetables, hot water sucks all the vitamins (and flavor) out of whatever is in the pot. If you just can’t help yourself and you have to try this too you can, this is how;
Boiled Frozen Ground Beef
Fill a pot with enough water to submerge your frozen block, wait until it reaches a boil. Set meat inside and don’t leave. Use a wood spatula to break off the outer pieces that soften and start cooking. Eventually the whole block will be thawed to the center and the smaller bits will be boiling in the water. I suggest at this time you strain the meat, season, and add it into something like our Instant Pot spaghetti.
Our 5 ingredient chili is another one that this would be okay in. Something with a lot of flavor would be necessary since this will make the protein quite bland. Make sure you drain as much of the water out around the meat too when you’re done. Like I said, not my preference but possible.
Easy Ground Beef from Frozen
FAQ
Can ground beef be cooked from frozen?
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Samsung Foodhttps://samsungfood.comCook Frozen Ground Beef: Stovetop and Instant Pot Method – Samsung Food
How to cook frozen ground beef without thawing it first?
- Preheat your skillet on medium heat.
- Add your favorite cooking oil (olive and avocado oil are great options).
- Place one pound of frozen ground beef in the skillet. Sear for four minutes, then flip the block and scrape the cooked beef off with tongs or a wooden spoon. …
- Add your seasonings or sauces, and enjoy!
What is the best way to cook frozen beef?
- Cooking frozen meat in a braise or stew with liquid can help infuse flavor and keep the meat tender.
- Cook the meat longer than you would normally for thawed meat, but use a meat thermometer to avoid overcooking.
- Allow cooked meat to rest for a few minutes before cutting into it.
Do you have to thaw frozen ground beef before cooking?
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Safety:Cooking frozen meat is safe as long as it reaches the correct internal temperature.
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Convenience:Skipping thawing can be faster, especially if you’re in a hurry.
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Cooking methods:Methods like stovetop cooking or even using an Instant Pot can be adapted to cook ground beef from frozen.
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Uneven browning and texture:Cooking frozen ground beef can lead to uneven browning and texture, but this can be mitigated with techniques like steaming and sautéing.
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Speed:Microwaving, using a bowl of cold water, or using an air fryer are options for speeding up the thawing process if you do want to thaw it before cooking.
Can you cook ground beef from frozen?
Yes, it is safe to cook ground beef from frozen as long as it reaches an internal temperature of 160°F to ensure that it is thoroughly cooked. How long does it take to cook ground beef from frozen on the stovetop? The cooking time for ground beef from frozen on the stovetop will vary depending on the size of the frozen beef and the heat level.
Can thawed ground beef be cooked from frozen?
Though people most commonly cook thawed ground beef on the stove, there is no problem in cooking it from frozen! Though it may take a little longer and requires a distinct method, cooking frozen ground beef on the stove is one of the best ways to cook frozen ground beef.
Can you cook ground beef straight from the freezer?
The key to cooking ground beef straight from the freezer is to make sure you cook it at adequately high temperatures. This means keeping it out of the “danger zone”—the temperature range of 40°F to 140°F, where bacteria grow most rapidly. So, slow cooking frozen ground beef is out, but nearly every other cooking method is fair game.
How long do you cook frozen ground beef?
Add 1 lb frozen ground beef and cook for 6-8 minutes, breaking up the block into smaller pieces as it cooks. Flip and stir frequently, continuing to break up the meat until no longer frozen, about 10-12 minutes total. Stir in any seasonings or sauces and cook 2-3 minutes more until heated through.
Can you cook frozen ground beef on a grill?
Cooking frozen ground beef on a grill is just as easy as a thawed burger. It just takes a little longer. As long as you cook it up to 160º, you are fine, and I’d season it after the first flip or as soon as both sides of the patty have thawed out.
Does thawed ground beef cook faster than frozen?
Thawed ground beef cooks more evenly. Cooking ground beef while still partially frozen will result in the thawed portion cooking faster than the frozen portion. Additionally, as the frozen parts defrost, they will release water, which will make the already cooked meat soggy and tough.