Thoughts on ground beef? page

[NoMoreGrains]

I never was much of a ground beef eater, something about eating several cows in one meal that makes me uncomfortable, not to mention it doesn't look particularly appetizing. But I was wondering, how many of you eat ground beef regularly, and consider it a valid, primal source of meat? Do you stick to regular organic ground beef, or do you eat grass fed ground beef (sounds like a contradiction-- grass fed beef is the superior beef choice, yet ground beef has the reputation of being of the lowest quality)? If grass fed whole cuts of beef are out of your price range, is grass fed ground beef a good alternative?

[Bushrat]

I eat a lot of ground beef and always have. Ground beef has a bad rep due to CW fat-phobia. I try and get grass fed since grass fed beef is superior (no matter the cut) and organic is second choice. I make big crockpot chillis and stews out of it and get two or three meals per pot.

Grass fed ground beef should be just as good a quality as whole cuts of beef provided they are both from the same supplier so yes ground beef is a perfect alternative to whole cuts (and I'd say a better alternative with price considerations).

[Beef Cake]

I never was much of a ground beef eater, something about eating several cows in one meal that makes me uncomfortable...

If one is truly uncomfortable with the idea eating several cows in one meal, the simple solution is to buy your favorite cut of beef...ribeye, sirloin, etc. and have the butcher grind it to your specifications. If you are using the beef for a chili, have them grind it for chili. If you are making hamburgers out of it, have them grind it into hamburger meat. That way you know exactly what is in your ground beef and you can control the texture for your particular dish you are making.

What is not valid or primal about ground beef, especially if you have it ground from a steak you pick out?

My first choice is grass fed, then prime, then organic, then ground sirloin, then regular ground beef. Grass fed ground beef is always a good alternative, especially if you can't afford grass fed whole cuts.

[TigerJ]

Grass fed beef from local happy cows (I get mine from Marin Sun Farms at $5.99/lb and even cheaper in 5 pound bags at $5/lb) - have it all the time. For me it is convenient when making curries or something that doesn't involve long slow cooking that is still everyday regular fare (ie not a more expensive steak).

Factory farm ground beef - wouldn't touch the stuff. Google 'ecoli ground beef' and some scary headlines come up. Yes, people die from E-coli and there are outbreaks every year. Millions of pounds of beef are recalled due to contamination (and these are the batches they catch).

[primalpanda]

I love grass-fed ground beef. I was never a ground beef fan as a kid, avoided it for many years due to mad cow and then e-coli. But I feel safe eating local grass-fed ground beef, and there are online producers that are trustworthy (here's one that's recommended a lot around here: http://www.texasgrassfedbeef.com/bee...and_prices.htm)

Also, it's fatty and sooooo tasty

[Bukawww]

When I buy grass fed, my hamburger is from one animal...the same animal the rest of my cuts are from. Grass fed is grass fed...the fat is entirely too healthy in a grass fed animal and I LIKE to eat hamburger. Hope your palate opens up for you. I have struggled with ethical issues in eating animals but I am content with it at the moment.

[Griff]

I always eat ground beef. I try to buy grassfed when I can (I can never tell if Trader Joe's is currently doing grassfed or not) and make curries and beanless chilis and pasta-less stroganoffs often. It's a staple food for me.

[eva]

same here - i eat it often (grassfed). sometimes i mix it with ground pork (more fat and flavour - we get grassfed - or is it freepastured or smt - here) or ground lamb. just to varie the taste.

[Bushrat]

Also, ground fed is versatile. You can stew it, fry it, curry it, cook it in the oven...

[Lovestoclimb]

I eat it all the time. We just got a 40lb box of grass-fed ground beef and the stuff is amazing. It makes really good burgers. I will also end up making some taco salads with it among other things.