Kitchen

[BADGUD]

Definitely brown the beef everytime I cook

[gardenman]

Browned ground beef (loose hamburger is what I call it) with a bit of salt and pepper is one of my favorite meals. It's tasty stuff. 

[beckyb1012]

Mine is even darker than brown.  Pink makes me ill just thinking about it. Even if the meat is going cook more in an oven I do more to the crispy side of browning. 

[wagirl]

@beckyb1012 --I do a very dark sear on the pan side of the meat---and then flip it to finish cooking--and you get a really good fond in the pan that is nothing but added flavor--unless you burn it that is. I do this when I make chili--just adds to the flavors.I don't mind a light pink---not in burgers---and not where it oozes pink/red juices either--Yuk!!!

[Citrine1]

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@AuntG wrote:

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@Citrine1 wrote:

Yes, always.  The idea of putting it in water and into the microwave makes me throw up in my mouth a little.  

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So true @Citrine1. I have a friend who always talks about the delicious hamburgers she makes by boiling in water on the stovetop. I have come close to gagging. My burger is always browned and drained.

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@AuntG   Yikes.  Definitely gag worthy!

[shoptilyadropagain]

I always say I brown my hamburger but, technically, it's just cooking it until the pink is gone. 

Justin Holmes of Holmescooking on FB will fry a pound of ground beef and actually let it get brown & carmelized on both sides before he starts breaking it apart with a meat masher.  I'm going to try that next time I "brown" or cook some hamburger.  

[manny2]

Some people boil it. I’ve never had it that way, but my coworker said her son‑in‑law does it and it just comes out with a different texture.

[faeriemoon]

Yes, I brown it.  If grease needs to be drained off I remove it but am careful to leave the brown bits in the bottom of the pan for flavor.Then I proceed with the recipe.  I usually deglaze with wine even if the recipe doesn't specifically call for it.

You can deglaze with water or stock if you don't want to use wine.

[SilleeMee]

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@Zhills wrote:

or cook the "pink" out of it? 

I had a friend who put hers in water in the microwave to "cook" it for sauce or soup.

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Actually cooking it in water and then draining it is better than browning/searing. Browning and searing creates compounds that are linked to cancer, especially from charring,  grilling and pan cooking with high heat. More browning and charring does that. May taste good but it's not as healthy.

@Zhills 

Your friend is smart to cook it that way.

[shoesnbags]

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@gardenman wrote:

Browned ground beef (loose hamburger is what I call it) with a bit of salt and pepper is one of my favorite meals. It's tasty stuff. 

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@gardenman My mother always called it ground beef crumbs.  I grew up and called it ground beef crumbles when I cooked it for my kids.  Always a favorite, no matter what we called it.