Tacos contain a variety of ingredients, including ground beef. Draining the fat from the ground beef is common practice, and while some may not see the need, it is an important part of cooking.
Draining ground beef makes it less greasy for tacos. No need to fry the beef because it’s been boiled and drained. If you’re trying to eat better and live a healthier lifestyle, drain your ground beef before making tacos. If you like drippy, greasy tacos, don’t drain your ground beef. Dripping ground beef is flavorful and adds to the taco.
Draining ground beef for tacos is a personal preference that is ultimately up to you. This article will explain why you should (or should not) drain the grease from your ground beef. You’ll also learn how to drain ground beef and properly dispose of the drained fat. The article also contributes to the answer to the question, “Do you drain ground beef for tacos?”
Should I Drain my Ground Beef for Tacos?
When preparing the ingredients for your tacos, you will have to decide whether or not to drain the ground beef for tacos, and this decision will be influenced by a number of factors which are detailed below.
1. Eating Habits
Your eating habits will play a significant role in the decision you make at this time (draining your ground beef or not). If you are averse to eating fat, have been advised against eating fat (for health or sporting reasons), are trying to lose weight, or are simply trying to maintain a healthy eating lifestyle, you should drain your ground beef before adding it to your tacos.
2. How You Prefer Your Tacos
If you like your tacos drippy and greasy, you might want to skip draining the ground beef; however, if you don’t like your tacos that way, draining the ground beef might not be necessary.
3. The Type of Beef You’re Using to Make Tacos
Another reason to drain or not drain your beef is the type of beef you’re using to make tacos. If you’re making a taco with high-fat ground beef, you might want to drain it first. Otherwise, it may not be necessary.
4. Personal Choice and Preference
It is entirely up to you, at the end of the day, to decide whether or not you will drain the fat from the ground beef that you have cooked. No matter what choice you end up making, it won’t be questioned. It is up to you to decide.
How to Drain Ground Beef Properly
The following are some of the steps that can be taken to properly drain ground beef:
Step 1: Preparing the beef
First brown the beef to separate the fat from the meat, then extract the grease and properly dispose of it.
Cook the meat over medium to low heat for about ten minutes, stirring it occasionally, so that the outside gets browned. To further enhance the flavor, seasoning can be added to the beef while it is still in the cooking process.
Step 2: Separating the beef from the grease
After cooking, separate the beef from the fat (grease) by pushing the beef to one side of the pan and tilting the pan slightly towards the empty side (the side with no beef); the fat flows away from the beef.
Step 3: Properly draining the beef
Remove the grease from the pan using a spoon and place it in a bowl so that it can be disposed of in the appropriate manner.
Another method for draining beef is to pour the cooked beef into a colander. A bowl or can will be placed beneath the colander to catch the grease. However, you will need to pour hot water over the ground beef several times to ensure that nearly all of the fat is removed.
Disposing of Drained Grease Properly
After successfully separating the grease from the ground beef, you do not want to pour it down the drainage as it can clog your pipes. Instead, you can dispose of the grease in any one of the following ways:
Using a Paper Towel to Absorb The Grease
You will have to use a paper towel to carefully dab the grease till everything is completely removed. If the paper towel becomes wet, simply replace it. However, be careful not to touch the metal part of the skillet, as it will most likely still be hot.
Freeze the fat if you spoon it into a bowl or glass can
Give the fat about twenty minutes to cool down before placing it in the refrigerator to keep it fresh. The fat should become more solid in about two hours’ time. After that, you can toss it in the garbage at a later time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it Better to Season Ground Beef Before or After Draining?
It is ultimately up to you whether to season your ground beef before or after draining; however, from experience, it is better to add the seasoning before draining; this will make the beef richer in flavor and your tacos tastier.
Do You Rinse Ground Beef After It’s Been Cooked?
Rinsing your ground beef after cooking will most likely cause it to lose flavor, but it is a personal preference. You might want to rinse the fat away, or if you believe the flavor is too strong, you might want to rinse the beef.
Why Is My Ground Beef So Watery?
Poor quality ground beef may become watery. It can also turn semi-liquid if handled too much and kept at room temperature. To avoid mushy beef, you must grind it carefully. Also, while the beef is cooking, keep an eye on it and don’t add too much water.
Final Words
Hopefully after our article you can make a decision whether to drain or not drain ground beef for tacos. It is up to you whether you want to eat it with the liquid drained or not; you can enjoy it either way!
