Ground beef can sometimes have an unpleasant gamey or livery taste which can ruin the flavor of your dishes. This strong taste is often more noticeable in grass-fed beef or beef from older animals. Fortunately there are several tricks you can use to get rid of that gamey flavor in ground beef so your recipes taste delicious.
In this article, I’ll explain what causes the gamey taste in ground beef and share my best tips for removing it. With just a little extra effort, you can transform funky-tasting ground beef into something your whole family will love
What Causes That Gamey Flavor in Ground Beef?
So what makes some ground beef taste so, well, gamey? Here are the main culprits:
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Grass-fed beef – Beef from cows that are grass-fed tends to have a stronger, gamier taste than beef from grain-fed cows. Grass-fed cows get more exercise and their meat has a different fat composition
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Older cattle – Beef from older cows (18 months or older) also tends to be gamier than beef from younger cattle. The meat from younger animals is more tender and mild.
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Beef cuts used – Ground beef can be made from different cuts of the cow. Certain cuts like the chuck and round are more likely to taste gamey. Fattier cuts usually have a milder flavor.
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Oxidation – When beef is exposed to oxygen for too long, it can start to taste rancid. This chemical change enhances undesirable flavors.
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Bacterial growth – Ground beef is more prone to bacteria growth, which can create off-flavors. Properly storing and cooking your beef reduces this risk.
The good news is that gamey ground beef doesn’t have to go to waste! With a little work, you can make it taste much more appetizing.
Easy Ways to Remove the Gamey Taste from Ground Beef
If you’ve got some funky-tasting ground beef, don’t toss it out! Here are some simple tricks to reduce or eliminate that livery, gamey flavor:
1. Switch up your seasoning
One of the easiest ways to mask gamey notes in ground beef is to add lots of seasoning. Spices, herbs, sauces, and marinades can all help cover up off tastes.
Some good options are garlic, onions, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, barbecue sauce, Italian dressing, lemon juice, vinegar, chili powder, cumin, oregano, basil, and pepper.
2. Use acidic ingredients
Acidic ingredients like lemon juice, vinegars, tomatoes, yogurt, and wine can help neutralize gamey flavors in meat. Try making dishes like chili, Bolognese sauce, meatloaf, or burgers that use tomato sauce, lemon juice, etc. The acidity helps balance the strong taste.
3. Add breadcrumbs or oatmeal
Breadcrumbs and oatmeal are great for soaking up excess moisture in ground meat, and they also seem to help absorb funky flavors.
Use 1/4 to 1/2 cup of breadcrumbs or 1/4 cup dry oats per pound of ground beef. Mix them into the raw meat before cooking.
4. Cook with onions, mushrooms, etc.
Sautéing aromatics like onions, garlic, carrots, celery, and mushrooms with ground beef can make it more pleasant tasting.
Cook the veggies first for a few minutes before adding the beef. Their flavors will start infusing the meat, making it less gamey.
5. Marinate the meat
Letting ground beef soak for 30 minutes up to overnight in a marinade can help reduce any gamy notes. Use something acidic like lemon juice, vinegar, yogurt, buttermilk, or wine.
You can also use a ready-made marinade like Italian dressing or sweet chili sauce. The longer the better!
6. Cook thoroughly
Cooking ground beef to an internal temperature of 160°F kills any bacteria that could produce off-flavors. Use a meat thermometer to ensure it’s fully cooked.
Browning the meat well and cooking it low and slow in a sauce, soup or stew also improves the taste.
7. Rinse after browning
Here’s a lesser known trick: After browning ground beef, drain any excess fat and then rinse the meat with hot water.
This washes away some of the water-soluble compounds that cause a livery taste. Pat dry with paper towels before finishing cooking.
8. Use milk
Soaking ground beef in milk is said to remove gamey flavors. Cover the meat with milk and refrigerate for 1-2 hours before cooking. The proteins and fat in milk bind with funky molecules.
9. Blend with milder meats
Mixing a small amount of gamier ground beef with a larger amount of milder meat like chicken, turkey, pork or regular ground beef can dilute any off tastes.
Try using no more than 30% gamey beef to 70% neutral meat. The milder flavors will dominate.
10. Grind your own meat
If you have a meat grinder at home, try grinding your own meat from nicer cuts like sirloin or chuck eye roast. This lets you control the freshness and fat content.
Grinding meat twice can also soften flavors. Chill the meat thoroughly first for easier grinding.
Tips for Storing Ground Beef to Prevent Gamey Flavors
Proper storage and handling makes a big difference in preventing ground beef from taking on unpleasant tastes and odors over time:
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Store at 40°F or below – Keep ground beef chilled in the coldest part of the refrigerator, not the door. Freeze for longer storage.
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Use fresh beef – Check the use-by date and look for beef that is bright red without any gray or brown spots.
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Separate into small packages – Divide meat into portions for 1-2 meals to minimize air exposure.
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Maximize shelf life – Rewrap ground beef in plastic wrap, squeeze out air and seal airtight.
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Use within 1-3 days – Cook fresh ground beef within 1-3 days of purchase for best flavor and quality. Freeze extras immediately.
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Avoid cross-contamination – Store raw meat separately from other foods and sanitize any surfaces it touches.
Following safe handling and storage guidelines reduces the chances of your ground beef developing an unpleasant gamey or livery taste.
Tasty Recipes to Use Up Gamey Ground Beef
Don’t waste funky-tasting ground beef! With the right recipes, you can transform it into something delicious. Here are some of my favorite ways to use up gamey ground beef:
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Meatloaf – Load up on onions, breadcrumbs, ketchup glaze or barbecue sauce to mask off flavors.
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Meatballs – Season generously with Italian herbs and simmer in tomato sauce.
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Chili – Spices, tomatoes, and beans will balance the strong taste. Top with sour cream.
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Beef stroganoff – Cook with onions, mushrooms and a tangy sauce. Serve over egg noodles.
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Shepherd’s pie – Mix with veggies like carrots, peas, corn and cover with mashed potatoes.
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Taco filling or burrito bowls – Season with chili powder, cumin, garlic and top with avocado, cheese, etc. The flavors will come through.
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Cottage pie – Similar to shepherd’s pie but with beef instead of lamb. Just as delicious!
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Hamburger helper – The pasta and cheese sauce helps mask any off flavors.
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Sloppy joes – Lean into the strong taste by adding lots of barbecue sauce. Serve on buns.
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Pasta sauce – Sauté with aromatic veggies and simmer in a tomato or cream-based sauce. Toss with hot pasta.
With the right techniques and recipes, you can rescue ground beef with gamey undertones. A little extra effort lets you put this affordable staple to good use. With my tips above, you can whip up tasty meals your family will clean their plates for.
So don’t be afraid to pick up a package of marked-down ground beef. With a few simple tricks, you can make it just as mouthwatering as premium ground round. Get ready to make the most of funky-tasting ground beef!
StepsPart
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- {“smallUrl”:”https://www. wikihow. com/s/thumb/a/a4/Get-the-Gamey-Taste-Out-of-Meat-Step-6. jpg/v4-460px-Get-the-Gamey-Taste-Out-of-Meat-Step-6. jpg”,”bigUrl”:”/s/thumb/a/a4/Get-the-Gamey-Taste-Out-of-Meat-Step-6. jpg/aid9186489-v4-728px-Get-the-Gamey-Taste-Out-of-Meat-Step-6. 2. Let the meat soak in buttermilk overnight. Put the meat in a bowl made of glass or ceramic, and add enough buttermilk to cover it. Put the bowl in the fridge overnight with the lid or plastic wrap on top. Some of the gamey flavor will come out of the meat because of the lactic acid in the buttermilk. If the meat was frozen, put it in the fridge to thaw all the way before you soak it.
- {“smallUrl”:”https://www. wikihow. com/s/thumb/0/01/Get-the-Gamey-Taste-Out-of-Meat-Step-7. jpg/v4-460px-Get-the-Gamey-Taste-Out-of-Meat-Step-7. jpg”,”bigUrl”:”/s/thumb/0/01/Get-the-Gamey-Taste-Out-of-Meat-Step-7. jpg/aid9186489-v4-728px-Get-the-Gamey-Taste-Out-of-Meat-Step-7. jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”License: Creative Commons</a> </p> </p></div>”} 3 Choose an acidic marinade. The buttermilk soak can be used as a marinade, but if you want to use a more traditional marinade, pick one with acidic ingredients like wine, fruit juice, or vinegar. These acidic bases will make the meat taste less gamey. Find online recipes for marinades that work well with the type of meat you’re cooking.
- {“smallUrl”:”https://www. wikihow. com/s/thumb/5/5c/Get-the-Gamey-Taste-Out-of-Meat-Step-8. jpg/v4-460px-Get-the-Gamey-Taste-Out-of-Meat-Step-8. jpg”,”bigUrl”:”/s/thumb/5/5c/Get-the-Gamey-Taste-Out-of-Meat-Step-8. jpg/aid9186489-v4-728px-Get-the-Gamey-Taste-Out-of-Meat-Step-8. 4. Let the meat sit in the sauce for at least three hours. Put enough marinade into a plastic bag that can be sealed to cover the meat. Put the bag in the fridge for at least three hours. The longer you let meat soak in a marinade, the more flavor it will take in. If you want to hide the taste of the meat even more, let it sit longer. [5] Don’t marinate the meat for more than 12 hours, or it might taste too much like marinade.
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Cooking and Serving the Meat
- What makes meat taste like game? Liz Riffle Regenerative Farming Liz has been farming bison for more than six years and is an expert in holistic farming and using humane farming methods in her business. The first commercial bison farm in West Virginia is at Riffle Farm. The farm is part of a movement to help the world’s grasslands grow back on a large scale. Liz is certified by Savory and teaches Holistic Management all over the country. She went to Excelsior University and got her Master’s in Nursing Education. At Northwestern University, she was part of the US Navy Nurse Corps Commission. Liz Riffle Farming That Brings Back Life Poor diets, like ones that contain grains that bison shouldn’t eat, and the stress hormones that animals release when they are being harvested or hunted can both change the taste. A bad diet can also mess up an animal’s digestive system, causing stress chemicals to be released that change the taste of the meat. The level of gameiness is often related to how long the animal was fed a bad diet.
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- Use tongs to turn over the meat. If you stick a fork in it, the juices that should stay inside will come out. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0 .
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