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Not gonna lie: When I see someone rinse ground beef in the sink, I gag a little. Though I’ve seen a few people commit this kitchen heresy in private, the first time I saw someone publicly rinsing beef under the sink—and calling it a “hack”—was in this TikTok video a couple of years ago. TikTok user Emily Harper purports to show a trick she learned in nutrition class, noting in the video, “All this grease is disgusting. So get rid of it!” She then puts her cooked ground beef in a strainer and runs it under the sink faucet, washing away the grease and putting the dry meat back in the pan.
Unsurprisingly, the internet lost its mind in outrage and it went viral for all the wrong reasons. “That video of someone rinsing their ground beef is going to ruin my week,” tweeted one person. “Who rinses off ground meat!” exclaimed another TikToker in a duet. There were so many negative comments on the video that Harper had to turn them off.
The short answer is no. First of all, that “grease” is rendered fat, which is what gives the delicious flavor to your ground beef. While it’s fine to get rid of some excess grease, you always want to keep some of it in the pan. If you rinse away all the grease, you’re literally rinsing away flavor, and your beef will end up dry. Find out if draining and rinsing meat reduces the fat content.
Secondly, pouring that grease down the sink is terrible for your pipes. Yes, the grease is in a liquid form when you pour it from the pan, but as soon as it cools, it’s going to gum up and potentially block your pipes. The fats from grease bond together with other discarded fats and chemicals to create blockages. These can cause serious problems in the sewer system and lead to backups in your neighborhood. Even a teaspoon of grease down the drain now and then can add up. You should always dispose of grease and cooking oil the right way (for instance, by letting it cool in a container first and then tossing the container) without putting it down the sink. Find out if you should wash your food before cooking.
How to Drain Grease from Ground Beef
First of all, don’t deal with hot grease–wait until it cools. Next, you need to pour it into a disposable container, such as a yogurt or sour cream container or an old can. You can also use a plastic bag that has some debris such as used paper towels or vegetable peels that can help soak it up. Another option is to install a disposable grease trap in your sink drain. Finally, you can always save meat or bacon grease to use for cooking later, like grandma did.
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Mexi-Mac SkilletYou don't even need to precook the macaroni in this one-skillet recipe. It's easily customizable depending on what veggies, beans and spices you have on hand.
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Pizza Noodle BakeYou can double this recipe and freeze one for a heat-and-serve dinner later on. Add your favorite pizza toppings to really make this your own.
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Italian Beef and ShellsThis beef and veggie pasta is the total package. It will definitely make its way into your dinner rotation, with new variations every time!
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Hearty Vegetable Beef RaguYou might know Ragu as the jarred sauce, but did you know that it's an Italian meat sauce? This vegetable ragu includes peas and kale.
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Pizza in a BowlWow your family with this recipe that's perfect for pasta night. With cream of mushroom soup, ground beef and rigatoni, the ingredients may not all look like they belong on pizza, but the pasta tastes exactly like a supreme pie!
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Favorite Sloppy JoesSlices of cheddar cheese and chili sauce separate this spin from the classic you're used to. And if you like sloppy joes, you'll love this loose-meat sandwich recipe.
West Coast Snappy JoesThese quick "snappy" joes are unforgettable. If you have extra filling, you can throw it over noodles for a mac dish like no other.
Beef and Mushrooms with Smashed PotatoesPotatoes, mushrooms and ground beef make this the most relaxing dinner. The french-fried onions add a crisp to this otherwise smooth meal.
Fajita Burger WrapsIf you're ever torn between fajitas and burgers, this is the dinner for you. The crispy shell plus the fajita seasoning in the ground beef really elevate this dish.
Tortilla PieThis beefy tortilla lasagna is exactly the type of meal inspiration you've been looking for. Serve it with a little salad on the side and dinner's done.
Quick Chili MacFrom Cajun mac and cheese to chili mac and cheese, there's not much you can add to mac and cheese that won't make it taste amazing. This ground beef meal is satisfying and good for the whole family.
Easy Cuban PicadilloYou can use this picadillo filling in tacos, or just eat it as is. The pimento-stuffed olives and raisins add nice textures to the dish.
Tangy Barbecued Beef SandwichesJust like sloppy joes, these sandwiches are a hit at parties. You can even freeze the filling for later if you want to stash some away.
One-Pot Spinach Beef SoupThis weeknight dinner is comforting and packed with all the ingredients you love. Pasta, ground beef, spinach and tomato work to put this soup in such high demand.
Ground Beef Hash Brown CasseroleIf you're interested in breakfast for dinner, this is the meal for you. The hash browns combined with french-fried onions are a flavor experience you won't want to miss out on.
Zucchini LasagnaLooks can be deceiving, especially when it comes to food. This zucchini lasagna tastes just like the real thing, but with much more nutritional value.
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Updated: May 02, 2023
Unstuffed Peppers
This quick version of stuffed peppers will leave everyone satisfied. You can even use leftover rice to make the process that much faster.
