How Much Is 3/4 Pound Of Ground Beef? The Complete Guide

Ground beef is a versatile and budget-friendly staple ingredient used in many classic American dishes like hamburgers meatloaf, chili tacos, and so much more. But when a recipe calls for 3/4 pound of ground beef, do you know exactly how much to use?

At VeryMeaty, we want to eliminate the guesswork so you can cook with confidence. In this complete guide we’ll explain everything you need to know about measuring 3/4 pound of ground beef for your recipes.

What Does 3/4 Pound Of Ground Beef Look Like?

To start, let’s visualize what 3/4 pound of ground beef actually looks like.

• 3/4 pound is the same as 12 ounces of ground beef.
• It’s approximately 1 1/2 cups of loosely packed ground beef.
• You can also estimate 3/4 pound as 4 palm-sized portions of ground beef (around 3 ounces each).

So if you don’t have a kitchen scale to weigh out 12 ounces precisely, using standard dry measuring cups or the palm of your hand can work in a pinch

Weight Conversion Charts For Ground Beef

For easy reference, here are some handy weight conversions for raw ground beef:

• 1/4 pound = 4 ounces = About 2/3 cup
• 1/2 pound = 8 ounces = About 1 1/3 cups
• 3/4 pound = 12 ounces = About 1 1/2 cups
• 1 pound = 16 ounces = About 2 cups

Keep in mind that these volumes are for raw ground beef only. Cooked ground beef weighs significantly less after fat cooks off and moisture evaporates. We’ll explain more about cooked conversions later on.

Why Measuring Ground Beef Is Tricky

Compared to solid cuts of meat, ground beef can be tricky to measure accurately for a few reasons:

• Inconsistent densities: Ground beef can be packed to different densities, changing the volume-to-weight ratio. So 1 cup may not always equal 8 ounces, for example.

• Cooking shrinkage: Raw ground beef reduces in volume and weight by up to 25% during cooking as fat melts and moisture cooks off.

• Variable fat content: Fattier ground beef shrinks more than leaner beef when cooked. So 85/15 ground beef may change more than 93/7 ground beef.

• Personal hand sizes: Using the palm measuring method works decently, but palm sizes vary from person to person.

That’s why a kitchen scale is the most precise way to portion ground beef. But we have some tips for “eyeballing” it too!

Measuring Raw Ground Beef Without A Scale

If you don’t have a scale handy, here are a few methods to estimate 3/4 pound or 12 ounces of raw ground beef:

Use Measuring Cups

Aim for about 1 1/2 cups of loosely packed ground beef. Don’t pack it down too densely or the volume will be off.

Use Your Palm

Form the ground beef into four equal 3-ounce patties, each about the size of your palm.

Visualize A Deck Of Cards

Imagine a stack of 3 standard playing card decks. This approximates 12 ounces of ground beef.

Think Of Common Items

Here are some common 12-ounce items for size comparison:

• 1 can of soda
• 2 large eggs
• 1 large apple
• 1 medium onion
• 1 can of tuna

None of these methods are perfectly precise, but they’ll get you in the right ballpark!

Converting 3/4 Pound Raw Beef To Cooked

As we mentioned earlier, ground beef loses volume and weight as it cooks. So 3/4 pound raw becomes less cooked.

If you need to convert 3/4 pound raw beef to cooked, remember:

• 3/4 pound raw = About 9-10 ounces cooked
• 3/4 pound raw = About 1 1/4 – 1 1/3 cups cooked

You’ll get the most shrinkage with higher fat ground beef like 80/20 versus leaner 93/7 ground beef. But for simplicity, you can estimate a 25% reduction in weight and volume.

Tips For Measuring Cooked Ground Beef

If a recipe calls for 3/4 pound cooked ground beef, use the following tips:

• Start with 12 ounces or 1 1/2 cups raw ground beef
• Cook the beef, draining any excess grease
• Once cooked, you should end up with approximately 9-10 ounces or 1 1/4 – 1 1/3 cups cooked ground beef

You may need to adjust the starting amount slightly depending on the leanness of your beef and cooking method. But this is a good starting point.

Sample Recipes With 3/4 Pound Ground Beef

Here are a few tasty recipes that use 3/4 pound of ground beef so you can put your measuring knowledge to use!

Cheeseburger Casserole

• 3/4 pound ground beef
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 onion, diced
• 8 ounces egg noodles
• 10 ounces cream of mushroom soup
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Brown beef with onion and butter. Cook noodles separately. Mix all ingredients and bake at 350°F until hot and bubbly.

Beef Enchiladas

• 3/4 pound ground beef
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 8 small flour tortillas
• 15 ounce can enchilada sauce
• 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend

Cook seasoned beef. Fill tortillas with beef and cheese. Roll up and place in baking dish. Cover with sauce. Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes.

Classic Meatloaf

• 3/4 pound ground beef
• 1/2 pound ground pork
• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 2 cloves garlic, minced

Mix all ingredients gently and form into loaf. Bake at 375°F for 1 hour. Spread extra ketchup on top for last 5 minutes.

Ground Beef Storage Tips

Proper storage keeps your ground beef fresh longer:

• Refrigerate raw beef at 40°F or below for 1-2 days.

• For longer storage, wrap tightly and freeze for 3-4 months.

• Cooked beef lasts 3-4 days refrigerated in a sealed container.

• Freeze cooked beef for 2-3 months in an airtight container.

With this complete guide to measuring 3/4 pound of ground beef, you can tackle any recipe with confidence. No more guessing games – just perfectly portioned ground beef every time! Let us know if you have any other ground beef questions.