How to Make Grass Fed Ground Beef Taste Better

Grass fed ground beef has become increasingly popular in recent years due to its leaner fat content and potential health benefits compared to conventional grain fed beef. However, some people find the taste of grass fed beef to be very strong or gamey. If you’re not a fan of the bold flavor of grass fed ground beef there are several tricks you can use to help mellow out the taste and make it more palatable.

Why Grass Fed Beef Has a Stronger Flavor

The reason grass fed beef tends to have a stronger taste comes down to differences in diet and fat content. Cows that are grass fed eat only grass and hay, while conventional cattle eat a diet of corn, soy, grains and other feed. The diverse diet of grass gives the beef a richer, earthier and more complex flavor. The meat often has a slightly gamey taste.

Additionally grass fed cows tend to have a lower overall fat content and a higher proportion of omega-3 fatty acids. These differences in fat composition also affect the flavor. Less intramuscular fat means the beef flavor comes through more intensely rather than being muted by fat.

For some people, the bold taste of grass fed beef is delicious. For others, it may be overpowering. If you fall into the latter camp, don’t worry – there are easy ways to tone down that strong flavor.

Tips for Taming the Taste of Grass Fed Beef

If you want to keep the nutritional benefits of grass fed beef but don’t care for the strong taste, here are some simple tricks to help mellow out the flavor:

1. Marinate the Beef

Marinating is one of the easiest and most effective ways to combat the gamey taste of grass fed beef. Letting the meat soak for a few hours or up to overnight gives it time to absorb flavor from the marinade ingredients.

Some good marinades for grass fed ground beef include:

• Soy sauce or tamari, honey, garlic, ginger – The sweet and salty flavors help tone down the earthiness.

• Tomato sauce or sun dried tomatoes, red wine vinegar, olive oil, garlic – The acidity from tomatoes and vinegar balances out the strong beefy taste.

• Yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, cumin – Dairy and citrus mellow out the gaminess.

• Worcestershire sauce, balsamic vinegar, brown sugar – Sweet, sour and umami punch up the flavor.

2. Mix in Fatty Ingredients

Adding some higher fat ingredients to grass fed ground beef when cooking can help smooth out the flavor. Try mixing in a few tablespoons of butter, cream cheese, sour cream, olive oil or other fat sources. The extra richness counteracts the leanness of the beef.

3. Use Lots of Spices and Bold Flavors

Generous amounts of spices, herbs and umami ingredients are a great way to distract from the strong taste of grass fed beef. Some good options include garlic, onion, paprika, cumin, chili powder, oregano, basil, rosemary, soy sauce, tomato paste, mushrooms, Worcestershire sauce, anchovies, mustard and grated parmesan.

4. Make Chili or Tacos

When you pair grass fed beef with lots of other highly seasoned ingredients, the ground meat becomes just one component rather than the dominant flavor. Chili, tacos, sloppy joes, casseroles or meat sauces for pasta are all great mediums for grass fed beef. The spices, chilies, beans, cheese, etc. help balance its taste.

5. Use Ground Turkey or Pork

Another trick is to combine grass fed ground beef with a milder flavored meat like ground turkey or pork. Use a ratio like 1 pound beef to 1/2 pound turkey or pork. The other ground meat cuts the intensity of the beef taste.

6. Cook Low and Slow

Quick cooking over high heat tends to concentrate flavors and make grass fed beef taste even stronger. For a mellower flavor, use low heat and cook the ground meat slowly in a pan or pot with a bit of liquid. This allows the meat to gradually develop flavor rather than abruptly searing it.

7. Grind Your Own Meat

Pre-ground grass fed beef often uses trimmings from many parts of the cow, which can intensify the flavor. For sweeter, more delicate beef, try purchasing grass fed steaks or roasts and grinding them yourself. This lets you control the cuts that go into the ground meat.

8. Use Very Lean Cuts

Super lean cuts like eye of round have very subtle beef flavor. Try using 90% or higher lean grass fed beef instead of standard 80/20 blends, or mix some extra lean beef with fattier meat. Adding corn starch to absorb moisture can also dilute the taste.

9. Quick Sear, Then Braise

Get the nice sear on the beef for texture and color, but avoid overcooking. Transfer the browned meat to a Dutch oven with some liquid like broth or tomato sauce and braise at low heat until tender. This adds moisture and mellows out the flavors.

10. Use Plenty of Onion

Onion is a great way to mask the bold taste of grass fed beef. Saute chopped onions before adding the ground beef, or mix lots of caramelized onions into meatloaf, meatballs, etc. Onions balance out the earthy flavors.

11. Add Acid and Sweetness

A splash of vinegar or citrus juice brightens up grass fed beef, while a touch of sugar, honey, pureed fruits or jams adds complementary sweetness to round out the flavors. Ketchup, barbeque sauce and sweet chili sauce all work well.

12. Mix with Ground Mushrooms

Pulsing mushrooms in the food processor then mixing them with grass fed ground beef dilutes the beefy taste. Umami-rich portobello or cremini mushrooms work especially well. Use a 1:3 beef to mushroom ratio.

While some people love the deep, nuanced taste of grass fed beef, others find it overpowering. With the right combination of mar