Cooking Beef

For best results, bring your grass fed meat to room temperature before cooking . . . do not cook it cold straight from the refrigerator.  Also, cooking a Meat Thermometer is highly suggested.  Grass fed beef has high protein and low fat levels, so the preparation will usually require 30% less cooking time and will continue to cook when removed from heat.  For this reason, you’ll want to remove the beef from your heat source 10 degrees before it reaches the desired temperature.  You may be disappointed if this high quality beef is overcooked!

Note that if you tell the Butcher you want “very lean hamburger” you will likely have little fat to your burgers (they are 85% to 90% lean) . . . so some moisture is needed to compensate for the lack of fat.

GRILLING BEEF

When grilling, sear the meat quickly over a high heat on each side to seal in its natural juices and then reduce the heat to medium or low to finish the cooking process.  Also, baste to add moisture throughout the grilling process.  Don’t forget, Grass Fed Beef requires 30% less cooking time so watch your thermometer and don’t leave your steaks unattended.

When preparing hamburgers on the grill, use caramelized onions, olives or roasted peppers to add low fat moisture to the meat while cooking.

USDA GUIDELINES FOR COOKING BEEF

Beef roasts should be cooked to 145°F in the center, as measured with a meat thermometer. Beef roasts cooked to 160 °F will generally have very little pinkness to the meat, and the juices will not be pink or red. You can stop roasting when the temperature reaches 135-140°F.

A hamburger patty should be cooked to 160°F, so you can stop cooking when the temperature reaches 150°F. Remember; stop cooking when the temperature in the center measures 5 to 10 degrees less than the recommended level. Cover the beef with foil, and let it “rest” for about 10 minutes. It will continue to cook and the juices will be redistributed throughout, making it juicier and easier to slice.

Reduce the cooking temperature of your oven by 50 degrees when cooking grass-fed beef i.e. 275 degrees for roasting or at the lowest heat setting in a crock pot. The cooking time will still be the same or slightly shorter even at the lower temperature.  Again . . . watch your meat thermometer and don’t overcook your meat. Use moisture from sauces to add to the tenderness when cooking your roast.