Ground beef is a versatile ingredient for many dishes. You can turn it into burgers, make a lovely lasagna, or a hot chili con carne.
But first, you need to cook it to perfection.
If you’ve run out of oil, you wonder, do you need oil to cook ground beef?
Not necessarily, as long you know what you’re doing.
And what do you need to do to cook ground beef without oil? Read on to find out how to still get great results even if you miss one ingredient many consider essential – but it really isn’t.
Can You Cook Ground Beef Without Oil?
The good news is that nobody will know you didn’t use any oil if you follow some simple rules.
Most foods can be cooked without oil. Ground beef is not an exception, especially because it is naturally high in fats. How much depends on the type of ground beef you buy – but there’s no such thing as fat-free ground beef.
Let’s look at what you can use instead of oil and then at how to cook ground beef without oil or alternatives.
What Is A Good Alternative To Using Oil For Cooking Ground Beef?
If you don’t want to go without adding anything to the pan before you add ground beef, there are plenty of alternatives you could use.
- Butter and margarine – remember they have a lower burning point than most cooking oils.
- Vegetable shortening – is a great alternative for anyone who wants to avoid animal-derived alternatives.
- Bacon grease – is a suitable product for frying, but it’ll make everything taste like bacon.
- Some jarred condiments – if you really need something oily and don’t mind wasting some money, check what you have in your cupboard. Some things like tuna, sun-dried tomatoes, and other jarred products include quite a bit of oil – enough to fry ground beef.
How Do I Cook Ground Beef Without Oil?
If you have none of the above, don’t want to go shopping, but still, want your lasagna, you can cook ground beef with a little water instead.
For this, you need to heat your pan (ideally something nonstick) and add a little water and the ground beef. The water helps the fat inside the ground beef to “escape” faster, which then helps with browning.
If you bought a fairly cheap packet of ground beef, you might not even have to add any water, as the ground beef will contain quite a bit of moisture.
Can I Cook Ground Beef In An Air-Fryer?
Everyone loves air fryers at the moment, but does it work for ground beef? It certainly would solve the issue of not having any oil, right?
And yes, ground beef can be cooked in an air-fryer. It’s fairly hassle-free and produces good results.
Put the ground beef in your air-fryer basket, season it how you like it (or your recipe tells you), and then let the air-fryer do all the work.
The only thing to keep in mind is that air-fried ground beef tends to be a little dryer than pan-fried ground beef. The fat and water drain away inside the air-fryer (which is also a bonus), so air-fried ground beef is best for dishes that include sauces.
How Long Do I Need To Cook Ground Beef For?
Cooking times for ground beef aren’t set in stone as too many factors influence the answer: the quality of your ground beef, the thickness of your skillet or pan, the size and power of your air-fryer, and your cooking skills.
Ground beef with a lot of moisture needs longer to brown than good quality lean ground beef (as the moisture either needs to vaporize or be drained).
If you use an air-fryer, stick to the instructions of your device, as they can slightly differ.
If you use a pan, you must trust your senses instead of sticking to a timer. Make sure not to disturb the ground beef too much, don’t constantly stir it. It needs some contact with the pan to brown.
Final Thoughts
Ground beef is easy to cook – with or without oil.
It’s an almost fail-proof ingredient as long as you don’t let it burn or stir it like it’s a stir-fry!