Ground Chuck (What is it and how does it compare to ground beef?)

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What is ground chuck and what are the differences between ground chuck and ground beef? In this post you’ll learn the differences of the two and what recipes are better suited for either ground chuck or regular ole’ ground beef.

Ground beef is one of the most versatile ingredients in the kitchen and is one ingredient I personally use daily. In fact, beef is my staple food. I eat a lot of beef due to all the health benefits of eating ruminant meats (like beef).

Whether you’re an at home cook or professional chef, ground beef can be used in a wide array of recipes from smashed burgers to a teriyaki bowl.

Ground beef comes in different varieties: regular, lean, and ground chuck. Since ground beef is generally made from a mixture of cuts of meat that include steak, sirloin and more it can be hard to know what kind you’re getting.

What is Ground Chuck?

It’s ground beef (in the traditional sense) and the meat is typically derived from the area around the neck and shoulder of the animal. It also contains a higher fat content than ground beef and also may contain connective tissues (ground up and not typically noticeable).

Let’s dive deeper in to what it is by comparing it to ground beef.

Differences of Ground Beef vs. Ground Chuck

Ground chuck is a type of ground beef, it can be used in ground beef recipes. However there are a few key differences that make ground chuck better for certain recipes over standard, lean ground beef.

Also, the chuck is a primal cut of beef, one of the eight primal cuts recognized by the USDA. Ground chuck specifically refers to the neck and shoulder area of the beef.

Here are a few differences between ground chuck and ground beef:

More Cohesion

Ground chuck’s composition is fattier, meaning it’s not as lean as ground beef. The fat in ground chuck enables it to “stick together” which makes it a great option for your favorite burger recipe. Ground beef’s loose consistency typically makes it a better option for recipes like tacos.

Better Flavor

Fat. Fat’s the reason ground chuck will be juicier and tastier than ground beef. Ground chuck should typically come in at around 20% fat content. Fat makes enhances flavor, and so:

Higher Fat Content

You’ll typically find a higher fat content in ground than you’ll find with ground beef. Ground beef is typically made up of lean meat while ground chuck comes from one of the fattier parts of the cow. It’s true that some ground beef has a high fat ratio too which can make things confusing. Lean ground beef is readily available for those looking to find a lower fat percentage. USDA guidelines require meat advertised as extra-lean that it must have under 5% fat.

Health Benefits of Ground Chuck

These health benefits are not unique to for this cut and preparation method. Beef provides a large array of nutrients that may be difficult to find via other methods of nutrition.

BUT WAIT: There’s a lot of studies saying just the opposite: MEAT IS BAD! It’s very common for people that don’t understand these studies to be persuaded by headlines leading you to believe you’ll get cancer or other disease from eating meat. The reality is: all of the studies showing a correlation with meat and poor health outcomes are never causation studies. Ever. There’s not one single study showing how meat causes health problems. To learn more about the difference of causation and correlation, check out this article on dissecting a red meat study.

However, we do know that beef contains loads of essential nutrients. And we also know just how important all of these nutrients are in relation to human health.

List of Nutrients in Beef (see expanded beef benefits list)

• L-Carnitine
• Glutathione
• Phosphorus
• Zink
• Calcium
• Copper
• Iron (more on this below)
• Magnesium
• Manganese
• Potassium
• Selenium
• Vitamin B12
• Vitamin B3
• Vitamin B6
• Vitamin B2
• Vitamin B5
• Protein
• Creatine
• Fatty Acids
• Iron
• Conjugated Linoleic Acid
• Carnosine

Health Benefits of Eating Beef

A small sampling (there’s more) of health improvements derived from proper nutrition from the nutrients found in beef:

• Assistance in transporting fats into our mitochondria for burning.
• Improvements with fasting glucose levels and the overall cholesterol profile.
• Prevention of unnecessary illness.
• Increased longevity.
• Reduction of chronic disease outcomes.
• A stronger immune system.
• Heart disease risk reduction.
• Support for neurological function.
• Improvement of sleep cycle and circadian rhythm.
• Improvement in mood and reduction of severe depression.
• Assistance in the growth of lean muscle mass.
• Protection from Anemia.
• Regulation for inflammation and improved healing.

Does ground chuck taste better?

Fat content makes ground beef taste better. In fact, fat makes everything taste better. Enjoy more fat content than ground beef – so yes, ground chuck usually tastes better than lean ground beef.

However, that extra flavor might get a little lost in a good chili, but will be very noticeable when you’re biting into a juicy, homemade burger. The 80/20 ratio keeps the patties moist.

When to use ground chuck?

Ground chuck is perfect for recipes that require shaping the meat before cooking it. It’s a versatile type of beef that can be used in burgers, meatballs, and so much more.

If you’re shopping at a store that has a meat counter, they might be able to grind up one of these primal cuts on the spot.

Here are 4 delicious recipes you may want to try that’ll be perfect for Ground Chuck:

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