Should you rinse mince meat before cooking – experts weigh in

When it comes to cooking, people have strong opinions. Whether it has to do with how you cook something or perhaps the hygiene aspect of it, people believe what they will believe!

Whatever you believe about a certain cooking practice, it is always a good idea to take a look at the other side of the coin to see if there is something to learn from it as well.

Now, it seems that there is another debate; do you wash your minced meat before you cook it? This seems to be another topic of contention for most people who cook. Keep reading to learn what experts might have to say about the issue.

A lot of people have strong opinions about this one topic: should you or should you not wash your ground beef before you cook it? Or should you do it after you have cooked it?

Some home cooks seem to think that ground beef should be rinsed before cooking. They believe that this helps reduce the fat content, which is excellent for someone who might be watching their weight or the fat content they need to ingest.

Those who oppose rinsing ground beef before cooking argue that washing ground beef essentially removes its flavor. Washing minced meat removes fat, but it also reduces the taste and moisture in the meat. According to some people, this results in a dry and bland dish.

Then, there are the practical issues of washing your ground beef. While washing anything can result in a mess because of the splashing water, there is also the issue of ruining the plumbing.

As most homeowners and adults know, pouring fat down the drain can clog pipes. When fat hardens, it can lead to poor drainage and, if you continue the habit, expensive repairs. If you still want to wash your mince, you should let the fat solidify before you scrape the excess fat and throw it in the trash.

The USDA experts say that washing ground beef is not necessary since cooking the meat to a high enough temperature kills all the bacteria. They also say that washing the raw meat might splash germs and bacteria on the kitchen counter, which, if not sanitized properly, can lead to people getting sick.