Use Cases of Ground Beef 80/20 and 90/10?
Ground beef 80/20 and 90/10 have different culinary uses as they have different tastes and textures. If you love juicy burgers, 80/20 ground beef is better because its higher fat content makes the meat more tender.
Due to its rich and moist texture, you can also use it in meatballs and meatloaf without worrying about drying out.
90/10 ground beef is better than 80/20 for leaner recipes like tacos, soups, burritos, stews, spaghetti sauces and stir-fries, especially when you want to reduce your caloric intake.
Learn More: 10 Best Carnivore Diet Ground Beef Recipes for All Meals
Which Ground Beef Is Better for Weight Loss?
When comparing ground beef 80/20 vs. 90/10 for weight loss, we see that 90/10 ground beef is generally a better option due to its lower calorie content. Specifically, 100 grams of 90/10 ground beef contains about 176 calories, while the same amount of 80/20 ground beef has 254 calories.
However, one of the most effective ways to lose weight is to follow low-carb diets like Keto and Carnivore, which focus on reducing carbohydrates and increasing fat and protein.
So you can use ground meat in these diets because it is high in fat and protein and has no carbohydrates, but which type of ground meat is the best for these low-carb diets?
Learn More: All Meat Diet: Is It Healthy? Benefits and Result [Meal Plan]
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Which Ground Beef Is Good For Your Diet?
Choosing one of these two kinds of ground meat (80/20 or 90/10) as better depends on your diet, health status, goals, and cooking habits. But generally, you can consider the following points:
High-Fat, Low-Carb Diets like Carnivore
If you are on a high-fat, zero-carb diet like the Carnivore Diet, 80/20 ground beef can be a better choice for you because it contains more fat per serving, which helps with satiety, steady energy, and sticking to the diet.
However, please remember to balance fat and protein ratio, and consider your daily caloric and macronutrient limits. Use this free Carnivore Diet Macro Calculator to find the right balance of macronutrients based on your age, gender, and activity level.
For Weight Loss, Calorie Deficit, or Lean Body
When you aim to lose weight, you need to create a caloric deficit, meaning that you should burn more calories than you eat or eat fewer calories than you burn. But you also need to preserve enough protein so you don’t lose muscle mass.
In such cases when you aim to lose weight, create a calorie deficient or maintain lean body, 90/10 can be a smarter meat choice because it gives you more protein per calorie and less fat to drain.
Learn More: 20 Best Carnivore Soup Recipes + Tips and Benefits
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For Other Low-Carb Diets
If you eat a balanced macro diet (protein, fat, carbs), like Low-Carb Diet or Keto Diet, you can use both types of these ground beefs. 80/20 ground beef is good for burger nights or richer recipes, and 90/10 for leaner meals.
These diets focus on increasing fat intake while keeping carbohydrates low to induce a state of ketosis, where the body burns fat instead of carbohydrates to produce energy.
80/20 ground beef, with its 20% fat content, can provide the amount of fat you need to induce and maintain ketosis, which can help you melt fat and lose weigh.
However, you can still use 90/10 ground beef in your diet since it has zero carbohydrates. Please just be mindful of your nutrient balance, especially your protein intake.
Learn More: All Meat Diet: Is It Healthy? Benefits and Result [Meal Plan]
The Best Ground Beef Recipes
You can also use these Carnivore Diet Recipes to find more meal ideas and provide your daily macros from healthy and nutritious animal-based sources.
Points to Consider when Buying Ground Beef
- If you have heart problems or lipid concerns, don’t overuse 80/20 ground beef since it contains higher saturated fat. Learn How to Lower Cholesterol on Carnivore Diet? 10 Approved Ways.
- Shrinkage and yield loss is more with fattier blends.
- Fat is cheaper, so per weight 80/20 is cheaper.
- Lean meat (90/10) overcooks faster, and can dry out more quickly.
Learn More: Pemmican Recipe: How to Make Pemmican for Keto and Carnivore
Myths bout Ground Beef
- “All fat cooks off.” False. Only part of it renders. A lot remains inside the meat.
- “Leaner always means healthier.” Not always; moderate fat helps absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and improves satiety.
- “You can’t count rendered fat in calorie tracking.” You should consider what ends up consumed after drainage, not just raw numbers.
Conclusion
All in all, 80/20 ground beef provides more fat, richer taste, and is better for burgers and juicy recipes. 90/10 gives you leaner macros, more protein per calorie, and better control when you want to lose weight.
So, if you are on a zero-carb Carnivore or similar low-carb diets like Keto, you can use both types of these ground beefs.
Learn More: 15 Simple Carnivore Soup Recipes with Chicken, Beef and Pork
FAQs
Let’s answer the most frequently asked questions about 80/20 ground beef.
What Is the Difference between 80/20 and 90/10 Ground Geef?
80/20 has more fat (20%) and fewer grams of lean muscle per weight than 90/10 (10% fat). That affects taste, calorie content, and cooking.
Which Is Healthier: 90/10 or 80/20 Ground Beef
Both can be healthy. If your goal is lower fat or fewer calories, 90/10 is better. But if your diet allows more fat, 80/20 ground beef is better.
How Much Fat Is Cooked off When You Cook 80/20 Ground Beef?
Around 20-30% of the fat can drip, depending on cooking method and drainage. The remaining fat still adds to calories.
Will 90/10 Beef Dry Out?
Yes, it can dry out if overcooked because it has less fat to keep moisture. Use lower heat, shorter times, or add oil or broth to prevent dryness.
Which Is Better for Burgers vs Sauces/ Tacos?
80/20 is better for burgers because it gives juiciness and flavor. For sauces, tacos, or dishes where you drain fat, use 90/10.
Can I Mix 80/20 and 90/10 to Get Intermediate Ratio?
Yes, many people blend to reach 85/15 for balanced taste and moderate fat.
