One of the best things about ground beef, besides its flavor and versatility, is the fact that ground beef can come in a variety of ratios that let you be in control of how much fat, calories, protein, etc. that you prefer from your meal! Ground beef can range from fatty ratios of 70/30 (70% lean and 30% fat) or be as lean as ratios of 90/10 (90% lean and 10% fat). These ratios can change the caloric content and nutritional content of ground beef making it vary. This can help you make better choices about the right kind of ratio for you.

Caloric Content of Ground Beef 

Although other ratios of ground beef exist, the most popular ratio for ground beef is typically 80% to 85% lean and 20% to 15% fat. 1 cup of ground beef at a ratio of let’s say 80/20 will yield on average…

• 569 calories
• 45 grams of fat
• 159 mg of cholesterol
• 5 mg of iron
• 39 grams of protein

A ratio that has a higher fat percentage will probably yield more calories and higher cholesterol while having less protein. Ratios that are leaner and less fatty will yield less calories and less cholesterol while being slightly higher in protein. In other words, if you are looking to increase your daily caloric intake, then it is best to purchase ground beef with higher fat percentages, while those who are looking to reduce their caloric intake should look for the opposite. It is important to note that ground beef with higher fat percentages typically yield a richer and flavorful taste while those that are lean may not be as rich or flavorful. Furthermore, fattier types of ground beef help with making the ground beef more cohesive, so if you are looking to shape your ground beef into meatballs or patties, then it is best to choose ground beef that is fattier. Lean ground beef will likely fall apart upon cooking. Yet, lean ground beef is a much healthier option and contains less saturated fat (aka bad fat) and less calories.

Keep in mind that the nutritional information shared above is an estimate. The brand of ground beef you choose may yield varying numbers in terms of nutritional information. If you need exact numbers, then it is best to read the nutritional label of specific ground beef brands to understand the numbers. Whichever ratio you choose, there is no doubt that it will do well in truly enhancing your dinner. You can really make the most delicious meals even out of the leanest ground beef so don’t worry about ratios having an extreme effect on quality and taste! Choose the ratio that is right for you and whichever meals you have in mind. Whether you are serving up some delicious hearty chili in the winter or delicious homemade hamburger patties in the summer, you can rest assured that the ground beef you choose will suit both your taste and diet preferences!