Ground beef vs. ground turkey

ken_hogan

I was wondering about others preferences in regards to using ground beef vs. ground turkey when using it in meals? Is there really any big pros or cons using one over the other or is it just more of personal preference??

RobynLB83

Anyone have a killer turkey burger recipe? I've had great ones (by far better than beef) and bad ones (plain broiled ground turkey), but I've never made one at home.

salydra

There's a pretty huge difference in fat and calories.

DancesWithDogz

I would go with the ground turkey personally - however if you can avoid meat all together this might be a better choice for you. (we dont really know what is in ground meats...i dont even want to think about it) Try using tofu - there is a great product by Tofurky (italian Sausage with Sun Dried Tomatoes...) i substitute this product in anything that calls for sausage or ground beef - give it a try...! good luck

ItsCasey

If you're talking about a high-quality ground beef, the only real difference is that it's usually going to be more fatty than turkey. Of course you can get lean ground beef (I wouldn't go leaner than 90/10, personally), but the leaner it is, the less flavor it has.

buda12345

On low carb/high fat days(fat burning days) I eat ground beef, on High carb/low fat days(muscle building days) I eat ground turkey. It's really about the fat content, protein's about the same

Tiff050709

I have pretty much cut beef out. It is very fatty. I eat a lot of chicken and turkey. I love turkey burgers. I like Boca Burgers too which is soy.

kmartinko

I stopped buying ground beef. We use ground turkey breast if we need it for a recipe.

melindasuefritz

i use ground turkey alot now... and ground beef rarely

Sieden76

when I did eat these meats I chose ground turkey because it felt lighter and like I could digest it faster.

melindasuefritz

Calories

If you're dieting, ground turkey would be healthier than ground beef, as the former contains fewer calories. A 100-g serving of ground turkey contains 148 calories, while the same-sized serving of ground beef contains 192 calories. You would have to lift weights for an extra 12 minutes or jog for an extra five minutes to burn of the additional calories in ground turkey compared to ground beef

melindasuefritz

Total Fat

Ground turkey contains much less fat than ground beef, which is generally considered to be a benefit. Each 100-g serving of ground turkey contains 7.7 g of fat, while 100 g of ground beef contains 12.7 g. Fat is high in calories, so it can be detrimental for dieting. However, research from the November 2004 issue of "International Journal of Sports Medicine" indicates that increased fat intake can promote increased testosterone production, so you may find ground beef preferable.

Saturated Fat

You need some fat to survive, but not all fat is healthy. Saturated fat can increase your cholesterol levels, which promotes an increased risk of heart disease. Ground turkey contains less saturated fat than ground beef; ground turkey contains 2 g per 100 g serving while ground beef has 5.3 g.

Protein

Ground beef and ground turkey are both good sources of protein. Ground turkey contains slightly more protein, 19.7 g, than ground beef, which contains 19.4 g. This difference is unlikely to affect your overall health.

Carbohydrates

Both ground beef and ground turkey can be appropriate for carbohydrate-restricted diets, as both are carbohydrate-free.

Vitamins

Neither ground beef nor ground turkey are rich in vitamins. Ground turkey does provide slightly more B vitamins, such as thiamine, riboflavin and niacin, and also provides some vitamin A, while ground beef contains none. Meanwhile, ground beef does offer more choline and vitamin B-12.

Minerals

Ground turkey and ground beef both contain different amounts of minerals, so the healthier choice depends on your needs. Ground turkey offers more calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and selenium, but ground beef contains more iron, zinc and potassium

CharityGC

I make turkey burgers with an egg white, garlic, Worcestershire, and green onions. My husband, who swore up and down he'd never like a turkey burger, prefers these to beef burgers when we cook them at home.

I use both lean beef and turkey. Last week I made sloppy joe's with beef and spaghetti with turkey. It really depends on prices. At the grocery store the other day turkey was $5.99/pound and beef was on sale for $2.99/pound.

mannyfresh79

I have pretty much cut beef out. It is very fatty. I eat a lot of chicken and turkey. I love turkey burgers. I like Boca Burgers too which is soy.

Ditto!

2manyhats

We mix chopped onion, jalapenos, little cheese and seasonings in with the ground turkey before making patties. Yummy!

Carnivor0us

Since I don't care about calories and only my macros, I do grass-fed 90/10. I eat about two pounds a week.

craigmandu

I don't "keep" myself from ground beef...I do go with the lean stuff 90/10 or 95/5 (can be hard to find)....but when I'm "making" something that simply includes ground beef as an ingredient...chili for example...I substitute the beef for ground turkey or ground chicken (been using the ground chicken recently, and it has worked out well).

JVCB

There are usually 3 grades of ground turkey - 85% lean, 93% lean, and 99% lean. The 85% lean is filled with ground turkey skin (fatty!) and can be worse than ground beef. The 99% lean turkey breast can be very very dry if you cook it plain, so if you're going for a turkey burger, I would use the 93% lean variety.

My favorite turkey burger is an Asian-inspired burger. You can even use the 99% lean turkey for this one, and they freeze really well. Adjust seasonings for your own taste: chopped water chestnuts are a good addition!



Hope that image worked!

ken_hogan

Now I'm getting a craving for a turkey burger! LOL....

soulmatesnvrdie

I use ground turkey almost always, it's better for you and much cheaper usually than the leaner ground beef (I can buy 1lb ground turkey for $2.98 when the leanest ground beef is about $5). I use it often in pasta, chili, burgers etc. and you wouldn't even know he difference. I tried it once or twice w/ tacos but it wasn't the same so I was using beef just for that until I found pre-seasoned taco sausage at my local grocery chain (HEB) and it was lower in calories and fat and only $2.50 for a 1lb tube.

bumblebums

I use both, depending on the dish. I find it takes a lot more work to make turkey flavorful. I usually put it in a dish that has a lot of spices (like a lentil soup) for and added protein boost, but I wouldn't make a Bolognese sauce with turkey.

orapronobis

I use the 97% fat-free Jennie O ground turkey. SInce it's low in fat, you need to add moisture, and since it's a less flavorful meat, you need to use more spices.

My favorite way to make it is to mix apple sauce, a drizzle of maple syrup, finely diced onion, salt, pepper and ground rosemary into 20 ounces of ground turkey. I don't measure, just eyeball it...doesn't need to be exact.

Then I divide it into burgers, wrap individually, and freeze.

You can also use this recipe to make turkey-meatloaf. Just add egg and breadcrumbs and shape into a loaf instead of burgers.

Joanitude

If you compare it apples-to-apples it would be close to the same. If you are comparing 80/20 beef to 99/1 turkey, there is a huge difference if both are 95/5 then they are about the same. At that point it is pretty much personal preference - and the cost factor. Personally, I use both, depending on what I am making.

MelsAuntie

Well for me the biggie is that ground beef is useful and tasty but ground turkey absolutely sucks, my husband and I both hate it, so...no question.

cwolfman13

There's a pretty huge difference in fat and calories.

Not necessarily....you can get 95% lean ground beef....95% lean ground beef has the same exact fat content as 95% lean turkey. 85% lean ground beef has the exact same fat content as 85% lean ground turkey.

You have to make sure you're comparing apples to apples...you can't compare, for example, 85% lean ground beef to 95% lean ground turkey...of course, the turkey would have less fat in that instance...but the same would be said for comparing 85% lean ground beef to 95% lean ground beef.

Personally, turkey belongs on sammiches with mayo and big slabs of it during the holidays...it is an in-adequate substitute for a burger and don't get me started on sausage or bacon...just no.

I eat beef, ground beef, chicken, fish, turkey, pork, bacon, etc....I try to make most of my meats lean, but a good fatty burger occasionally is excellent. Just fit it into your goals. I do all of the above and have dropped 40 Lbs and completely reversed a bunch of really bad blood work.

cwolfman13

Having gone back and read through some posts...so many people misunderstand fat...very sad. I bet most people on MFP are malnourished because they don't get enough fat. '80s are over people...fat doesn't make you fat.

GormanGhaste

I use TVP in place of ground meat in recipes. Less calories.

PaleoPath4Lyfe

Ground turkey is no healthier than ground beef and in many instances it is way less healthy.........they grind the skin up with it which adds to higher Omega 6, which can lead to inflammation.

I will stick to my grass fed ground beef from my local farmers.

Tat2dDom0105

My wife and I mostly eat ground turkey, whether it's for tacos, burgers, or meat loaf........but once in a while we'll have red meat.

danimalkeys

I often grind my own beef, that way I know exactly what is in it. I buy a big hunk of sirloin and grind 100% sirloin burger. Or a chuck roast and have 100% chuck. I don't buy burger from the store. We buy a half a steer from a local school's ag program, grass fed, organic beef. We got about 70lbs of burger from the last one we bought, and it's so much better than anything you get in the store. I can cook a burger that still has some pink in it and not worry about getting sick like I do with the feed lot mass produced hamburger.

As far as tofu burger stuff- what's worse- the fat from a good piece of beef you grind up, or all the processing that goes on to make soy look like meat? I'll take the meat.

eric_sg61

Taste Vs. No taste
I'll choose taste