Ground turkey vs Lean Ground Beef/Steak

dlp97dlp

Hi all,

At my grocery store ground turkey (7% fat) has the same fat content per 100g as ground lean steak (5% fat) per 100g. Both have around 140 calories too but i'm not concerned about that aspect anyway.

The differences that stand out to me are the protein content per 100g are much higher (10g higher in the steak) and the price, turkey being about half the price compared to ground lean steak.

Apart from these are there any other benefits, health wise, nutritionally etc... from eating ground turkey compared to ground beef. I tried it for the first time today in a bolognese and to me it wasn't that bad at all and I was pleasantly surprised. At half the price it seems a worthwhile swap?

Interested to read the responses!

cwolfman13

dlp97dlp wrote: »

Hi all,

At my grocery store ground turkey (7% fat) has the same fat content per 100g as ground lean steak (5% fat) per 100g. Both have around 140 calories too but i'm not concerned about that aspect anyway.

The differences that stand out to me are the protein content per 100g are much higher (10g higher in the steak) and the price, turkey being about half the price compared to ground lean steak.

Apart from these are there any other benefits, health wise, nutritionally etc... from eating ground turkey compared to ground beef. I tried it for the first time today in a bolognese and to me it wasn't that bad at all and I was pleasantly surprised. At half the price it seems a worthwhile swap?

Interested to read the responses!

No...

If anything, there is more nutrition in the ground beef...but it's all pretty negligible. Eat whichever one you prefer.

quiksylver296

TavistockToad

I use both. Turkey thigh mince is delicious, I make my Bolognese with it.

DX2JX2

Go with whichever you prefer. The health impact differences are pretty negligible. I don't view them as interchangeable replacements and like both in different applications.

sgt1372

I seldom eat ground beef or turkey. Not my favorite way to prepare either. However, I eat a lot of beef and poultry in unground form.

Grilled 1.5" thick New York strip steaks, braised oxtails, braised chuck roast or short ribs, boiled corned beef, whole poached or roasted chicken and whole roasted turkey or turkey breasts are among my favorites.

Yum!

Lounmoun

I started using ground turkey more due to cost. It wasn't really a health decision.

sgt1372

Lounmoun wrote: »

I started using ground turkey more due to cost. It wasn't really a health decision.

If you like ground meat, it's almost always cheaper to buy the meat whole and grind it yourself.

They charge extra for grinding the meat and you'll know what cuts are used, which is not that much of an issue for turkey but something to be concerned about w/beef or pork.

Ready2Rock206

I much prefer the taste of ground beef. I think the nutritional benefits of the ground turkey are mostly hype. I'll stick to my beef.

Francl27

I prefer ground beef, but $3 a lb for 93% turkey vs $8 a lb for 93% ground beef, it's an easy choice.

Sp1tfire

Like Franci27 said, if they were the same price i'd get the 93% 7% beef but it isn't so turkey tacos it is!

sgt1372

Francl27 wrote: »

I prefer ground beef, but $3 a lb for 93% turkey vs $8 a lb for 93% ground beef, it's an easy choice.

Where does turkey cost $3/lb ground beef cost $8/lb?

In the SF Bay area, its about $3.75/# for ground beef and about $4.50/# for ground turkey.

lemurcat12

Here, ignoring specials, it's around $3.30/lb for ground turkey (93%), and $5.99/lb for 93% ground beef, but only $3.99/lb for 85% ground beef. (I don't buy at the grocery store so had to check online, from when I do look at them in the grocery store I know there are often specials so it can be cheaper. Also, you can get 85% ground beef even at more expensive WF in my neighborhood for $3.99/lb right now, I noticed that yesterday.)

I can't stand ground turkey plain (I'd far rather cook a turkey leg or breast or whatever), but it's nice enough in a sauce or chili.

spdaphne

Ground bison is delicious! We now primarily use it when making tacos or burgers. Granted it's more in price, maybe around $10 lbs, but we are okay spending that since we don't eat it often and we aim to find grass fed, no hormones, etc.

HeidiCooksSupper

The turkey has less of an environmental impact per pound than the beef, if you want to stir that into your decision making.

remoore23

At the risk of starting a gigantic debate, the World Health Organization has listed red meat as a Group 2A carcinogen, meaning it is "probably carcinogenic to humans". What this means is that there is a strong correlation between the consumption of red meat and certain types of cancer but a definite link has not been proven. Thus, ground turkey may be slightly healthier just because it is not red meat.

By the way, the WHO lists processed meat as a Group 1 carcinogen, meaning that the link between processed meat and cancer (specifically colorectal cancer) has been proven.

With that being said, I still eat red meat on a fairly regular basis, like maybe a couple of times per week.

Here is a link to this information: http://www.who.int/features/qa/cancer-red-meat/en/

ggd_stpt

I usually get ground chicken breast. Bit pricey but I like it and it's worth it to me.

whosshe

quiksylver296 wrote: »

I thought ground turkey had less calories than ground beef?

lemurcat12

eliciaobrien1 wrote: »

quiksylver296 wrote: »

I thought ground turkey had less calories than ground beef?

The reason people think that is fat content. You can find both at 93% lean (as in the example), as well as leaner and less lean, but standard ground turkey you see in a store will likely be leaner than a standard ground beef (which is likely 85% and can be bought with even more fat). Then again, many people may simply buy the leaner ground beef, so the difference goes away.

To my mind the calories are about the same:

93% lean ground turkey is about 150 cal for 100 g (raw).

93% lean ground beef is about 152 cal for 100 g (raw).

But the chart is for cooked, and 93% lean ground turkey, broiled is about 207 cal for 100 g, and 93% lean ground beef, broiled is about 193 cal for 100 g -- all that means is I guess the turkey shrinks more when cooked at the same leanness.

So basically identical.

That chart is silly, as the differences on most of the things are so slight.

whosshe

lemurcat12 wrote: »

eliciaobrien1 wrote: »

quiksylver296 wrote: »

I thought ground turkey had less calories than ground beef?

The reason people think that is fat content. You can find both at 93% lean (as in the example), as well as leaner and less lean, but standard ground turkey you see in a store will likely be leaner than a standard ground beef (which is likely 85% and can be bought with even more fat). Then again, many people may simply buy the leaner ground beef, so the difference goes away.

To my mind the calories are about the same:

93% lean ground turkey is about 150 cal for 100 g (raw).

93% lean ground beef is about 152 cal for 100 g (raw).

But the chart is for cooked, and 93% lean ground turkey, broiled is about 207 cal for 100 g, and 93% lean ground beef, broiled is about 193 cal for 100 g -- all that means is I guess the turkey shrinks more when cooked at the same leanness.

So basically identical.

That chart is silly, as the differences on most of the things are so slight.

Ok I understand. Yea if I buy ground beef I usually get the 73% because it's really cheap, that's why I switched to ground turkey. Makes sense!

JustRobby1

It's entirely based on your personal preference. As for me, I much prefer beef. Though I do not like the 90% lean variety. Not enough flavor. If I was making Chili or something I guess the 90% would work (and I make a mean pot of chili), but if I am having a burger I need the fat.

TheDevastator

why not alternate beef, pork, and turkey/chicken? I love beef the most though.

ccruz985

It's much cheaper and easier to digest (for me anyway) so I usually sub except for burgers (my partner is firm on that) and meatloaf.

WilmaValley

Very interesting information!

singingflutelady

remoore23 wrote: »

At the risk of starting a gigantic debate, the World Health Organization has listed red meat as a Group 2A carcinogen, meaning it is "probably carcinogenic to humans". What this means is that there is a strong correlation between the consumption of red meat and certain types of cancer but a definite link has not been proven. Thus, ground turkey may be slightly healthier just because it is not red meat.

By the way, the WHO lists processed meat as a Group 1 carcinogen, meaning that the link between processed meat and cancer (specifically colorectal cancer) has been proven.

With that being said, I still eat red meat on a fairly regular basis, like maybe a couple of times per week.

Here is a link to this information: http://www.who.int/features/qa/cancer-red-meat/en/

Processed meat increases your risk of colorectal cancer from 5% to 6% if you eat it everyday so not as big of a risk as the media made it out to be.

bioklutz

JustRobby1 wrote: »

It's entirely based on your personal preference. As for me, I much prefer beef. Though I do not like the 90% lean variety. Not enough flavor. If I was making Chili or something I guess the 90% would work (and I make a mean pot of chili), but if I am having a burger I need the fat.

Ya, I don't like ground beef that low in fat either. I would rather have turkey or chicken for lower fat meat and the occasional fatty burger!

pmm3437

bioklutz wrote: »

JustRobby1 wrote: »

It's entirely based on your personal preference. As for me, I much prefer beef. Though I do not like the 90% lean variety. Not enough flavor. If I was making Chili or something I guess the 90% would work (and I make a mean pot of chili), but if I am having a burger I need the fat.

Ya, I don't like ground beef that low in fat either. I would rather have turkey or chicken for lower fat meat and the occasional fatty burger!

I'd rather eat sawdust then beef with < 15% fat.

Tbh, 90%+ of the protein in my meal plans is chicken, pork, and beans. Try to stay under $3/lb for my meats, which usually prices out beef and turkey, except for sales.

On a side note, try braised pork shoulder ( pulled/shredded ) as a replacement in your chili recipe ... I make it in my pressure cooker couple times a month, so good.