ground TURKEY vs ground BEEF

NoExcuseTina
NoExcuseTina Posts: 506 Member
edited September 27 in Food and Nutrition
I love ground beef...but it puts so many calories in my daily total...so I just looked up the calories for ground turkey and it is much less without sacrificing protein...but the taste is BLAH

HELP...how can I make ground turkey taste better?
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Replies

  • emmaleigh47
    emmaleigh47 Posts: 1,670 Member
    Mix half and half and then cook it up :)
  • deannarey13
    deannarey13 Posts: 452
    Seasonings. I prefer fresh garlic.
  • Mindful_Trent
    Mindful_Trent Posts: 3,954 Member
    I found that when I use it in recipes, I really don't notice as much of a difference. For something like burgers when you're eating it plain, I'll mix in some low-sodium worchestershire sauce, or some non-salt-based spices like lemon-pepper or Mrs. Dash. The Worchestershire sauce is nice because it adds some moisure (turkey can get dry when you cook it a little too long) and flavor without many calories.
  • Last_15
    Last_15 Posts: 129
    I can get 90/10 ground beef around here that has the same calories/fat as the ground turkey. It costs a little more, but I would rather have beef any day!!
  • noexcuses1218
    noexcuses1218 Posts: 332 Member
    Coupla dashes of Worchestershire sauce, maybe? maybe some low-sodium soy sauce?
  • JennsLosing
    JennsLosing Posts: 1,026
    I can get 90/10 ground beef around here that has the same calories/fat as the ground turkey. It costs a little more, but I would rather have beef any day!!
    same thing i do....sometimes ill sub ground turkey into some recipes...but normally i go for the 90/10
  • Rebjones612
    Rebjones612 Posts: 408
    I can get 90/10 ground beef around here that has the same calories/fat as the ground turkey. It costs a little more, but I would rather have beef any day!!
    I use ground turkey for meatloaf because I put different things in my meatloaf to season it.
    However, for everthing else I buy 96/4 from Walmart. It doesn't have that much calories and
    I too prefer the beef!
  • ceschwartz
    ceschwartz Posts: 240 Member
    Try Bison...if you can find it.
  • baisleac
    baisleac Posts: 2,019 Member
    I can get 90/10 ground beef around here that has the same calories/fat as the ground turkey. It costs a little more, but I would rather have beef any day!!

    This. I'll only use ground turkey if it's a food I've not had before, although it's a texture thing. If I'm expecting a ground beef texture and get ground turkey, I just can't eat it.
  • JenniferH81
    JenniferH81 Posts: 285 Member
    I think it's something you just get used to after a while.

    although using seasonings really helps mask the difference at first.
  • RedHotRunner
    RedHotRunner Posts: 850 Member
    Go for a leaner ground beef. They make some super lean varieties with only 4% fat.
  • BigBoneSista
    BigBoneSista Posts: 2,389 Member
    I use low sodium stove top stuffing to seasoning mine. Delicious!!
  • ChubbieTubbie
    ChubbieTubbie Posts: 481 Member
    I can get 90/10 ground beef around here that has the same calories/fat as the ground turkey. It costs a little more, but I would rather have beef any day!!

    Me too!!!
  • SLIM195
    SLIM195 Posts: 133 Member
    You have to season it , otherwise, its bland to the tastebuds. I use Mrs. Dash and Lawry's seasoning salt.
  • robin52077
    robin52077 Posts: 4,383 Member
    the 93/7 beef actually is better for you than the turkey. Well, it would depend on the leanness of your turkey I guess. But I replaced the best beef in my chili recipe with turkey and it had more calories and fat and less protein.:grumble:
    So, just buy the best beef and you won't have to worry about making the turkey taste good.
  • BigBoneSista
    BigBoneSista Posts: 2,389 Member
    Go for a leaner ground beef. They make some super lean varieties with only 4% fat.

    Thats what I get 96/4 lean beef
  • bizco
    bizco Posts: 1,949 Member
    Be sure to check the label on ground turkey packages. Unless you're buying the Extra lean stuff, there's hardly any difference in fat and calories when compared to 93-95% lean ground beef. Some stores sell ground turkey in tubes, and that stuff is just plain awful!
  • janemartin02
    janemartin02 Posts: 2,653 Member
    spices help!!
  • Qarol
    Qarol Posts: 6,171 Member
    My husband and I prefer beef, but we really like the 93/7 lean beef. We can't stand the higher fat content beef. And we don't care for the taste of ground turkey, so this works for us.
  • ande2994
    ande2994 Posts: 136
    It depends on what you're using it for. I have a hard time substituting in things like hamburgers because (1) the meat is the dominant flavor and (2) the turkey doesn't stick together like it's supposed to. I have, however, found a few recipes that blend beef and beans for that type of meal -- low-fat, high-fiber, meaty flavor.

    I use ground turkey in dishes where the seasonings are more prominent -- tacos, casseroles, etc. I substituted turkey for beef in my mom's beef stroganoff recipe over the winter and it was actually BETTER than beef! The drier turkey soaked up more of the creamy sauce, whereas the fat from the beef (even after browning and straining) still tended to separate slightly.

    I use turkey sausage and can't tell the difference from pork. Turkey bacon doesn't cook the same, so it's easy to tell the difference from the real thing when you're eating it as a side with breakfast, but seems to work well when it's an ingredient in something else.

    Finally, beware chicken and turkey substitute products that aren't actually any healthier than the original! There's a new line of chicken sausages on the market that still have huge calorie and fat numbers -- very deceptive!
  • ejmcam
    ejmcam Posts: 533 Member
    To be honest, I dont really like the ground turkey either. I will use the ground turkey breast (the white meat) in recipes like tacos or sloppy joes or chili....where its really flavorful and disguised. But when it comes to burgers or meatloaf or something, I get the lean ground beef 93/7. It has the same amount of calories as the lean ground turkey....yet tastes MUCH better (atleast in my opinion). Its a bit more expensive i think though
  • Meggie_pooh
    Meggie_pooh Posts: 316 Member
    I have stopped eating the ground beef altogether. I know it tastes better, but I just made chili with ground turkey instead of ground beef, and u can't even tell!!!! Some thing's u will deff notice a difference, but like spaghetti and meatloaf....there really is no difference!
  • Mindful_Trent
    Mindful_Trent Posts: 3,954 Member
    Be sure to check the label on ground turkey packages. Unless you're buying the Extra lean stuff, there's hardly any difference in fat and calories when compared to 93-95% lean ground beef. Some stores sell ground turkey in tubes, and that stuff is just plain awful!

    Depends on the brand. My grocery store carries 99% lean ground turkey in a tube and I compared it to the 99% lean ground turkey in the regular package (non-tube) and they were identical as far as ingredients/nutrition/etc. I used it to make meatloaf and it tasted perfectly fine. :: shrugs ::
  • Kate48230
    Kate48230 Posts: 35 Member
    I find that the ground turkey BREAST is much less gamy than the regular ground turkey, which has dark meat in it. Other than that, I agree; seasoning!
  • sarahnicolexoxo
    sarahnicolexoxo Posts: 230
    Perdue has a Fit & Easy Ground Chicken that is MUCH better tasting than Ground Turkey and WAY less in calories!
  • Flyntiggr
    Flyntiggr Posts: 898 Member
    I'm with just about everyone else - the lean ground beef I buy is way better nutritionally than any of the ground turkey I've ever seen. I usually get 96/4 or 97/3 from the supermarket.
  • kailyamie
    kailyamie Posts: 130
    I can get 90/10 ground beef around here that has the same calories/fat as the ground turkey. It costs a little more, but I would rather have beef any day!!

    I'm with you here. My husband and I tried the turkey and HATED it and we compared it to very lean ground beef and the ground beef is actually better. I buy 96/4 ground beef... I don't mind paying a few extra cents for a leaner ground beef.
  • beckyinma
    beckyinma Posts: 1,433 Member
    LOVE LOVE LOVE ground turkey in everything. I always sautee it up with some onion, black pepper, garlic and evoo for recipes, and if I'm making turkey burgers, which I eat at least once a week, I doctor them up one of two ways:

    to StonyBrook Farms 20 oz of 93/7 ground turkey (5 servings) add the following

    burger burgers:
    4 ts italian seasoning (mix of many herbs including basil, parsley rosemary and oregano)
    1 ts dried onions, or 1 tb fresh onion, diced super fine
    1 tb minced garlic
    1 tb worcestershire (pr wistersheer) ;)
    salt to taste (I don't add any, the worcestershire adds enough)

    mix with hands to thoroughly incorporate, divide 5 ways and shape into 1/2" thick patties. Onto the grill, turn once, after about 4 minutes, then about another 4-5 minutes, add cheese if desired.

    Turkey & Stuffing burgers:

    2 ts italian seasoning
    onions
    garlic
    1/4c craisins
    1/4 c diced apples (Diced small)
    2 tb bread crumbs
    2 slices precooked bacon, diced fine
    salt to taste

    Same prep/cooking instructions, but you get that hint of fruity stuffing... pretty tasty if you ask me...


    The problem with turkey, is that if it's undercooked, well, it's just like chicken, but if it's overcooked, its wicked dry, so be careful in your cooking that you don't overcook...
  • NeuroticVirgo
    NeuroticVirgo Posts: 3,671 Member
    I can get 90/10 ground beef around here that has the same calories/fat as the ground turkey. It costs a little more, but I would rather have beef any day!!

    Same here. I temporarily switched to ground turkey, but after I found I could get 93/7 or even 95/5 ground beef (and honestly if its on sale cheaper than ground turkey which seems to be expensive) I went back. I just think the beef tastes better, and I can do so much more with it.

    I find it at Walmart & Safeway just fyi,
  • healthyjen342
    healthyjen342 Posts: 1,435 Member
    I can get 90/10 ground beef around here that has the same calories/fat as the ground turkey. It costs a little more, but I would rather have beef any day!!
    same thing i do....sometimes ill sub ground turkey into some recipes...but normally i go for the 90/10

    Agreed...well, whatever's cheaper at the time...also seasonings work WONDERS!
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