How the food data base measures ground beef

eatingforspawn
eatingforspawn Posts: 34 Member
edited November 2024 in Food and Nutrition
I know that the database is full of members' contributions, but I just don't know how people tend to do it. For example, is a given measurement of ground beef usually meant to be raw or cooked? So the kind I usually use is the Costco lean ground beef which give me 238 cals per quarter pound. But is that the yield from a raw quarter pound that is then cooked? or a cooked and THEN measured quarter pound. It makes a big difference because, even though it is lean, fat renders out while cooking and the weight also changes due to water loss.

Replies

  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,287 Member
    Generally raw. You have to keep in mind that nutrients like protein are not eliminated or reduced when cooked so it skews the numbers. Do one or the other, but I suggest raw.
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    This is why I add "raw" or "cooked" "fried" or whatever to my entry depending on how I am measuring. . Ideally, you want to measure your meat raw, search for a "raw" entry and use that. It doesn't always happen for me but you can get a little closer by specifying how you cooked it.
  • JPW1990
    JPW1990 Posts: 2,424 Member
    I put in an entry of my own for it, taking the numbers directly from the USDA website. You can do that whenever you're not sure of something that's entered - make your own entry for it. You don't have to share them into the public database, either, if you don't want to. It will always be available on the MyFoods tab in your diary.
  • eatingforspawn
    eatingforspawn Posts: 34 Member
    neanderthin wrote: »
    Generally raw. You have to keep in mind that nutrients like protein are not eliminated or reduced when cooked so it skews the numbers. Do one or the other, but I suggest raw.

    The thing is, if they do typically enter the raw data, do they account for the loss of fat during the cooking process? Or are those numbers including the fat that you aren't actually going to be eating because you drain it away?

    3dogsrunning wrote: »
    This is why I add "raw" or "cooked" "fried" or whatever to my entry depending on how I am measuring. . Ideally, you want to measure your meat raw, search for a "raw" entry and use that. It doesn't always happen for me but you can get a little closer by specifying how you cooked it.

    Yeah I could not find any entries like that for ground beef that made it clear how things were measured. I guess I should not nit pick. I mean everything is an estimation to a certain degree.

  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,287 Member
    eatingforspawn wrote: »
    neanderthin wrote: »
    Generally raw. You have to keep in mind that nutrients like protein are not eliminated or reduced when cooked so it skews the numbers. Do one or the other, but I suggest raw.

    The thing is, if they do typically enter the raw data, do they account for the loss of fat during the cooking process? Or are those numbers including the fat that you aren't actually going to be eating because you drain it away?

    3dogsrunning wrote: »
    This is why I add "raw" or "cooked" "fried" or whatever to my entry depending on how I am measuring. . Ideally, you want to measure your meat raw, search for a "raw" entry and use that. It doesn't always happen for me but you can get a little closer by specifying how you cooked it.

    Yeah I could not find any entries like that for ground beef that made it clear how things were measured. I guess I should not nit pick. I mean everything is an estimation to a certain degree.
    Yes it includes the fat, it has to, it's raw weight that will include fat. Fat is reduced when cooked but protein isn't and that is why you need to pick one or the other.

  • ana3067
    ana3067 Posts: 5,623 Member
    edited February 2015
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    Uh. Yeah. The eff search terms were YOU using that none of these official MFP entries popped up?

    Compare the nutritional info on your Costco beef to the ones that show up when searchign for raw beef. Select the one that matches your macros and calories for the same serving size. Which would be the 85% lean.

    Or look up Costco Lean Ground Beef and use that entry, which will be in the raw form because it is nutritional information for the state you bought it in unless otherwise stated on the packaging.
  • eatingforspawn
    eatingforspawn Posts: 34 Member
    I just search "ground beef". My search results look nothing like that. Does it differ depending on where you are? I am in Canada so maybe my search results are different than yours.
  • ana3067
    ana3067 Posts: 5,623 Member
    eatingforspawn wrote: »
    I just search "ground beef". My search results look nothing like that. Does it differ depending on where you are? I am in Canada so maybe my search results are different than yours.

    I am in Canada. Specify raw or cooked depending on what state you want to log it in.
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