How Are You Counting Ground Beef & Bacon?

springlering62
springlering62 Posts: 9,287 Member
edited December 2024 in Food and Nutrition
Ok, certain things about logging food confuse me, and this just occurred to me as I was fixing to make tacos for the husband and a taco salad for me.

Ground beef is about 70 calories per raw ounce, for 80/20. I’ve been counting three ounces as 210, which is a huge chunk of my daily allotment. But of course I drain it, which made me wonder. Researching online, studies show that three ounces drained are about 170 calories, and additionally rinsed in hot water are about 140 calories.

Which are you counting? The 210, or either of the revised?

Same with bacon. I saw some people on the “volume eaters” thread saying that bacon is comparatively low calorie once it’s drained and patted dry.

Am I unnecessarily punishing myself by overcounting -and often avoiding- these foods?

Sometimes, my brain just wants to explode!

Replies

  • Fflpnari
    Fflpnari Posts: 975 Member
    I count the full 210 of ground beef
  • ktekc
    ktekc Posts: 879 Member
    i use the usda ground beef calculator and call it close enough
  • MikePTY
    MikePTY Posts: 3,814 Member
    If you drain your beef you should incorporate that into your calculations. otherwise you are counting calories that you are not having. If 210 calories is "a huge chunk of your daily allotment", that seems to indicate your allotment is pretty low. I would not make it lower by over counting calories you aren't having.
  • MikePTY
    MikePTY Posts: 3,814 Member
    swirlybee wrote: »
    You're draining and doing an additional rinse?? Why are you using 80/20? Why not just use 90/10 which is 50 cals per ounce.

    I don't want to speak for the OP, but 80/20 is cheaper.
  • kimny72
    kimny72 Posts: 16,011 Member
    See if there is usda entry in the database for ground beef, cooked and drained.
  • lynn_glenmont
    lynn_glenmont Posts: 10,152 Member
    kimny72 wrote: »
    See if there is usda entry in the database for ground beef, cooked and drained.

    The USDA site actually has a specific calculator for ground beef

    https://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/beef/show
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    edited February 2019
    MikePTY wrote: »
    swirlybee wrote: »
    You're draining and doing an additional rinse?? Why are you using 80/20? Why not just use 90/10 which is 50 cals per ounce.

    I don't want to speak for the OP, but 80/20 is cheaper.

    Not that much different when you look at the amount of protein per dollar. I get 93/7 for $4.99 a pound and 80/20 is currently $3.59 a pound. I can do 4 oz @ $1.25 per burger and 23 g of protein. 80/20 is .90 per 4 oz burger and 19 grams of protein. 5.4 cents a gram or 4.7 cents a gram. Not much difference especially when a person wants to reduce fat.
  • wilson10102018
    wilson10102018 Posts: 1,306 Member
    When ground beef is incorporated into a dish it should be weighed and counted raw. When sauteed or grilled, it should be weighed cooked. Same for bacon.
  • springlering62
    springlering62 Posts: 9,287 Member
    Thanks guys. Our beef prices here are appalling.

    The last few times we’ve been to the grocery store, the 90/10 has been $5.99 a pound and above. My husband balks at that. So last night, when I drained the beef, I weighed What I’d drained and showed him how much of that cheaper pound actually goes to waste and not in the mouth. I couldn’t believe it myself. It was 210 grams of liquid.

    On a happier note, we are in chicken country, and can get boneless skinless for $1.99 a pound pretty much every day.

    Wish beef would drop again. I make my own beef jerky and it’s like eating gold leafed Benjamins. *sigh*
This discussion has been closed.

Categories