How Much Is 1/2 Cup of Dehydrated Ground Beef

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Back in early on 2009, when my husband and I decided we needed to create an emergency food pantry, our outset goal was stocking up on meat. We knew we could grow produce, and by that fourth dimension, I knew how to dehydrate food for long-term storage. However, raising plenty animals to provide meat for our growing family wasn't possible in our suburban neighborhood.

So, we ventured out to a 'prepping expo' and purchased our very starting time freeze-dried nutrient. Virtually of information technology was freeze-dried ground beef. Information technology was an expensive investment for us, but we both breathed a little easier knowing nosotros had a adept three months ' worth of shelf-stable meat when/if we needed it.

Tabular array of contents

Stocking up on meat is a priority
Why freeze-dried meats make sense
How do yous reconstitute freeze-stale ground beef?
Look a bit of sticker daze with freeze-dried footing beef!
The main principle to remember
22 Frugal ways to put freeze-stale basis beefiness to use
- Make a tasty Picadillo
- Stuffed bell peppers/cabbage rolls
- Chili Rellenos
- Eggroll in a Basin
- Tacos — of course!
- Fill up a quesadilla!
- Chili con carne, beans optional
- Semi-vegetarian burgers
- Meaty marinara sauce
- Cauliflower rice with a booster of ground beef
- Survival Mom's Macho Mexican Rice
- Beefiness and vegetable soup
- Breakfast tacos and burritos
- Hash
- Beef-topped Nachos
- Top a pizza with freeze-dried ground beef
- Chili Mac
- Burrito
- Classic beefiness and gravy
- Taco/Big Mac salad
The possibilities are nearly limitless

Stocking upwardly on meat is a priority

There are merely a few ways to stock up on meat in bulk. I is to buy freeze-stale meat and poultry, which I've done systematically over the years.

You can buy canned chicken, beef, ham, and other types of meat at grocery stores and abode-tin can meat yourself. This makes a lot of sense if you can also larn that meat for a low price.

Buying beefiness or pork from a farmer is some other option, although the upfront cost is significant.

Families who hunt and fish are able to habitation-can enormous amounts of deer, elk, and fish. This can be a huge savings, simply not anybody can do that.

Why freeze-dried meats make sense

So, I return again and again to my monthly purchases of meats from Thrive Life. This makes a lot of sense for my family unit in several ways:

At that place is no waste product any. When I open a can of freeze-dried ground beef, that'due south the but matter in the can—no fat, no basic, no excess moisture — just 100% ground beefiness.
The meat is shelf-stable. I can shop it in a cool location, and it will last for years and years.
Even an opened can has a shelf life of at least a year.
It's already cooked! Rehydrate, add together to a recipe, and boom. Yous're done.
It won't spoil. I'thou certain yous've had the experience of opening your fridge and getting a smash of that spoiled meat olfactory property! Talk about wasting money!
The meat is very lightweight. A #10 can of ground beef, which holds approximately a gallon of food, weighs but one ane/2 pounds! It would be incredibly easy to take hold of entire cases of whatever freeze-dried meat in a hurried evacuation.
When rehydrated, the meat is nearly duplicate from fresh. I've often used freeze-dried chicken in my chicken enchilada recipe, and friends have no thought they're eating freeze-dried food!
Thrive Life has a corking choice of dissimilar freeze-stale meats. Ground beefiness/hamburger, however, continues to be one of the near popular.
A piddling can go a long way — come across my tips beneath!

How do y'all reconstitute freeze-dried ground beefiness?

It'due south so easy! 1 loving cup of Thrive Life's freeze-stale ground beef rehydrated in 1/2 cup of warm water yields a lilliputian over i 1/2 cups of ground beef to be used in recipes.

You lot'll observe that this ground beef doesn't come seasoned. It'due south perfect for every type of recipe imaginable, from Mexican to Asian to Italian and American.

Await a bit of sticker shock with freeze-dried ground beef!

You're familiar with the rule of supply and demand, right? Whenever the demand for a product rises, it becomes more than valuable, and its' price will rise appropriately.

Over the past couple of years, as I write this in the leap of 2022, at that place'due south been a huge increase in demand for all freeze-dried foods. However, there are only so many chickens or pigs or cattle that a given farmer can enhance in a year! So the supply of meat hasn't grown well-nigh as fast as the need, and yes, the prices are quite high.

The principal principle to remember

Some other reliable aphorism, though, is "necessity is the mother of invention"! And so, in my ain kitchen, I've had to come up with some pretty creative ways to employ freeze-dried ground beef, in item, and I wanted to share some of these with yous.

The main concept is this: expect for recipes and meal ideas in which meat/poultry is just one of many other ingredients. For example, I'll never use freeze-dried ground beefiness to make a meatloaf. That would be one expensive meatloaf! Still, I tin can combine that ground beef with grains, veggies, and spices in many recipes, getting the benefits of beef while using the freeze-dried version frugally.

Without any further ado, here is my list for getting the near out of freeze-dried ground beefiness!

22 Frugal ways to put freeze-dried footing beefiness to utilize

Big Tip #ane: Freeze-dried ground beef comes in the form of tiny piffling nuggets rather than the loose, cooked ground beefiness you're used to. I prefer rehydrating the beefiness and then chopping information technology upward to look more like cooked hamburger. Every bit a bonus, when chopped up, it will go further in your recipes. Then in all of the suggested meals below, assume y'all'll chop upwardly the ground beef earlier adding it to your other ingredients.

I use a nutrient chopper like this to make the chore quick and easy. I recommend a transmission chopper over a food processor to ensure the basis beef isn't chopped too finely. Also, yous'll only be chopping a cup or two of rehydrated footing beef for almost every recipe, and a manual chopper is much easier to use and clean than a nutrient processor.

Big Tip #2: Look for recipes or create your own that combine ane-ii cups of ground beef with other ingredients. That amount of beefiness is the sweet spot since a cup of freeze-dried basis beef rehydrates to well-nigh that same measurement. To make up the deviation or stretch the repast further, try adding oats, cooked wheat berries or other cooked grains, cooked lentils, rice, or potatoes mixed in with the beef itself or only stirred into the dish.

Brand a tasty Picadillo

Picadillo is a yummy, footing-beef-based dish from Latin America. I've fabricated a couple of Spanish versions of this, and my very favorite taco shop sells Picadillo tacos. With the ground beefiness, you'll add chopped onion, ruddy bell pepper, plenty of seasonings, and green onions if you like (and I like!). Here's one recipe I've fabricated a few times but added 2 cups of rehydrated freeze-dried potato chunks and 1 loving cup of freeze-stale ground beef, chopped.

Simple Skillet Picadillo

Combine ground beef with seasoned veggies and tomatoes for a Spanish-style picadillo dish you tin serve over rice or in a tortilla.

Prep Time 15 mins

Melt Fourth dimension 25 mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Spanish

Servings four

Calories 420 kcal

ane Large skillet
1 Cut lath
ane Chef's knife
1 Large spatula

1 cup ried diced potatoes, rehydrated
½ medium onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
ii T. avocado oil or the oil/fat of your pick
1 medium tomato plant, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1 cup freeze-dried ground beef, rehydrated and chopped
i t. cumin
1 t. salt, or to gustatory modality
½ t. black pepper
4 T. lycopersicon esculentum paste
6 pimento-stuffed green olives, sliced
2 T. raisins (optional)

Heat skillet over medium high heat for i infinitesimal.
Add oil to hot skillet. Heat for 1 infinitesimal, and so add the chopped onion and ruddy bell pepper. Plow downward rut to medium.
When onion and pepper are tender, turn downwards the estrus to medium, and add together the garlic. Continue to cook for one minute.
Add together the rehydrated tater chunks, basis beef, salt, pepper, and cumin, and mix together by gently turning the vegetables over with a spatula until combined.
ally, gently mix in the tomato paste, olives, and raisins. Melt for another 5-vii minutes or until picadillo is completely heated.

Both olives and raisins add a special zingy note to this recipe. Add together more than called for, or less, according to your own taste.

Keyword ground beef, picadillo, Castilian picadillo

Stuffed bong peppers/cabbage rolls

My mom made these when I was a kid, and I still beloved them both! Yous'll discover enough of recipes online, merely exchange 1 to ane 1/2 cups of freeze-dried ground beefiness in identify of fresh. As well, be sure to add a grain like rice, oats, or even lentils to increase the corporeality of filling for the bell peppers or cabbage rolls.

Chili Rellenos

Dearly loved by my hubby, this is a comfort food no matter which version you brand. Over again, there are several versions and loads of recipes, but use a loving cup of rehydrated and chopped freeze-dried ground beefiness to the filling for a really hearty master dish. For this, y'all'll only need nigh 1/2 cup of rehydrated and chopped freeze-dried ground beefiness since it plays only a small office in filling the rellenos.

Eggroll in a Bowl

If y'all haven't heard of this recipe, well, you lot've been living nether a rock, my friend! Loved and cherished by low-carbers and Keto-fiends, this simple recipe dishes out the yummy cabbage-based filling of the eggroll, all in a bowl. Most recipes include a small amount of meat, making this perfect for using freeze-dried ground beef. (You might also try freeze-stale footing turkey.)

Tacos — of course!

Except for this time, later on you've rehydrated and chopped the freeze-stale ground beefiness, add a trivial somethin-somethin to extend the footing beef filling. Cooked Mexican rice (my recipe is the all-time!), refried beans, corn, chopped green chilies, or some taco-flavored TVP (Textured Vegetable Protein) tin can all be added to the beefiness. And so, of grade, top with shredded lettuce, chopped onion, grated cheese, and salsa!

Fill up a quesadilla!

Y'all'd exist difficult-pressed to observe a quicker meal than the much-loved quesadilla. Effectually here, we use low-carb tortillas, grated Tillamook cheese (honestly, the only brand worth buying), and sometimes caramelized chopped onion and jalapeno.

Yet, when I need the quesadilla to provide a bigger meal for my husband, I added ground beef between the two tortillas. Just a half-cup of rehydrated and chopped freeze-dried footing beef will do the job.

Chili con carne, beans optional

This is a no-brainer. Mix upwards your favorite chili recipe and add together a cup or so of rehydrated and chopped freeze-dried basis beef to supervene upon the meat in the recipe. Personally, I admire beans in my chili, and now living in Texas, that seems to be quite a contentious outcome.

To stretch that chili every bit far equally possible, add a can or two of beans. And if you serve it over cooked white rice, you'll take an amazing repast on your hands!

Semi-vegetarian burgers

Years ago, I lived in Germany with a super-fun roommate who was 100% vegetarian. Not existence a huge meat-lover myself, I had no trouble adapting to a whole new world of meatless cooking. In particular, I really liked her veggie burgers made from mashed, cooked lentils, a few other veggies, and seasonings. Really tasty.

You tin easily make a version of that with freeze-dried, chopped-up ground beefiness. Utilise equal parts cooked lentils with the beefiness, add shredded carrots, finely chopped onion, dried parsley, salt, pepper, and an egg to help hold the mixture together, and then fry the patties in a bit of oil.

Compact marinara sauce

I loved spaghetti and meatballs as much as anyone, simply when the kids were niggling, I decided to forego the effort of making meatballs in favor of adding cooked footing beef to marinara sauce. So quick and piece of cake.

Heat a large skillet over medium heat, add a tablespoon or 2 of oil, and then thinly sliced onion, some chopped ruddy bong pepper, and sliced mushrooms. Cook all those veggies until tender, and then add a jar or ii of marinara sauce and freeze-stale ground beef.

You'll exist serving this over pasta or mixing it with rigatoni or something similar, so all you lot'll need is a cup or so of the ground beef to brand a meal.

Cauliflower rice with a booster of ground beefiness

Depression-carb types will capeesh the use of freeze-dried basis beef mixed in with cooked cauliflower rice. The dazzler of this combination is that it can go in several directions. Add chopped green onion, a couple of beaten eggs, some finely sliced cabbage, soy sauce. Before you know it, you're dining on a hot, Keto-friendly meal of fried "rice."

Switch out the eggs, cabbage, and soy sauce for chili powder, cumin, a drained tin can of Ro-tel tomatoes, chopped cilantro, and sliced blackness olives for a Hispanic version; only as good! Then, start with the cauliflower rice and ground beefiness, and come up with your own flavour combinations.

Survival Mom's Macho Mexican Rice

This 1 is so, then skillful, and the pull a fast one on is browning the rice in a scrap of hot oil before adding all the other ingredients. On its ain, it makes a prissy side dish, merely become alee and add together a cup of chopped and rehydrated freeze-stale footing beef to make it a more filling master dish. You'll find the recipe here.

Beefiness and vegetable soup

At that place are so many recipes for beef and veggie soup, and you probably already accept ane that'southward your favorite. If not, I admire this one and have fabricated it many times over the years. And have a expect at this 1 that includes barley. Smart!

Since we're working toward creating delicious and frugal meals, replace whatever meat is called for with, once more, a loving cup or so of rehydrated and chopped beefiness. If you need this soup to be more filling, and so add rice, macaroni, corn, or more vegetables along with a couple of tablespoons of butter, ghee, or the oil of your pick. The addition of oil increases the number of calories and fat, important for a higher level of satiety or feeling full.

Comforting Beefiness & Vegetable Soup

The Survival Mom

This forgiving recipe allows yous to make adjustments to adjust your budget, taste, and family size.

Prep Time 25 mins

Melt Time 30 mins

Course Main Form, Soup

Cuisine American

Servings viii servings

Calories 350 kcal

1 iv quart pot with lid
1 Cut lath
1 Chef's knife
1 Vegetable peeler

1 cup freeze-dried footing beefiness Rehydrate in 1/2 loving cup warm water. Chop to a fine consistency before calculation to soup.
2 T. avocado oil or the oil/fat of your selection
4 cups water or beef stock/broth
i fourteen.5 ounce tin diced tomatoes, undrained
3 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
2 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 medium onion, chopped
½ cup chopped celery
4 beef bouillon cubes, if using h2o instead of beefiness stock
ane ½ t. salt
¼ t. blackness pepper
¼ t. dried oregano
½ t. dried basil
1 cup fresh, frozen, or freeze-dried greenish beans½

Identify a large pot over medium-high heat, and allow pot to rut for 1 minute.
Add 2 T. of oil and oestrus for ane minute. Stir in the carrots, potatoes, onions, and celery and continue cooking until vegetables are tender.
Add together all remaining ingredients. Bring soup to a boil.
Reduce heat and cover pot with lid. Simmer for 15-twenty minutes or until the carrots and potatoes are tender.
If desired, arrange the salt and seasonings to gustation.

This tasty soup can easily be stretched to serve more people past calculation any of the following:

A drained tin of corn
A drained tin can of pinto, black, or navy beans
i cup of macaroni — Add an boosted cup of water.
1 cup cooked rice
1 cup cooked barley or other grain
i/2 loving cup canned or frozen peas

With these boosted ingredients, suit the amount of liquid if soup becomes too thick.

Breakfast tacos and burritos

This breakfast will make simply about everybody happy, and you tin change it for more variety. Think: scrambled eggs + footing beef + grilled onions/bong peppers/jalapenos/light-green chiles + potato chunks + cheese + add together your ain favorites hither.

Yous can throw this together in minutes then fill soft flour tortillas for tacos or wrap the filling in burrito-size tortillas. Finally, add some salsa or hot sauce to brand the meal complete.

Hash

Hash has become trendy in the last few years, and for good reason. It's a great style to combine a variety of unproblematic, inexpensive ingredients and leftovers!

I adore Thrive Life's Potato Chunks for a meal like this. They rehydrate quickly and brown nicely in a skillet with a fleck of oil. For hash, heat the fat or oil of your choice in a skillet, add chopped onions/bell pepper (whatever color)/chopped zucchini/the veggies of your choice, and cook until they're tender.

At this indicate, add together freeze-dried footing beef, salt, and pepper, and cook for a couple of minutes until the hash is well-heated. The last step is to gently mix in 2 cups of rehydrated and drained Tater Chunks. Permit to continue cooking while the potatoes brown, turning the mixture over every then ofttimes and so potatoes are evenly browned.

Beef-topped Nachos

A favorite meal for our family is a large platter of hot nachos dripping in melted cheddar cheese and topped with chopped onions, sliced pickled jalapenos, chopped tomato, some refried beans, sliced blackness olives, and beef.

Because this meal is filling on its ain, a cup of chopped freeze-stale beef volition be plenty. Add some guacamole on the side for more than calories, fat, and deliciousness.

Summit a pizza with freeze-stale basis beef

Whether your pizza is homemade, frozen, or shop-bought, you tin can meridian it with freeze-dried ground beefiness to make a heartier meal.

Wondering how you might store cheese for the long term? My friend, you lot've come to the right place! Freeze-dried cheese is a wonder and a perfect companion to freeze-stale ground beef in so many different recipes, including pizza.

Chili Mac

My Nana used to make a recipe she called Shlumgum, and information technology's basically what I've come to know as Chili Mac. It's super easy, super quick, and super frugal. What'southward not to similar?

To cooked macaroni, add the usual cup of chopped and rehydrated freeze-dried ground beefiness, a tin can of chopped tomatoes, some salsa to gustatory modality, taco seasoning to taste, chopped onion, and bell pepper, and a can of tomato sauce.

Heat all this together in a large pot. For a creamy version, mix in 4 ounces of cream cheese and/or enough grated cheddar to make your heart sing.

Burrito

Mix together refried pinto beans, the usual chopped freeze-dried basis beef, chopped onion, possibly some cooked rice (leftover Macho Mexican Rice, perchance?), some corn, and potato chunks.

Then, heat the mixture until information technology's ready to be loaded upward and wrapped in big flour tortillas. Add a sprinkling of cheddar cheese and salsa for more flavor. This is a great mode to serve a hearty and very filling meal with plenty of calories and enough beef to make everyone in the family happy.

Besides, larn virtually Instant Refried Beans if it's a must-have for your emergency food storage!

Archetype beef and gravy

Beefiness and brown gravy are a classic, irresistible combination. With freeze-stale basis beef, this dish comes together quickly using dry gravy mix or homemade gravy. Add sliced mushrooms, maybe some sour cream or sour foam powder, and serve over hot noodles or rice. So skilful!

Taco/Big Mac salad

Both of these salads are my go-to when I want to keep things absurd and simple in the kitchen. Both revolve around chopped iceberg lettuce, chopped love apple, footing beefiness, grated cheddar cheese, chopped onion, and and so the advisable dressing.

For taco salad, I mix equal parts sour foam and mayonnaise with salsa. I add the salsa a bit at a time until I have the flavour and consistency that I want. Adjacent, heat upward the chopped and rehydrated freeze-dried basis beef and add either taco seasoning or a combination of cumin/chili powder/garlic powder/onion pulverization to taste. I as well like to add a loving cup or so of cooked pinto beans and chopped avocado.

For the Large Mac salad, just add sliced pickles and ground beef flavored with salt and pepper. The Big Mac dressing combines mayonnaise, ketchup, a chip of mustard to taste, a nuance of garlic powder and onion powder, and finally, a big spoonful of pickle relish, either dill or sweet.

The possibilities are nearly limitless

Once I got over the price shock of freeze-dried meat, I discovered its versatility is as limitless every bit whatsoever other meat. Gene in its ability to remain fresh and ready to eat for ten years or more, so it makes sense to add together information technology to your food storage pantry. 1 tin at a time adds up, and you can brainstorm to assemble unproblematic recipe ideas similar the ones in this article and the other ingredients you lot'll need.

There are two very satisfying components here — bang-up super-simple and comforting recipes aslope the knowledge of having a supply of good for you foods stored away for your family.

Take other suggestions for using freeze-stale ground beef? Add them in the Comments section beneath!

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I'k the original Survival Mom and for more than xi years, I've been helping moms worry less and enjoy their homes and families more with my commonsense prepping advice.

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