Minced Meat VS Ground Meat: What's the Difference?

The terms “ground meat” and “minced meat” are sometimes used interchangeably. But they indicate two techniques for processing raw meat: ground meat is an emulsion of lean meat and fat, whereas minced meat is finely chopped skeletal-muscle meat.

Ground meat is consistent and smooth; minced meat is choppy and textured. When cooked in chili, gravy, or stew, the former melts into the sauce, and the latter keeps its shape and chewiness.

What’s The Difference?

The main difference between ground and minced meat is its contents. Ground meat is bulked up with additional ingredients. Minced meat is made from 100% meat and doesn’t contain additional ingredients.

This doesn’t mean that ground meat is inferior, only that it has different uses and won’t necessarily function as minced meat would.

Texture and Appearance

• Ground Meat: Smooth and consistent, blending easily into sauces.
• Minced Meat: Chunkier and more varied, providing a distinct chew in dishes.

Ingredients and Additives

• Ground Meat: Usually contains additional ingredients like fats, water, or soy to enhance flavour and texture.
• Minced Meat: Made from 100% meat with no added ingredients, resulting in a purer taste.

Cooking Results and Flavour

• Ground Meat: Melts into sauces, providing a rich and even texture in dishes.
• Minced Meat: Holds its form when cooked, adding texture and a more intense meat flavour.

Minced Meat

Minced meat is meat that has been very finely chopped. In some countries, it can also be put through a meat grinder, but without any additional ingredients – meat only.

There are also large machines with very sharp blades that repeatedly chop the meat into very small pieces. Consequently, it has a courser texture than ground meat.

How Minced Meat is Made

Minced meat is produced by chopping or dicing skeletal muscle meat into tiny pieces, usually with a knife or in some cases, through large machines with sharp blades. In some countries, meat grinders may also be used, but minced meat will not contain added fats, water, or fillers—it’s simply 100% pure meat.

Texture and Consistency of Minced Meat

Due to its preparation process, minced meat has a coarser, more varied texture. Unlike ground meat, minced meat doesn’t melt into the dish; instead, it holds its shape and provides a chewier texture.

Common Uses in Cooking

The texture of minced meat makes it ideal for dishes where you want the meat to remain distinct from other ingredients. Some common uses include:

• Bolognese Sauce: Minced meat holds its shape and adds a hearty texture to pasta sauces.
• Dumplings and Meat Pies: Minced meat keeps its form, giving these dishes a distinct bite.
• Stir-Fries: Minced meat works well in stir-fried dishes, providing a chunky, meaty element.

Pro Tip: Because minced meat doesn’t contain additives, it often has a more intense meat flavour. Season it with salt, pepper, and other herbs to bring out its natural taste.

Ground Meat

Ground meat is made from meat with additional ingredients that are put through a meat grinder.

Like products such as sausage, ground meat also very often contains other ingredients, so it is not 100% beef, lamb or pork, etc. These ingredients include mostly water, soy, or excessive fat from other animals.

How Ground Meat is Made

Ground meat is typically created by passing chunks of lean meat and fat through a meat grinder. In many cases, ground meat is an emulsion, meaning it combines lean cuts with additional fat and sometimes other ingredients such as water, soy, or even bits of other meats to increase volume and texture.

Texture and Consistency of Ground Meat

Ground meat has a fine, smooth texture due to the grinding process. This gives it a consistent appearance and feel, which makes it ideal for dishes where you want the meat to blend seamlessly into sauces or fillings. When cooked, ground meat has a softer consistency and often "melts" into the sauce or mixture.

Common Uses in Cooking

Ground meat is versatile in the kitchen. Here are some popular dishes that use ground meat:

• Burgers: The smooth texture and consistency work well when forming patties.
• Chili: Ground meat blends into the stew for a rich, even texture.
• Stuffed Peppers: The smoothness of ground meat makes it ideal for stuffing.

Pro Tip: To add extra flavour to ground meat dishes, consider mixing in spices and herbs before cooking.