Grass Fed Beef Burgers

I recently read an article that compared grain fed beef to grass fed beef and I have to admit that I was quite surprised at the results.  I really haven't previously given the whole grain fed vs. grass fed debate much thought because I'm not a ground beef eater.  As a member of the food service community, I felt like I needed to be better educated about the differences between the two types of meat though.  What I found was surprising.  

According to Cooking Light - 100 grams of grain fed beef contains 1.87 total grams of fat and .80 grams of saturated fat.   The same amount of grass fed beef contains 3.65 total grams of fat and 1.58 grams of saturated fat.  That means that grass fed beef is 95% higher in total fat and 97% higher in saturated fat than grass fed beef!  

Just for the sake of argument, I compared the grain fed beef to a piece of dark meat chicken of the same size.  100 grams of chicken thigh meat contains 7.20 total grams of fat and 2.09 grams of saturated fat.  That means that the chicken thigh contains  285% more total fat than grass fed beef and 161% more saturated fat. 

Anyone else surprised by the results?  I have a whole new respect for grass fed beef.  Now that I'm a more informed beef shopper, I no longer dismiss the more expensive packages of grass fed beef as a marketing ploy to charge more money for ground beef.  I sought out some really great grass fed beef for these grass fed burgers, in fact.  They were not only a big hit with my family - I felt better about feeding them beef that was lower in total fat and saturated fat.   

Grass Fed Beef Burgers
1 teaspoon canola oil
3/4 cup sliced onion
1/4 cup canola mayonnaise
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon pepper
1 pound 93% lean grass fed ground sirloin
4 cheddar cheese slices
4 whole wheat buns
4 tomato slices
4 bibb lettuce leaves
1 avocado, sliced
​1 ounce dill pickle slices

Heat oil in skillet.  Add onion and saute 5 minutes until soft and caramelized.  Cool.

Combine 2 T. mayonnaise, garlic powder, pepper and beef.  Stir gently to combine. 

Shape beef into 4 patties.  

Grill.

Spread remaining 2 T. mayonnaise on bun.  Top buns with patties. 

Top each with a cheese slice, tomato slice, lettuce, onion, avocado and a pickle.  

This is my idea of a perfect burger - 10% beef, 10% bun and 80% vegetables.  I love giving my family the challenge of trying to wrap their jaw around this massive burger.  

These burgers were a big hit with my family.  I'm not sure they noticed that these grass fed burgers tasted any differently that ordinary ground beef burgers but I knew that I was giving them a healthier burger.  I love the fact that I was able to pile on a couple servings of vegetables on top of these burgers too.  

​Ciao!

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