Do You Need to Rinse Ground Beef?

fried ground beef in a pan.

Is there any purpose to wash ground beef?

"The most important thing to know is that the U.S. food system ensures that all beef is safe to eat and does not need to be washed before cooking," says Diana Clark, a Certified Angus cattle meat scientist.1 "If you are worried about food safety, the best practices are to keep ground beef stored in the refrigerator to keep it cool and fresh, and to then cook your ground beef to 160°F."2

If you choose to wash your ground beef before cooking, Clark suggests cleaning your sink and surrounding surfaces to avoid the spread of bacteria that might make someone in your home sick.

"In fact, USDA [U.S. Department of Agriculture] notes that water can splash bacteria up to three feet surrounding your sink, so it's vital to clean those surrounding areas to avoid any cross-contamination," she told me.3

Heidi Meyer, who co-created Pound of Ground Crumbles, agrees.