Can rinsing meat reduce fat content?

Question by Karla (Grand Rapids, MI)
Posted on January 23, 2008

Is it true after you cook ground meat (red) and rinse it off after draining it that it cuts the fat considerably?

Amy's Answer

Amy Bragagnini, MS, RD, is a registered dietitian and consultant…Read Full Bio

Rinsing meat after cooking it can help to reduce the fat content. The amount of fat that is removed depends first on the original fat content of the meat. The leaner the meat to begin with, the smaller the effect that draining will have. The American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) suggests that with each reduction from regular ground beef to 20% fat, 15% fat, and 10% fat, you will already be saving 3 grams of fat per 3 oz. serving. Using a fine strainer or colander to rinse ground beef can further reduce fat content by approximately 4-5 grams. Some vitamins and minerals may be lost in the rinsing/draining process, but the AICR notes that these losses are not significant. Rinsing the ground beef in warm water may help to further reduce fat content over cold water rinses, however it was noted that a lot of the flavor of the beef was also lost with warm water.