Hamburger & Sausage Crumbles

Contributed By: Adventures in Freeze Drying

1 lb of hamburger or sausage will make about 2 cups

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, combine your chosen spices with the raw meat. Mix thoroughly and let it sit for 5–10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
2. Heat a large pot over medium-high heat.  Add the meat (hamburger or sausage) and cook until it is completely browned, stirring frequently to break it into crumbles.
3. Transfer the cooked meat to a colander to drain off the excess grease.
4. Return the meat to the clean pot and cover with hot water to remove additional fat. Let it soak for at least one hour.
5. Alternate Method: For hamburger, you can refrigerate it overnight to allow the fat to solidify on the surface, making it easier to remove.
6. Dump the meat into a colander again and allow all the water to drain off.
7. Spread the meat onto a cookie sheet lined with paper towels.  Pat the meat dry thoroughly.
8. Evenly spread the dried meat on a parchment-lined tray, cover with a lid, and freeze until solid.
9. Freeze dry (my cycle time was 23 hours).
10. Store in jars for short-term use or in mylar bags for long-term storage.

Rehydration:

Approximately 94g of freeze dried hamburger or 80g of sausage has the same volume as a 1 lb package of cooked meat.

Add 2 C of Broth to the equivalent of 1 lb of cooked meat. Stir and let sit for 10-15 minutes.  Move to a pan on the stove, and cook off any remaining broth over low-medium low heat in a simmer. 

Notes:

When preparing ground beef for freeze drying—especially for long-term storage—minimizing the fat content is crucial. Fat can lead to rancidity and reduced shelf life because it doesn’t freeze-dry well.  To increase the storage life consider these tips:

• Select lean cuts
• Rinse at least once after cooking
• Pat it dry after rinsing to blot up additional fats
• Ensure it is frozen solid when you start freeze drying

   

Nutritional Value Per 1⁄4 lb

Calories: 180 Protein: 23 g Fat: 7 g Carbohydrates: 0 g Sugar: 0 g Fiber: 0 g

Cycle times & rehydration for reference only. Your results may vary.