Turkey vs Ground Beef

[killerbombshell]

I always thought that ground turkey would be calorically less dense than ground beef and I've been subtituting in some of my recipes that I eat regularly (taco salads, cassaroles, etc). I recently googled it and some reports claim that the caloric difference is really nominal, something like 18 calories per cup. Should I continue my substitution or not worry about it?

[not2late]

Re: Turkey vs Ground Beef

Yeah that's one of the big scams of the low fat craze: "lean" proteins are only "leaner" by 1 or 2 grams (sometimes 3 grams). They promote flavorless and light meat that you probably will eat more of because it's so flavorless and light, so at the end of the day, you really aren't saving any "fat calories".

[killerbombshell]

Re: Turkey vs Ground Beef

Thanks Megs, I knew you'd know =) That makes me a sad panda but I'm glad I'm informed now.

[not2late]

Re: Turkey vs Ground Beef

No prob. I learned about the fat scam a few years ago. I was watching a Julia Child show and she railed about water packed tuna. She thought that oil packed (especially olive oil packed) tuna was more flavorful, but water packed tuna was more readily available because people think has less fat. But the difference is only 2 grams.

[killerbombshell]

Re: Turkey vs Ground Beef

While you're talking about tuna (and if I might hijack my own thread), will oil or water packed make a difference on the amount of sodium in it? I just realized how much tuna (and thus, sodium) I was consuming and was really unhappy about it. Any suggestions?

[lisadallasr]

Re: Turkey vs Ground Beef

Hi actually I mostly use ground turkey and not because its supposedly less fattening, i started buying ground turkey because i could buy a family size for $5.00 and i have been using it for so long, i really like the taste and its not dry whatsoever. i will use ground beef though im not against it or nothing but the prices are ridicuolous.

[changing]

Re: Turkey vs Ground Beef

Mmm, that's what I was thinking too, lisadallasr, ground beef is much more expensive than ground turkey. I have a soft spot for ground beef though (just love the way it tastes, I don't know why) so I buy it as often as I can, but when money gets lean around here, in comes the ground turkey...

[bluerain324]

Re: Turkey vs Ground Beef

Being from the south and having a neighbor who is a hunting fanatic, I can honestly say that I love using ground deer. A lot of people even around here won't eat it though. I am not sure why. I think it is best used for making chili.

[Heidi3]

Re: Turkey vs Ground Beef

ground turkey weirds me out for some reason ..I really think you should eat what you like better and not worry too much about the other stuff ....but that is just me and my ever humble opinion

[pladd04]

Re: Turkey vs Ground Beef

You know Blue, I've had deer meat a few times and hated it until a friend of ours made it. He baked or broiled it in the oven with an A-1 sauce, it was tender and very good. I would probably like it in chili too. Anything to cover that wild taste Cack!
I used to use ground turkey a lot but not so much anymore because I am one of those people that really gets tired after turkey. So I limit my turkey intake to about once a week if that. Good thread Killer.

[not2late]

Re: Turkey vs Ground Beef

Around here ground turkey is about as expensive as ground beef!

Re: sodium in water packed v. oil packed. I don't know because I never checked the sodiums of those items! I have a can of Bumblebee chunk light tuna in oil here at the office and it has 250 mg per serving (2.5 servings per can). So if you eat the whole can that's 625 mg sodium.