As a busy mom I am always on the lookout for tips and tricks to make my life easier. I love a good “Hack” when it comes to work I have to do anyway, so when asked me to share one of my favorite cooking hacks and include it on their Pinterest board “Hacks of Life” I was knew just what to share!
When life keeps you going all day long, the last thing you want to do at the end of the day is spend a ton of time in the kitchen. My family loves Taco Night and so do I! It’s a quick, easy, and healthy meal that we can all customize to our specific tastes. A few years ago I learned a tip that made Taco night even better!
It used to be that when we cooked ground beef there were always some chunks that were bigger than others. This always annoyed me because inevitably those chunks either missed the seasoning all together, or got a big clump of it. Either way it wasn’t very palatable.
Did you know there is one tool in your kitchen that can not only make perfectly crumbled ground beef every time, but it can also speed up the cooking time of your beef?
The trick to perfectly crumbled ground beef that is also perfectly seasoned and cook is a potato masher!
That’s right! Don’t reach for your trusty spatula or even that old wooden spoon, all you need to make perfectly crumbled ground beef is this trusty tool!
It’s super easy to use do!
So next time you are having a family taco night don’t forget to grab the potato masher!
Paleo Tacos served with creamy avocado dressing!
Don’t forget this cooking hack will work with the ground meat of your choice, and it’s not just for tacos! It’s perfect for spaghetti, casseroles, and stuffed peppers too!
We love shopping at Fresh & Easy because it’s pretty much a giant life hack disguised as a grocery store! They supply “fast food” without compromising price or quality!
You may remember this isn’t my first time writing about my love for Fresh & Easy and how they help to make my life easier. The store filled with fresh, organic, food at crazy affordable prices.
I love that I always know that their product is all natural – guaranteed to be free of artificial colors, flavors, and any other other gross stuff we shouldn’t be eating.
Additionally, I love that they have so many on-the-go, fresh, organic, affordable meals for easy breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. Plus, when I’m looking for lunch ideas or snack ideas for kids I know I’m always going to find what I need at !
So now is the time I should tell you that you need to head over to . It’s filled with a TON of genius cooking hacks.
Plus you can enter Fresh & Easy’s Holiday Sweepstakes to win $150 in groceries or $300 cash!
To Enter:
- Visit Pinterest.com/freshandeasy/the-hacks-of-life.
- Pin your favorite kitchen hack. http://www.Pinterest.com/freshandeasy/the-hacks-of-life
You can pin your own image, you can pin MY image (thank you!!), or you can pin any image on their board!
The images you select will not impact odds of winning the Sweepstakes so it’s totally up to you. You only need to pin one image to gain entry into the Sweepstakes; multiple pins will not gain additional entries into the Sweepstakes. - Make sure to include #HacksSweepstakes in the description of the pin they submit for the Sweepstakes so they can find your pin!
For more information, see the terms and conditions for entering the giveaway.
Now, I want to know WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE KITCHEN HACK!
Let me know in the comments below!
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Fresh & Easy.
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YES!! I have always used a potato masher!! People always see me and think it’s odd. I’m all WOOHOO, no big chunks! Nice to see someone else is with me on that!
Oh, yes! And you even have my favorite style of potato masher. I always use that for ground beef… so much better then trying to break it apart with a spatula like my parents did.
Excellent tip!! Thank you so much. I never thought of using a potato masher to create crumbled beef.
OMG… why didn’t I think of this… I keep complaining to my hubby that the meat it not “perfect” and never thought of that; what an awesome idea and sooo simple. Thanks for sharing, that’s why I love hanging out on blogs you always learn something awesome, simple and “Why didn’t I think of that moment”…
That is awesome! I’ll have to try this trick for when I make taco salads later tonight.
I love this tip!!! Mine always ends up in clumps!
Oh that looks delicious! Pinned it so I can try it sometime this week!
I love easy little household hacks, and this is definitely one! I too have clumpy ground beef, and it isn’t all that good to have huge pieces of meat stuffed in tacos or within spaghetti. Definitely doing this next time we have ground beef!
This is such a handy trick! I actually have a ground beef tool that I bought from pampered chef years ago and I love it.
I will have to try this out.
I love your idea. I have one of these that rarely gets used. I will have to try this.
What a great tip! I’ll have to try it next time.
We always use a spatula. Going to have to try out the potato masher next time.
Great tip! I’ve always tried to break mine up while cooking and then if a chunk was left I got it with a slotted spoon.
I always feel guilty that I like my ground beef that crumbly, and here you are showing tips on how to do it. From now on, I’ll be proud of my little crumbles! Love the hack!
Thank you! This bugs me too, I don’t want a huge chunk of ground beef when I eat my tacos, I want little crumbled bits. I will definitely be trying this next Taco night (which is often!) You’re a lifesaver!
Yes, I need one of these. They are perfect for ground beef.
Great tip! I don’t like having big chunks in my ground meats either. My kitchen hack? Using a small cooked potatoes instead of cream for a creamy dressing 🙂
I like to use the stand mixer to shred my cooked chicken.
Now I am starving for some beef tacos. I always thought it was supposed to be crumbly so this is awesome.
Oh man I was hoping that was the recipe for stuffed peppers when I saw that pretty pepper there. I love the wooden spoon but hadn’t tried a masher yet. My favorite hack, ummm well not really a hack unless you count assigning kids to make dinner. (haha mom doesn’t always have to cook) I save money making my own coffee creamer. 🙂
I have a stupid question. Do you use the masher during or after cooking? Afterwards would seem to be easier.
Thanks for sharing those tips and for sure those are of quality meats.