Simple Ground Beef Tacos Make Mealtime a Breeze Any Day of the Week (2024)

FAQs

Can I make taco meat a day ahead? ›

The taco meat can be made days ahead of time and then warmed when ready. You can also prep all of the toppings and store in airtight containers in the refrigerator.

As a general rule, you should plan for about 1/4 to 1/2 pound of meat per person when making tacos. So for a family of four, you'll need around 1 to 2 pounds of ground beef. Of course, this can vary depending on your personal preferences and appetite, so adjust accordingly.

TWO HOURS is the MAXIMUM time perishable foods should be at room temperature (ONE HOUR at temperatures 90 degrees F and higher). This INCLUDES the time they're on the table during your meal. Just ONE bacterium, doubling every 20 minutes, can grow to over 2,097,152 bacteria in 7 hours!

For an average serving of 2 tacos, you'll need 2 ounces of cheese per person. Tip: You don't even need to do the math yourself.

It freezes like a dream and can be used as a time-saving shortcut in your favorite beef recipes—from chili to shepherd's pie and a whole lot more. Make it easy on yourself and freeze in meal-sized portions of 2-cups, which is the equivalent to 1 pound of cooked ground beef.

At home, the cooked meat can be kept hot in a warm oven (approximately 200 °F, in a chafing dish or slow cooker, or on a warming tray.

Say you've cooked up a pound of ground beef for taco night, how long will that last you in the fridge? Like all leftovers, cooked meats will last in the refrigerator for three to four days, according to the United States Department of Agriculture.

The Two-Hour Rule

Havern explains: "The maximum amount of time perishable foods can [spend] in the danger zone is two hours. At two hours, the food must be consumed, stored correctly, or thrown away. This includes all cooked leftovers, [chopped] fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy products."

If stored properly, leftover taco fridge can be stored in the fridge for 3-4 days. So, if you plan on using it in 3 to 4 days, you can easily put it in the fridge. However, if you want to use it later on, and not in the next 3 to 4 days, you should freeze it.

Each taco shell or small soft taco-size tortilla fits about 2 ounces or 1/4 cup of meat. If you add diced onions, you could stretch a pound of ground beef to make about a dozen tacos. With just the meat and spices, you can make about 8 tacos from a pound of meat.

How many tacos will 10 pounds of ground beef make? ›

The "conservative" amount of ground beef in a typical taco is 2.5 ounces, but because of the other taco fillings we can estimate 2 ounces of beef for the average taco. So that being said, probably about 8 tacos per pound of ground beef.

Many traditional Mexican tacos are topped with white onions, cilantro, maybe some sliced radishes, a squeeze of lime, and a drizzle of salsa or hot sauce, but toppings can vary by region (both in Mexico and the U.S.) and taco type.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but raw ground beef only lasts one to two days in the fridge, according to FoodSafety.gov. However, there are a few extra measures you can take to try and extend the shelf life of your ground beef.

Freezing your meat in pre-portioned serving sizes means you are always ready for taco Tuesday or those busy weeknights. You can decide how much meat you want to batch cook at a time, but I usually cook up 3-4 pounds at once to use for different recipes.

Refrigeration Guidelines

The refrigerator temperature should be set below 40°F (4°C) to inhibit bacterial growth effectively. It's crucial to separate the taco components before refrigeration: Meat: Should be placed in an airtight container or tightly sealed in plastic wrap to prevent cross-contamination.

Each time food is cooled, stored and reheated, the likelihood of harmful bacteria multiplying increases. If you do end up with leftovers, it is much safer to either freeze them or reheat them just once.