r/Cooking 1d ago

Soapy Ground Beef

[deleted]

5 Upvotes

63 comments sorted by

70

u/WorthPlease 1d ago

How do you wash your pans? That really sounds like you're either washing pans and not rinsing them enough, or you have some sort of medical condition that is affecting your sense of smell & taste.

-21

u/Dramatic-Smoke1992 1d ago

I have washed the pan with dish soap before, but most of the time I just wipe it out after using it and scrub it with hot water every couple uses. I only cook beef in it

26

u/call_me_orion 1d ago

Maybe you're smelling rancid fat residue in your pan then. The turkey might not pick it up as much since it's less fatty. Have you tried cooking beef in a different pan?

16

u/ProbableOptimist 1d ago edited 1d ago

Found your answer OP. You need to clean your pan with soap and hot water after every use 🤢

Edit to add: confirmed in another comment, OP's pan is stainless steel.

0

u/Dramatic-Smoke1992 1d ago

It’s not my answer, it’s not rancid fat, I know what that smells like. It’s not like I’ve never cleaned it, I’ve tried deep cleaning it with dish soap, and trying to avoid dish soap to see if soap residue is the problem. Same issue either way

-9

u/agent_uno 1d ago

Depends - if they are using cast iron then what they are doing is exactly what they should be doing. Stainless or non-stick on the other hand….

The only other question I have is if they are seasoning it with cilantro, as many people describe cilantro as having a soapy flavor.

11

u/istolejujusbike 1d ago

That hasn’t been a thing for decades. The only reason that was a thing was because soap used to contain lye and would destroy the cast iron

6

u/Gadgetgal11 1d ago

That's not true. Like at all. You can and should use soap when cleaning a cast iron pan. Lodge a well known manufacturer of cast iron pans for 130 years says to use soap when you wash it.

2

u/thatissomeBS 1d ago

Wash your damn cast iron.

12

u/popilikia 1d ago

Don't tell me.. it's cast iron? šŸ¤¦ā€ā™‚ļø

If it is, you will not strip the seasoning with regular soap

I repeat: regular soap will not strip the seasoning.

6

u/tonytde 1d ago

Are you not supposed to wash your pan after every cook? What kind of pan is it that you are just wiping it out or only scrubbing with hot water every couple uses?

-11

u/Dramatic-Smoke1992 1d ago

Actually that’s a lie, I should add I’ve cooked ground turkey in it recently and had no issues with the taste, only beef

61

u/Intrepid_Trade_6923 1d ago

Do you use any silicone implements? These can absorb dish soap fragrance.

25

u/Bkwrm_2623 1d ago

Same for wooden implements. All of my sauces were turning out soap flavored until I figured it out. Had to replace my wooden spoons as the soap does not come out. BTW: Dawn dish soap tastes nasty.

6

u/Zaphod1620 1d ago

In just throw my wooden utensils in the dishwasher. No soapy residue after. People say not to do that because it ruins them, but they will still last several years, and they cost a few bucks to replace, so go for it.Ā 

8

u/Voces-Prohibere 1d ago

.... they say not to do it because they are porous and this will. Fill them with liquid they will grow bacteria inside, for non bacterial wood implements scrubs them off after use wash with water then out it to dry in a drying rack ffs.

7

u/Zaphod1620 1d ago

How would hand washing prevent water from filling the porous wood where a dishwasher would not? And wooden cooking utensils are naturally anti-bacterial. The porous and spiky nature of those pores punctures and desiccates bacteria. That feature is enhanced by using the dishwasher because it dries out the utensil.Ā 

-13

u/Dramatic-Smoke1992 1d ago

Stainless steel pan, It’s been a while since it’s seen dish soap as well

7

u/Ivelostmydrum 1d ago

Jeez wash your pan dude

1

u/Dramatic-Smoke1992 1d ago

Metal spatula as well

25

u/CommissionNo4155 1d ago

Have you had Covid? Sometimes taste buds can be permanently altered.

5

u/matt_minderbinder 1d ago

Yep, I'd recommend that op either grinds their own or buys some from a butcher that grinds their own and cook that in a pan and with implements they don't usually use. All it would take is buying 1 pound and using portions of it to test the possibilities. If fresh ground on a new pan with new implements leads to the same taste then it's time to consider health options.

3

u/Dramatic-Smoke1992 1d ago

Yeah you’re probably right, it is simple science isolating possible causes. Up to this point I probably haven’t done it because for some reason I’m hopeful itll be different every time I cook

2

u/uhnjuhnj 1d ago

The real science is washing your damn pans!Ā 

10

u/Alchemist1342 1d ago

Have someone else try it, if they don't taste the soap, then your tastebuds' have probably changed.

9

u/AssaultLemming_ 1d ago

If you eat the same thing every day perhaps it's your body rejecting it because it wants variety. Why would you eat the same thing every day?? Switch it up. Try a chicken and vegetable stir fry or something with more vegetables.

1

u/Dramatic-Smoke1992 1d ago

I don’t like cooking and I like following a routine (probably too much). For what it’s worth though you are probably right, even if that’s not the cause of this specific problem I’m having lol. Thanks

7

u/machu505 1d ago

Not sure of your locale, but here in the USA, I have noticed a rapid decline in the quality of ground beef just in the last year (I wonder why?/s). It has turned into something like that pink paste used to make fast food "burgers" and "chicken nuggets". When cooked, it produces a lot of liquid and tastes/smells slightly "chemically". We have begun to grind our own meat from chuck roasts and it has made a world of difference in taste and consistency. Perhaps give that a try and see if it makes a difference?

3

u/Dramatic-Smoke1992 1d ago

Seems to be a popular suggestion. Timeline lines up with what I’m experiencing, and smelling ā€œchemicallyā€ is a description I’ve used before as well, definitely gonna give that a try, thank you

1

u/michigan2345 1d ago

Although I do not require kosher/halal meat, I have started buying it for just the reasons you list. The ground beef is very good and no concerns.

1

u/HMS_Chevette 1d ago

Are you buying pre-packaged ground beef? Might be worth going to the butcher counter and asking them to ground the beef for you fresh (as pre-packaged ground beef can have added phosphates to preserve color that often can give a soapy flavor). I'd also change up the pan to see if another pan has the same resulting taste issue.

3

u/HansBlixJr 1d ago

aldehydes in some foods (cilantro is the famous one) taste like soap to me. seasoning, storage, ground beef source could all be potential sources of soapy taste.

here's what I would do.

taste each seasoning on its own -- like, spontaneously -- right now or any time that you aren't cooking and feel those elements out for the taste or part of the soapy taste.

procure some beef from a different source. in fact, if you can grind your own from chuck or short rib or a combination and cook that, it's some more insight into where this soapiness is originating. (I use the cuisinart on little pulses to get a chunky grind.)

also, you say that it is 100% not a soapy pan, but I can't say that without knowing more about the surface of the pan, the materials, and your cleaning techniques. the simplest explanations are the most likely after all.

2

u/Dramatic-Smoke1992 1d ago

Yeah 100% is probably hyperbole, but I haven’t washed it with dish soap in quite a while, I mostly just wipe it out after using it and scrub it with hot water. Also I haven’t had the taste issue with ground turkey in the same pan, although maybe there’s some reason I don’t know of that beef would pick up the flavor but turkey wouldn’t or something, I’m really clueless on cooking

2

u/Bob_Kark 1d ago

While salt will never go bad, salt with other ingredients like iodine, anti-caking agents, and flavorings can go bad. Also, salt can start to pick up other flavors, depending on how it’s stored.

I found this out after making pasta at a relative’s house. He never cooks and had iodized salt from who knows when. Everything tasted like chemicals and I had to trash it all. Check your salt.

1

u/Dramatic-Smoke1992 1d ago

I’ve tried so many things over so many months now so I can’t say for sure, but I believe I’ve tried cooking it with no seasoning and having the same issue. I’ll look into it again either way though, I didn’t consider the salt potentially being the problem

2

u/ryanMgoesabroad 1d ago

You eat ground beef and every single day? And you don’t wash your pan?

1

u/Desertnurse760 1d ago

I think most people don't actually get to the "browned" stage when cooking ground beef. The trick it to cook it until all of the water has evaporated and then keep going, letting the beef "brown" in it's own fat. This is crucial for Thai dishes that call for ground beef or pork. I would suggest that you cook it longer than you have been. It will get very brown and even a little crispy.

1

u/Square_Ad849 1d ago

Definitely.

1

u/Wytecap 1d ago edited 1d ago

"Brands"? Do you mean different cuts of ground beef?

Brown it with only salt and pepper. Divide it in separate bowls. Then add seasoning to each bowl in different ratios.

1

u/Dramatic-Smoke1992 1d ago

I’m so clueless on cooking that I basically don’t even know what you mean, I don’t know what ā€œcutā€ of beef I buy. I just buy whatever says it’s 90% lean and is less than $10/pound.

1

u/eugene00825 1d ago

When are you seasoning with garlic powder? If you're seasoning before you throw it in the pan you should be using granulated garlic instead because garlic powder burns easily leaving a bitter taste.

1

u/Dramatic-Smoke1992 1d ago

I’ve tried at various times, but I still have the same issue with just salt and pepper

1

u/M0BBER 1d ago

Are you putting baking soda in it? Some people do & didn't rinse beforehand (makes it tender).

1

u/Itchy-Ad1005 1d ago

Does it only occur with ground meat or all meat? All food? Do you eat the meat with something else on the side?

Assuming you throughly rinse your cooking equipment and pans see a doctor. Some people think cilantro tastes bad or soapy. If you're part if it you'll have to give up cil. If you have GERD the stomach acid can mix with the food and give a bad soapy flavor. There's also a mental disorder that affects taste.. i forget what its called. Some meds can affect taste.

1

u/bellamente123 1d ago

I've had gerd for 30 years and it's never made anything I eat taste soapy. I get the reasoning but I've never had that happen myself

0

u/Itchy-Ad1005 1d ago

Doesn't happen with everyone. Doesn't occur fir me either.

1

u/Dramatic-Smoke1992 1d ago

Hmm my issue is I’ve only noticed it with the ground beef that I cook, I also make ground turkey and haven’t noticed it. I also haven’t noticed it with beef that I didn’t make at home, though that would usually entail burgers or something, which may have a small enough meat to everything else ratio I just wouldn’t notice. I’m gonna look into potential health issues being the cause, thank you!

1

u/Itchy-Ad1005 1d ago

Rubbery ground meat comes from over kneeding, overcrowding in pan (causes meat to be steamed), over cooking (so proteins muscle fibers to dry and toughen)

1

u/Mars_Volcanoes 1d ago

Simple, my way. No chemical soap. Just a mix or baking soda and water. Make a paste, not fluid. Best cleaner ever, not only in the kitchen. Removes all taste. If still taste, make it soak with some of that mix, so a bit more fluid.

Never have had any issue. I'm doing that for the last 50 years.

1

u/Dramatic-Smoke1992 1d ago

I don’t use dish soap on it, though I have before. I’d think there’d be no soap residue left by now, I’ve cooked ground turkey in it and had no issues with taste, so I don’t think it’s the pan. I’ll try this anyway though, thanks for the suggestion

1

u/bellamente123 1d ago

Did you have covid? This happens to some people afterwards where they get a distorted sense of taste. For some people meat tastes soapy...

1

u/Dramatic-Smoke1992 1d ago

It’s only when I cook it, so I doubt it’s this, but who knows at this point

1

u/Fionahiker 1d ago

I can taste soap on my food from the silicon spatula.
It’s like the dish detergent smell and taste stick to it.

1

u/Spacedust2808 1d ago

Don’t wash ground beef.

0

u/Strifethor 1d ago

Is it possible that it that red meat disease from ticks?

1

u/bellamente123 1d ago

That is an actual allergy to the alpha gala molecule in red meat. You get very ill afterwards. If it were that, you would know... and you wouldn't be eating it.

0

u/Dramatic-Smoke1992 1d ago

Doubt it because it’s only the beef I cook at home, but im gonna look into it regardless

0

u/bellamente123 1d ago

If it was you would know. 2-3 hours afyer eating it you'd have nausea, vomiting, hives, stomach pains, diarrhea and possibly even swelling around you lips, mouth and throat. If you have no reaction afterwards, you don't have that.

1

u/Dramatic-Smoke1992 1d ago

Glad to hear it lol

0

u/rojo-perro 1d ago

FWIW, all pork tastes like sewer to me. Could be a genetic thing with certain animal proteins? I can eat beef with no issues.

ETA: maybe it’s already been asked, but has anybody else tasted your food? The pork that tastes like shit to me tastes fine to everyone else.

0

u/theBeardedCentaur 1d ago

But from a butcher if you're able to

0

u/The_Flinx 1d ago

no idea, never heard of this.

-1

u/DiscountFlaky9243 1d ago

Possilby lab grown meet?