Cooking minced beef for putting in

[ali_kat]

Chilli, Spag Bol etc

Am I dreaming or did I see something about cooking it in the oven first?

Google search isn't helping

[bingybongy]

I don't know about that but I always dry fry it to brown it before adding any other ingredients - same difference I reckon.

[ali_kat]

I do that too

But there's something stirring in my memory - MC??

[Mobile Chicane]

Brown it in a block, in a frying pan, until the outside is all brown. Then add it to the sauce.

[calibrax]

Mobile Chicane said:

Brown it in a block, in a frying pan, until the outside is all brown. Then add it to the sauce.

^^ this.

Gives you a good mix of textures in your final dish. I usually put in some diced stewing steak too, just to give some slightly bigger bite-sized pieces.

[ali_kat]

I have remembered where I heard it from

One of Chris Evans's celebrity chefs - cannot for the life of me remember whom

Have done it today, so will let you know the results but basically you spread the mince over a baking tray & roast it in the oven to get rid of the water etc, then add it to the pan & cook as usual.

Smells divine (but then that could be the left over Chorizio I've also thrown in )

[ali_kat]

It was amazing

Really brought out texture in the meat & a real depth of flavour

[SidJames]

Evans also reckons that cooking streaking bacon in the oven, inbetween two greased baking trays, is the road to perfect crispy bacon.

[kev1974]

ali_kat said:

I have remembered where I heard it from

One of Chris Evans's celebrity chefs - cannot for the life of me remember whom

Have done it today, so will let you know the results but basically you spread the mince over a baking tray & roast it in the oven to get rid of the water etc, then add it to the pan & cook as usual.

Smells divine (but then that could be the left over Chorizio I've also thrown in )

How long do you "roast" it, are we talking gently like 5 mins at 180 sort of thing?

[ali_kat]

Til it was cooked, so @ 15min @ 180

[kev1974]

Ah OK so it completely replaces the usual "frying" step then, you just go straight from oven to adding sauce or whatever?

Sounds worth a try

[ali_kat]

Yes, just add to the onions etc