Heat
How to brown meat and vegetables
Cook food in a hot pan until its surface turns brown, which adds rich, roasted flavor.
Step by step
- Pat the food dry; for ground meat, let the pan get hot first.
- Add a little oil and spread the food in one layer.
- Leave it alone for a few minutes so the bottom browns, then turn or break it up.
- Work in batches if it won't fit in one layer.
- Pour off extra fat if the recipe says to.
How you know it's done
Most surfaces are brown, not gray, and the bottom of the pan has browned bits (they are flavor, not burn).
Common mistakes
- Stirring ground meat nonstop, which keeps it gray.
- Crowding the pan.
Simmerbee recipes that use it (32)
- Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Honey Glaze
- Bacon, Egg and Cheese Breakfast Burritos
- Cajun-Style Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya
- Classic Beef and Bean Chili
- Classic Lamb Shepherd's Pie
- Classic Stovetop Ratatouille
- Coq au Vin with Chicken Thighs
- Creamy Mushroom Stroganoff
- Creole-Style Shrimp and Sausage Jambalaya
- Crispy Parmesan Lemon Roasted Broccoli
- Freezer Breakfast Burritos with Eggs, Potatoes and Beans
- Garlic Rosemary Lamb Chops
- Garlicky Ground Pork and Green Bean Stir-Fry
- Herb-Crusted Prime Rib Roast
- Herb-Crusted Roasted Pork Tenderloin
- Homemade Vegetable Broth
- Korean-Inspired Beef Bulgogi (Skillet)
- Lemon Almond Green Beans
- Lemon-Herb Roast Leg of Lamb
- Oven-Braised Holiday Brisket with Onions
- Pressure Cooker Pot Roast
- Pressure Cooker Pulled Pork
- Red Wine Braised Short Ribs
- Salisbury Steak with Mushroom Onion Gravy
- Skillet Beef and Broccoli
- Slow Cooker Pot Roast with Vegetables
- Smothered Pork Chops in Onion Gravy
- Sunday Dutch Oven Pot Roast
- Swedish-Style Meatballs in Creamy Gravy
- Vegan Mushroom Stroganoff with Cashew Cream
- Weeknight Beef Stroganoff
- Weeknight Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
In those recipes the word is underlined in the steps; tap it for the short version. In hands-free cook mode, ask “How do I brown?”
Related techniques
More heat
Sweat (vs. sauté)Stir-fryPan-fryDeep-fryRoastBroilGrillBraise