Meat Conversion Guide - Cups in a Pound of Hamburger & More
Convert pounds of meat to cups for all types and preparations. Interactive calculator for ground beef, turkey, chicken, pork with raw vs cooked measurements
Interactive Meat Conversion Calculator
Quick Answer
One pound of ground hamburger equals approximately 2 cups when cooked and crumbled. Raw ground meat is denser at about 1.5 cups per pound. Fat content affects these measurements by 5-15%.
Chef Steven Harty
Professional Chef
30+ years experience
30+ years professional experience, trained under Rick Bayless. Specializes in precision cooking.
Education
Culinary Training under Chef Rick Bayless
Cups in a Pound of Hamburger
Ground hamburger (beef) conversions depend heavily on whether it's raw or cooked. The cooking process removes moisture and fat, significantly changing the volume-to-weight ratio. Here's the complete breakdown:
| Preparation | 1 Pound = Cups | Fat Content | Best Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raw Ground Beef | 1.5 cups | 20% fat | Burgers, meatballs, meatloaf |
| Cooked Ground Beef | 2.0 cups | Fat drained | Tacos, sauces, casseroles |
| Lean Ground Beef (Raw) | 1.6 cups | 10% fat | Health-conscious cooking |
| Lean Ground Beef (Cooked) | 2.2 cups | Fat drained | Diet-friendly recipes |
| Extra Lean (Raw) | 1.7 cups | 5% fat | Low-fat cooking |
| Extra Lean (Cooked) | 2.3 cups | Minimal fat | Athletic/medical diets |
Why the Difference?
Cooking ground beef removes water (about 25%) and renders fat (10-20% of total weight). This loss of moisture and fat means cooked ground beef takes up more volume per pound than raw meat, giving you more cups per pound.
• Standard measurement: 1 lb raw = 1.5 cups, 1 lb cooked = 2.0 cups
• Why cooked is more: Water and fat loss creates air pockets
• Fat matters: Leaner beef = more cups when cooked
• For recipes: Always check if recipe calls for raw or cooked
Complete Meat Conversion Chart
Different types of meat have varying densities and fat contents, which affect their weight-to-volume conversions. Here's a comprehensive guide for all common meat types:
Ground Meat (Raw)
- Ground Beef: 1.5 cups/lb
- Ground Turkey: 1.6 cups/lb
- Ground Chicken: 1.7 cups/lb
- Ground Pork: 1.4 cups/lb
- Ground Lamb: 1.5 cups/lb
Ground Meat (Cooked)
- Ground Beef: 2.0 cups/lb
- Ground Turkey: 2.1 cups/lb
- Ground Chicken: 2.2 cups/lb
- Ground Pork: 1.9 cups/lb
- Ground Lamb: 2.0 cups/lb
Diced/Cubed Meat
- Diced Chicken: 2.5 cups/lb
- Diced Beef: 2.3 cups/lb
- Diced Pork: 2.4 cups/lb
- Diced Turkey: 2.6 cups/lb
- Diced Ham: 2.2 cups/lb
Shredded/Pulled Meat
- Pulled Pork: 3.0 cups/lb
- Shredded Chicken: 3.2 cups/lb
- Shredded Beef: 2.8 cups/lb
- Pulled Turkey: 3.1 cups/lb
- Crab Meat: 2.4 cups/lb
How Cooking Changes Meat Volume
Understanding how cooking affects meat volume is crucial for accurate recipe conversions and meal planning. The cooking process fundamentally changes meat's density through moisture and fat loss.
What Happens During Cooking
- • Moisture Loss: 20-25% of water content evaporates during cooking
- • Fat Rendering: 10-20% of fat melts and drains away (depending on fat content)
- • Protein Coagulation: Proteins firm up and create air pockets
- • Browning Reaction: Maillard reaction creates flavor but reduces density
- • Texture Change: Compact raw meat becomes crumbly cooked meat
Recipe Scaling Tip
When scaling recipes, always note whether the recipe calls for raw or cooked meat measurements. Using cooked measurements for raw meat (or vice versa) can throw off your recipe by 25-35%.
Raw vs Cooked Comparison
| Raw Weight | Raw Cups | → | Cooked Cups | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 lb | 1.5 cups | → | 2.0 cups | +0.5 cups (+33%) |
| 2 lbs | 3.0 cups | → | 4.0 cups | +1.0 cups (+33%) |
| 3 lbs | 4.5 cups | → | 6.0 cups | +1.5 cups (+33%) |
| 4 lbs | 6.0 cups | → | 8.0 cups | +2.0 cups (+33%) |
| 5 lbs | 7.5 cups | → | 10.0 cups | +2.5 cups (+33%) |
Practical Meat Conversion Applications
Meal Planning
- • Calculate servings per pound of meat
- • Plan grocery shopping quantities
- • Determine container sizes for meal prep
- • Estimate cooking times and portions
Quick Tip: 1 lb ground beef = 4 servings (½ cup each)
Recipe Scaling
- • Convert family recipes to catering quantities
- • Scale down large batch recipes
- • Adjust for different meat types
- • Calculate freezer storage needs
Quick Tip: Double recipe = 2x weight, not 2x volume
Cost Calculation
- • Compare price per serving vs price per pound
- • Calculate value of different fat percentages
- • Budget for meat portions accurately
- • Optimize bulk purchasing decisions
Quick Tip: Lean meat costs more but yields more servings
Serving Size Guide
| Meat Type | 1 Pound Serves | Per Person | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ground beef (cooked) | 4 people | ½ cup (4 oz) | Standard taco/pasta serving |
| Ground turkey (cooked) | 4-5 people | ½ cup | Slightly more volume |
| Diced chicken | 4 people | ⅔ cup (4 oz) | Stir-fry or salad portions |
| Shredded chicken | 5 people | ⅔ cup | Sandwiches or bowls |
| Pulled pork | 6 people | ½ cup | BBQ sandwich portions |
Related Resources
Complete Cups to Pounds Guide
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Use Main Calculator →Bulk Cooking Conversions
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View Bulk Guide →All Conversion Tools
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Browse All Tools →Frequently Asked Questions
How many cups in a pound of hamburger?
Raw hamburger yields approximately 1.5 cups per pound, while cooked and drained hamburger yields about 2.0 cups per pound. This 33% volume increase comes from moisture and fat loss during cooking. Always check if your recipe calls for raw or cooked measurements.
How many cups is 1 pound of ground beef cooked?
1 pound of cooked ground beef equals approximately 2.0 cups when drained. This applies to regular ground beef (20% fat). Lean ground beef yields slightly more at 2.2 cups, and extra lean yields about 2.3 cups per pound due to less fat loss.
How many cups of hamburger in a pound?
A pound of raw hamburger contains about 1.5 cups. After cooking and draining, that same pound yields approximately 2.0 cups. The difference is due to water evaporation (25%) and fat rendering (10-20%) during the cooking process.
How many cups is one pound of ground beef?
One pound of ground beef equals 1.5 cups when raw or 2.0 cups when cooked and drained. This measurement is for regular ground beef with 20% fat content. Leaner varieties yield slightly more cups per pound when cooked.
How many cups of ground beef in a pound?
There are 1.5 cups of raw ground beef in a pound, or 2.0 cups of cooked, drained ground beef in a pound. The cooking process removes moisture and fat, causing the volume to increase by approximately 33% while the weight remains the same.
Does the fat content affect meat volume measurements?
Yes, fat content significantly affects volume. Higher fat content (20%) means denser raw meat at 1.5 cups per pound. Lean meat (10% fat) yields 1.6 cups raw and 2.2 cups cooked. Extra lean (5% fat) yields 1.7 cups raw and 2.3 cups cooked per pound.
How many cups is 1 pound of cooked ground beef?
1 pound of cooked ground beef equals 2.0 cups for regular (20% fat), 2.2 cups for lean (10% fat), and 2.3 cups for extra lean (5% fat). These measurements assume the fat has been drained after cooking.
What is the weight of 1 cup cooked ground beef?
1 cup of cooked, crumbled ground beef weighs approximately 8 ounces (half a pound). This means 2 cups equal 1 pound when cooked. Raw ground beef is denser at about 10.5 ounces per cup.
How much does 1 pound of raw ground beef weigh after cooking?
1 pound (16 oz) of raw ground beef typically weighs 12-13 ounces after cooking and draining, depending on fat content. Regular ground beef (20% fat) loses about 25% weight, while lean loses about 20%. The volume increases despite weight loss.
Can I substitute ground turkey for ground beef in recipes?
Yes, but adjust for volume differences. Ground turkey is less dense, yielding 1.6 cups raw (vs beef's 1.5 cups) and 2.1 cups cooked (vs beef's 2.0 cups) per pound. Use the same weight but expect slightly more volume, especially when cooked.
How do I measure shredded or pulled meat accurately?
Shredded meat should be lightly packed into measuring cups, not compressed. Shredded chicken yields about 3.2 cups per pound, and pulled pork yields about 3.0 cups per pound due to their fluffy, separated texture after slow cooking.
Why do cooked meat measurements give more cups per pound?
Cooking removes 20-25% moisture and 10-20% fat, making meat less dense. Protein fibers also separate and create air pockets during cooking. This means the same weight occupies more volume - raw ground beef at 1.5 cups/lb becomes 2.0 cups/lb when cooked.
Chef Steven Harty
Professional Chef | 30+ Years Experience
Chef Harty brings over 30 years of professional culinary experience, having trained under renowned chef Rick Bayless. He specializes in precision cooking and measurement accuracy, ensuring all our cooking conversions and ingredient calculations are tested and verified in real kitchen conditions.
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