The confusing world of beef ratings: Why five stars might ruin your dinner
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Ever stood in the supermarket meat aisle, staring at five different packs of beef mince, completely baffled by the price gaps? You’re not alone.
Some of us instinctively grab the most expensive pack assuming it’s higher quality, or we reluctantly pick the cheapest, thinking it will just have to do. But here’s the secret: when it comes to mince, a higher price tag doesn’t mean higher quality, and the cheapest option definitely isn’t the worst.
Not all beef mince is created equal – it's worth knowing how to decode the labels. Jo Abi
The beef mince you should choose depends on what you will be using it for, Craig Munro from Munro’s Quality Meat told nine.com.au. He broke down the science behind the star rating system and what it means for your next meal.
What is the beef mince star rating?
“The star rating is more the fat content [in the mince],” Munro said.
“So a five-star would have roughly five per cent fat, a four-star would have roughly about 10 per cent fat, and a three-star would have 15 per cent fat, and a two-star would have roughly around 20 per cent fat.”
This is part of the Health Star Rating (HSR) system created and implemented jointly by the Australian Federal, State, and Territory governments alongside food regulation bodies like Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ).
Individual supermarkets and meat processors calculate the rating themselves using the government’s strict criteria.
Beef mince with lower star ratings, and therefore higher fat content, are typically sold at lower prices due to the lower beef content.
Best uses for different grades of beef mince
The star rating on beef mince labels is related to fat content. 9Honey
While many regard lower grades of beef mince with that higher fat content as being lower in quality, Craig argues that it depends on what you’ll be using it for.
“It’s not necessarily a bad thing to have a lower star mince, it’s more about your recipe and what you’re looking to achieve with your meal,” he said.
“It just depends on how you’re cooking it. There are different applications for every type of mince. It depends on the recipe you’re looking at.”
Mince with a five-star rating is best suited for “bolognese-style cooking” or dishes like tacos and nachos, Munro said.
For a burger pattie which requires some fat to hold it together, he suggested a three-star beef mince.
Different star ratings suit different kinds of recipes, Craig Munro said. Jo Abi
Beef mince producers are required to rate their products following government guidelines. Jo Abi
Other types of mince
While beef mince is the biggest seller in Australian supermarkets, there are plenty of others to choose from.
These include beef and pork blends, which Munro highly recommended for some dishes.
“This is good for burgers and sausages if you’re going to do them at home.”
Chicken mince is also popular with supermarket shoppers looking for an even leaner option.
“Once again, it’s versatile and a lot of families are moving towards it,” Munro said.
Comparing different types of mince
Munro’s Quality Meat only sells one kind of premium beef mince, created using a blend of chuck and blade, which makes for a “leaner” mince with plenty of flavour.
This sells for $27.99 per kilo and would be rated at four to five stars.
Supermarkets sell a variety of beef mince grades to suit all budgets and cooking styles. Jo Abi
Coles sells several varieties of beef mince under the Coles and other brands.
Their offering include five-star beef mince for $24 per kilo, three-star beef mince for $14.50 per kilo, and ‘Bolognese Mince’, a three-star blend of pork and beef mince, for $15 per kilo.
Beef mince is one of the biggest supermarket sellers each week. Jo Abi
At Woolies, customers will also pay $24 per kilo for their highest quality Extra Lean Beef Mince. Their lower grades of beef mince sell for $11.94 and $15 per kilo.
Aldi sells two-star beef mince for $13.98 per kilo, three-star for $15.98, and five-star for $21.98.
