Taco Bell is one of the most popular fast food chains in the United States, known for serving Mexican-inspired foods like tacos, burritos, quesadillas and nachos. One of their signature menu items is the crunchy taco, which features a hard corn shell filled with seasoned ground beef, lettuce, cheese and other toppings. But how exactly does Taco Bell cook the meat that goes into their tacos? Here is an in-depth look at how Taco Bell prepares their taco meat.
The Taco Meat Recipe
While the exact recipe for Taco Bell’s taco meat is a well-guarded secret, some of the basic ingredients and seasonings have been revealed over the years. According to Taco Bell, their seasoned beef contains just three components: ground beef, water and a proprietary blend of seasonings.
The ground beef arrives at Taco Bell restaurants in frozen blocks that contain lean finely textured beef. This processed meat product is made by separating the fat from beef trimmings and then mixing the residual meat with ammonium hydroxide to kill bacteria. Once thawed, the ground beef is combined with water and Taco Bell’s signature mix of dry seasonings.
The proprietary seasoning blend contains ingredients like salt, chili pepper, onion powder, tomato powder, soybean oil, garlic powder, oregano and cumin. This mixture of spices and flavors is what gives Taco Bell’s meat its familiar Mexican-style taste.
Cooking Process
Taco Bell uses large commercial steamers to cook the beef for their tacos and other menu items. Here is the basic process:
- Frozen bags of ground beef are placed in the steamer and thawed overnight at low heat.
- Workers drain excess water from the thawed beef and combine it with the proprietary dry spice mix.
- The seasoned meat is cooked in the steamer at around 210°F for 1-2 hours until fully cooked through.
- The cooked taco meat is portioned out into holding pans kept warm at 165°F-180°F.
- As needed, workers scoop the pre-cooked taco meat from the holding pans and assemble tacos and other menu items for customers.
This steaming process cooks the beef gently and thoroughly, while also allowing the seasonings to fully penetrate and flavor the meat. The low cooking temperature helps keep the meat tender after it is cooked.
Food Safety
As a large national restaurant chain, Taco Bell has strict protocols in place to ensure the safety of their food. Here are some of the ways they keep their taco meat safe:
- The steamers heat the meat to safe minimum internal temperatures to destroy harmful pathogens.
- Holding pans keep cooked meat hot until served to prevent bacterial growth.
- Workers are trained in safe food handling procedures and follow health department regulations.
- Restaurants must pass regular inspections and audits to verify they are following safety protocols.
- Ingredients and finished products are tested for quality assurance and food safety.
By cooking their taco meat in small batches and keeping it piping hot until served, Taco Bell is able to serve freshly-prepared food while maintaining health and safety standards.
Why Steaming?
Steaming is an ideal cooking method for preparing taco meat on a large scale for several reasons:
- It allows for cooking large batches evenly and consistently.
- Steaming gently cooks the meat all the way through without drying it out.
- It brings out the flavor of the seasonings infused into the meat.
- The equipment is easy to operate, maintain, and clean in a commercial kitchen.
- Steamers take up minimal space compared to other cooking equipment.
Steaming also gives the taco meat a soft, moist texture that works well for tacos, as opposed to drier cooking methods like grilling. The tenderness of the steamed meat allows it to be easily bitten through the crunchy taco shell.
Why Not Raw?
While some restaurants do serve raw or very lightly cooked meat in tacos, Taco Bell chooses to fully cook their taco meat before serving for a few reasons:
- It improves the safety by eliminating harmful bacteria that raw meat can harbor.
- Cooked meat has a longer shelf life than raw when kept hot.
- Heating allows the seasonings to permeate the meat more deeply.
- Customers may find the texture and taste of raw beef less appealing.
For a national chain serving millions of customers, Taco Bell opts to follow food safety best practices and cook their beef thoroughly to 165°F internal temperature or higher before serving in menu items.
Pre-Cooking Meat
While some restaurants cook beef, chicken or other meats to order in each dish, Taco Bell chooses to pre-cook batches of taco meat for some advantages:
- Allows for quicker service since meat doesn’t have to be cooked to order.
- Provides more consistent results than cooking single portions.
- Makes it easier to keep up with high customer demand.
- Lets them prepare meat during slow periods to use when busy.
- Pre-cooking reduces the risk of undercooked meat being served.
The trade-off is that pre-cooked meat can dry out if kept hot for too long. That’s why Taco Bell uses moist steaming as the cooking method andaims to use up batches of taco meat within 1-2 hours after cooking.
Quality Control
To maintain consistency across thousands of locations, Taco Bell has strict quality control measures for their taco meat:
- The beef is sourced from approved suppliers that must meet specifications.
- The proprietary seasoning blend is prepared at designated facilities.
- Restaurants follow standardized recipes and procedures.
- Cooking equipment is calibrated regularly to ensure proper function.
- Holding temperature and expiration times are carefully monitored.
- Corporate kitchens test quality and flavor profiles of menu items.
By controlling ingredients and process at a national level, Taco Bell can achieve the signature flavor profile and texture for their taco meat that customers expect.
Customer Perception
Surveys over the years have found that Taco Bell customers appreciate the consistency of the taco meat flavor across different locations. While the meat may not be freshly ground beef cooked to order, customers know what to expect when ordering Taco Bell tacos. The familiar seasoned taco meat taste is part of what draws many loyal fans to the chain.
Customers also value the affordable price and speedy service. The pre-cooked taco meat helps keep prices lower and allows food to be served quickly after ordering. For customers craving quick Mexican-inspired fare, Taco Bell hits the right spot with their signature seasoned taco meat.
Nutrition Information
Here is the nutrition information for Taco Bell’s seasoned beef according to their website:
| Serving Size | 2.5 oz (71g) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 170 |
| Fat | 9g |
| Protein | 12g |
| Sodium | 320mg |
| Cholesterol | 45mg |
While not the leanest beef option, Taco Bell’s taco meat provides a reasonable amount of protein. The fat and sodium levels are moderate for fast food fare. Overall, an indulgent treat when eaten occasionally as part of a balanced diet.
Allergens
Those with food allergies should be aware that Taco Bell’s taco meat contains the following major allergens according to their website:
- Milk
- Soy
- Wheat
The seasoned beef contains soybean oil as well as potentially wheat-based ingredients used for thickening. Those sensitive to milk allergens should be cautious due to shared cooking and prep equipment with dairy-containing menu items.
Customization
While Taco Bell uses the standard taco meat recipe for most of their main menu items, customers can customize and substitute in the following ways:
- Substitute black beans or refried beans for beef in any menu items for a vegetarian option.
- Order fresco style, which replaces cheese, sour cream and other dairy with pico de gallo.
- Request any of the 20+ available sauces and toppings on the side.
- For an extra charge, substitute steak or grilled chicken for beef.
Being able to tailor their tacos and burritos is part of what keeps customers coming back to Taco Bell besides their core menu flavors.
Taco Meat Copycats
The distinct seasoned taco meat flavor has inspired many copycat recipes that try to imitate the Taco Bell taste at home. Most copycats use lean ground beef combined with a packet of dry taco seasoning mix and plenty of added ingredients like onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, oregano, chili powder and cayenne pepper.
While it’s tricky to perfectly replicate such a secret commercial recipe, these copycats come deliciously close to the signature Taco Bell taco meat flavor. Trying one is a fun way for fans to enjoy that familiar taco taste at home.
Conclusion
From its secret mix of seasonings to its steamed cooking process, Taco Bell puts great effort into producing their signature taco meat. The pre-cooked, pre-seasoned beef provides a consistent taste and texture customers love, while also allowing for fast service and affordable prices. It may not be fancy or health food, but for satisfying a quick Mexican food craving, Taco Bell’s taco meat delivers on flavor.