Ratio labels describe composition, not a cooking result
The lean and fat split is shown before cooking. Finished cooked portions can look different because moisture leaves the beef and some forms release rendered fat.
Informational and journaling-oriented guide
Ground Beef Ratios Explained
Ground beef ratios describe the approximate lean and fat split by weight before cooking. This guide keeps the common labels on one raw-reference table so you can scan calories, protein, and fat more clearly before jumping into the live calculator.
Quick answer
One raw-reference basis keeps the comparison easier to trust
A label like 80/20 means about 80 percent lean meat and 20 percent fat by weight before cooking. Higher lean-number labels usually show fewer calories and less fat per 100 grams raw than richer ratios.
Comparison table
Raw per 100g reference values for this guide
| Ratio | Calories | Protein | Fat | Sat fat | Iron |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 73/27 73% lean / 27% fat | 332 kcal | 14.4 g | 30 g | 11.7 g | 1.50 mg |
| 80/20 80% lean / 20% fat | 254 kcal | 17.2 g | 20 g | 7.7 g | 2 mg |
| 85/15 85% lean / 15% fat | 215 kcal | 18.6 g | 15 g | 5.9 g | 1.90 mg |
| 90/10 90% lean / 10% fat | 176 kcal | 20 g | 10 g | 4.4 g | 2.20 mg |
| 93/7 93% lean / 7% fat | 152 kcal | 20.9 g | 7 g | 2.7 g | 2.10 mg |
The table stays on one per 100 gram raw basis. For custom amounts, cooked portions, or drained-crumbles estimates, move into the linked tool preset.
Higher lean percentages usually shift calories and fat more than protein
Moving from 80/20 to 90/10 or 93/7 typically changes total fat and calories more dramatically than it changes protein.
Label words and ratio labels are not always identical
Retail terms like lean or extra lean follow separate labeling rules, so this guide sticks to the ratio labels first and treats the wording as secondary context.
FAQ
Common questions tied to this comparison
What does 80/20 ground beef mean?
It means the product is labeled as about 80 percent lean meat and 20 percent fat by weight before cooking.
Which ground beef ratio is leaner?
Among the common labels on this page, 90/10 and 93/7 are leaner than 80/20 or 73/27 because they show less fat per 100 grams raw.
Why does cooked ground beef look more concentrated per gram?
Cooked ground beef usually finishes with less weight than the raw portion, so the same calories and protein are spread across fewer finished grams.
Why does this system keep 73/27 instead of 70/30?
The site uses 73/27 as the highest-fat common ratio because it fits the current reference model more cleanly. Some stores may use nearby shorthand labels.
Methodology
Ratio pages stay raw-reference first
Raw baseline
The comparison table stays on per 100 gram raw values. That avoids mixing cooked weight changes into the baseline comparison.
Label context
Ratio numbers describe lean and fat by weight, while label words such as lean and extra lean follow separate FSIS threshold rules.
Cooked math
Cooked portions and drained crumbles belong in the tool, where weight change and retained-fat estimates can be shown separately from the raw reference.
Sources: USDA FoodData Central raw beef reference data for the base ratio system, USDA FSIS ground beef labeling context for percent lean and percent fat wording, and FSIS water-in-meat context for explaining cooked-weight concentration. Last reviewed: 2026-03-28.
Related ratio guides
80/20 vs 90/10 Ground Beef
Compare 80/20 and 90/10 ground beef on the same per 100g raw basis for calories, protein, fat, and supporting nutrient context.
85/15 vs 93/7 Ground Beef
Compare 85/15 and 93/7 ground beef with a raw per 100g reference table for calories, protein, fat, and supporting nutrient context.
What Does 80/20 Ground Beef Mean?
Understand what 80/20 ground beef means by weight, how it compares with 90/10 and 93/7, and why cooked portions look different from raw labels.