Beef mince (ground beef) cooking times
How long to cook beef mince: 8–10 min pan-fried, 30 min to 1 h boiled, 6–8 hours in a slow cooker and 15–20 min in a pressure cooker. Every way to cook it is below, with the temperature and how to tell it’s done.
How long to cook beef mince
Times are for 500 g, for 4.
| Method | Time | Heat | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pan-fry Browned | 8–10 min | over a high heat | Brown in a little oil, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Pour off excess fat. |
| Boil In a sauce | 30 min to 1 h | simmering gently in the sauce | Bolognese, chilli or cottage pie filling. The longer it goes, the better it gets; 2 hours is not too long for a ragù. |
| Slow cooker In a sauce | 6–8 hours | on low | Brown first, then add the sauce ingredients. 4 hours on high. |
| Pressure cooker In a sauce | 15–20 min | on high pressure | Brown with the sauté setting, then add the sauce; natural release. |
Before you start
Use a large pan and don’t crowd it, so the mince browns rather than steams. Pork and lamb mince cook the same way.
How to tell it’s done
Browned all over with no pink. A bolognese or chilli is ready when the sauce has thickened and the meat is tender.
Food safety: Cook mince, burgers and sausages all the way through, to 71°C (160°F), with no pink left in the middle.
Questions
How long to pan-fry beef mince?
Browned: 8–10 min over a high heat. Brown in a little oil, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Pour off excess fat.
How long to boil beef mince?
In a sauce: 30 min to 1 h simmering gently in the sauce. Bolognese, chilli or cottage pie filling. The longer it goes, the better it gets; 2 hours is not too long for a ragù.
How long to cook beef mince in a slow cooker?
In a sauce: 6–8 hours on low. Brown first, then add the sauce ingredients. 4 hours on high.
How long to cook beef mince in a pressure cooker?
In a sauce: 15–20 min on high pressure. Brown with the sauté setting, then add the sauce; natural release.
Times are a guide for typical home portions: ovens, air fryers, microwaves and the size of what you’re cooking all vary. Check meat, poultry and fish with a thermometer before serving. Safe temperatures follow USDA and UK Food Standards Agency guidance, last checked 11 November 2026.