Heat a large cast-iron pan or Dutch oven on medium heat. You can use regular cast iron or enamel coated. When the pan or pot is hot, add the beef fat or your favorite cooking oil.Place the entire amount of ground beef in the pan (5 lbs). Break down the meat in the pan with a wooden spoon as it cooks.When there is no more pink color in the beef, add 1 cup of water and simmer on low until there is barely any liquid left.Remove from heat, let cool, then portion into vacuum seal bags.If you use a higher fat content beef such as 80/20, 75/25, or 70/30, drain off the fat to filter for future use. See rendering fat to see how to save even more money.
Notes
This will take about 1 hour to cook, but you will only have to tend to it for about 15 minutes of that time.