A Ground beef should be used within two days of purchase. Be sure to check the use by information on the package label before purchase. You can store ground beef safely in your refrigerator at 35 to 40 degrees, for one to two days. If you can't use it within that time, freeze it.
Quick loaf pans. Most quick loaf recipes (banana bread, zucchini bread) are written for 9 x 5 x 2 3/4-inch pans, a traditionally shaped loaf pan that's just slightly larger than a yeast bread loaf pan. Caveat emptor: Using a yeast loaf pan for a quick bread recipe may result in batter overflowing the pan. Likewise, using a quick bread pan for a yeast loaf recipe may result in a loaf that doesn't dome. These pans, though similar in size and shape, are not interchangeable. Quick loaves also can be baked in a longer, narrower pan (about 12 x 4 x 2 1/2 inches).
Measure one of the mini loaf pans by filling it with water, then emptying the water into a measuring cup. Spray each mini loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray. Measure the quick bread dough for each mini loaf pan. Measure 3/4 cup of dough for a mini loaf pan that holds approximately 1 cup. Use 1/3 cup of dough for a 1/2 cup sized mini loaf pan. Put the cookie sheet and filled mini loaf pans in the oven on the middle rack. Reduce the baking time by 1/4 when using mini loaf pans. For example, a recipe that bakes a quick bread 9-by-5 loaf for 40 minutes should bake for 30 minutes when divided into mini loaf pans. Check the mini loaves during baking. Cracking down the middle, firmness and browning are all signs that the loaves are done.