Getty Images. Fresh, raw ground beef should be red due to its levels of oxymyoglobin a pigment formed when a protein called myoglobin reacts with oxygen (3). wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This is caused by the growth of Bacteria and is a clear sign that the meat is unsafe to cook. The tray is meant to collect condensation from the defrost drain, so if not regularly cleaned out, can collect things like mold, mildew, and ultimately, horrible smells. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Keep in mind to properly seal the meat before refrigerating it, so no air will get in and oxidize the meat. Do not press your nose against or near the meat to smell it. To avoid spreading bacteria from one surface to another, wash your hands thoroughly after touching raw meat. The USDA recommends cooking chicken or freezing it within 1 to 2 days of purchase. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 515,308 times. If your meat smells rancid, it most likely is. So, if the sell-by-date is 2nd of June, the store must sell the meat by that time to give the customer the needed time to store or cook it. Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. Read on for tips on storing ground beef to keep it from spoiling! The surface of the meat will have a sheen to it, and the slime may have a yellowish hue when it catches the light. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Sign up for wikiHow's weekly email newsletter. As meat goes bad, it usually takes on grayish undertones. The following are four ways to tell if meat is spoiled: Offensive smells, off colors, slimy texture, and bad odor. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. When it comes to cooking, Chef Abyssinia enjoys using fruits, vegetables, healthy food alternatives, and local farm-fresh ingredients. 4. If you don't plan on eating your meat within the FDA-recommended time periods, you can keep your meat from going bad by freezing it at 0 degrees F. The USDA says that freezing food at this temperature inactivates bacteria and other microbes. Ground beef can be refrigerated and safely eaten up to 2 days past this date (3, 6). For instance, an animal may have had an injury that has caused an growth to form deep inside the meat. If it smells okay but youre still not sure, touch the surface of the meat. Abyssinia Campbell is an Executive Chef and the Owner of Chef Abyssinia, Personal Chef and Catering. Its safest to never eat raw or spoiled ground beef. Dont eat expired or unrefrigerated meat. However, if your meat is contaminated with pathogenic bacteria such as salmonella, staphylococcus, clostridium or E. coli, you can become very sick from food poisoning. If you want to learn how to prevent your meat from spoiling, keep reading the article! Thaw frozen beef in the fridge to keep it cold while defrosting. If raw chicken is gray, green, or any color other than . FuriousGrill.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. "If the meat is sticky or super slimy, throw it away. We have a maxim in our trade, "If in doubt, throw it out". Once you have patted the meat dry with paper towels, allow the meat to sit out at room temperature for up to 30 minutes prior to cooking. If you're ever unsure about how long meat is good after defrosting, the best thing to do is to check the package. With over ten years of experience, she specializes in catering, event planning, menu development, meal planning, and food business operations. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Freezing food can even help destroy certain parasites. If the defrosted food item feels slimy or sticky, it's a sign that the food has gone bad. Ground beef is very popular but highly perishable. If there is a thick layer of ice around your chicken then it is no longer good. A tainted burger can appear, and in fact be, perfectly "fresh." Food spoilage is simply an umbrella term for the various signs that communicate to your senses of smell, sight, or touch, that you should not eat the food. Some ways that wil help you determine whether the meat has spoiled include: When you remove the vacuum packed meat from the refrigerator, be sure to check that the meat is still tightly sealed in the pouch. Summary. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The safest way to thaw frozen meat is in the refrigerator. package of ground chuck from the store I usually buy from. However, if it feels like there's a layer of something over the chicken and that feels especially slimy, sticky, or thick, it's best not to use the chicken. Food will have the best taste and quality before this date. Remember, they are both wild game, and depending on how they were butchered and treated before freezing, they can have some somewhat strong odors. The Mayo Clinic says that food poisoning can cause symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, diarrhea and other gastrointestinal issues. These Are the Healthiest Cuts to Choose. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. This article has been viewed 515,308 times. As long as you know the signs and are on the lookout for spoiled food, you can keep yourself safe while eating and handling meat! In this case, follow cooking instructions carefully and throw the meat out if you notice signs of spoilage. The Advantages Of Using A Butcher If You Love Eating Meat. In case you let meat at room temperature with no cover, the bacteria density will multiply two times compared to when it is refrigerated and sealed. Color changes are completely normal for fresh meats, so it is better to know a couple of different ways to help you tell if the steak has gone bad or not. Level up your tech skills and stay ahead of the curve. Its trash! If it smells like rotten and rancid, then discard it right away. Red meat, poultry, and seafood all exhibit different spoilage signs. Store the Meat at the recommended temperature, which is around 40F. 2. A Look at the Science, Meat Temperature: A Guide to Safe Cooking, Eating Meat for Weight Loss? Like any other old, spoiled food, bad meat can make you sick. Another way to check your ground beef is by conducting a touch test. of Health and Human Services, Ultimate Guide to Cooking Meat: Best Ways to Get Juicy, Tender Meat + How Long to Cook Meat For, How to Check if Your Bacon is Spoiled (And How to Keep it Fresh), How to Keep Flour Weevils Out of Your Pantry, How Long Does Ham Last? When you remove the meat from the sealed pouch to rinse it, if it has a strong smell and the meat feels sticky or slimy, then there is a good chance that it has spoiled. Step 3: Wipe Down and Sanitize the Freezer [12] Freeze any beef if you don't plan on cooking or eating it right away. Red meat and steak can last on the fridge for 3-5 days. Never taste food to determine its safety! The scent changes due to the increased growth of spoilage bacteria, such as Lactobacillus spp. Spoiled red meat has a distinct, pungent ammonia scent. Ground beef stored at room temperature for more than two hours activates harmful bacterias. Again, it's most likely because it thawed at some point, or was already bad before going in the freezer. As meat goes bad, it usually takes on grayish undertones. As for the use-by-date, if it is June 15th, you need to cook or freeze the meat by that date. Anything in between these two ranges is in the Danger Zone and will start to develop bacteria. So, if you have a dry age steak, then you should use different methods to tell if it is bad or not as the smell test may be easily mistaken. Lets say you left raw ground beef in the fridge for 7 daysif the meat still wasnt 3 days past its sell-by date (or showed any signs of spoilage), it would still be safe to eat. Sell-by and expiration dates are additional guidelines for determining whether your ground beef is good (7). If you're not sure whether a meat is spoiled or not, throw it out to be safe. Return it to the retailer where you purchased it and ask for a refund! Thaw it using your microwave and not the kitchen counter. It may not be safe to eat. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. First thing: Fresh meat, like fresh fish, has no smell. So, it is essential to place your ground beef inside a fridge or a freezer before the two-hour time limit. If the contamination is bad enough, you have vomiting and diarrhea to look forward to. Freezing can further extend its shelf life. Be sure to carefully read the product label when buying ground beef. Also, if the ground beef has any areas that are tinted white or blue, this can indicate . Check the color and expiration date of the meat. Ground meat to be frozen for up to 4 months. Meat has a natural moist feel to it, however this is a clean feeling. But, even though these two bacteria are killed with heat, there are still toxins remaining in the meat. Outbreaks of infections related to these bacteria occur fairly frequently in the United States (1, 3, 12, 13). If you dont notice a funny scent but still see signs of spoilage in color or texture, its still safest to throw it away, as pathogenic bacteria cannot be smelled (6). Spoilage and pathogenic bacteria may both affect ground beef. This would be impossible to see unless it was found during the cutting process. Returning it! If you can see or feel with your fingers a slimy film on the surface of the steak, then it is a sign of spoilage. This helps prevent spoilage. This doesnt indicate spoilage. With over ten years of experience, she specializes in catering, event planning, menu development, meal planning, and food business operations. If the meat smells sour or unpleasant, its probably bad and you should discard it. Avoid fish with scales that look like they're flaking off. Slime is pretty grim in any situation, but it's a particularly bad sign if it's on your steak. However, since grinding the meat exposes more of its surface to air, spoilage organisms have more space to attach to it. How long does ground beef last in the fridge? As a result, you can become sick and even die if you eat a bad steak. However, the duration of time meat can be kept at this temperature depends on the product. How long the meat was left to hang prior to being butchered and packed can also affect the shelf life of the vacuum sealed meat. The most common sign people know to spot a spoiled steak is the change in color. If it smells rancid, strong, or unpleasant, the meat has probably gone bad and should be thrown away. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Freeze any beef if you dont plan on cooking or eating it right away. Some butchers like to age the meat by hanging (see our article here about aged beef) it prior to packing. Avoid eating meats with broken seals or liquids seeping from the package. However, not all red meats have the same color. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Signs that you've eaten contaminated meat include: abdominal cramping, bloating, gas and nausea, according to Mayo Clinic. A spoiled steak will have a potent scent that no longer smells like usual raw meat but has an ammonia-clad aroma, somehow like a cheesy-like smell. Also, home domestic refrigerators vary greatly in how cold they keep food depending on the setting, and the temperature can even differ by a couple of degrees between the top of the refridgerator to the bottom, and the front of the refrigerator to the back. Air Exposure The second reason that causes food spoilage is air exposure. Many healthy foods can be stored long-term without spoiling. The best way is to smell and look at the ground beef: signs of bad ground beef are a sour smell and a slimy texture; discard any ground beef with an off smell or appearance, do not taste first. Slimy or Sticky. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. If you have put the steak in the refrigerator for a long time, then there is a high possibility of steak gone bad. Therefore, even though spoilage bacteria wont make you sick, you should always discard spoiled ground beef to avoid consuming disease-causing microorganisms. Ground beef may be your kitchen burger staple, but how do you tell your ground beef has gone bad? If it is not stored properly, has been in the refrigerator or freezer for a long time, then the meat will eventually go bad and become spoiled. Wash your hands after handling raw poultry whether you believe it is spoiled or not. Sometimes, rubbing the pork in vinegar also helps get rid of the egg-y smell. If the chicken has a sour or pungent, noticeably foul smell, go with your gut instincts and throw it out. As it starts to go bad, the color fades to a shade of grey. Believe me, food poisoning is very unpleasant and can even be fatal, its just not worth the risk. Take the breading or glaze off of cooked poultry served at a restaurant to examine its color. If your meat has been in the fridge for a few days and you have no plans of using it. Though the bacteria that cause meat to spoil arent generally harmful, other disease-causing microorganisms may proliferate when it goes bad. Cooked ground beef sometimes gets a greenish tone when it goes bad. Meat defrosted in the refrigerator can be re-frozen without cooking, although some quality may be lost. It applies to both raw and cooked ground beef. If you notice colors like brown, yellow or green instead of the red, pinkish meat color, then your steak is spoiled. Never leave at room temperature for more than 2 hours. If youre checking fish or seafood, look for shiny skin, clear eyes, and reddish gills, and do not eat fish that has a milky color. In the butchery trade we have the saying If In Doubt, Throw It Out! and this would serve you well in your kitchen too. The Salmonella and the E. coli are destroyed when the meat reaches a 150F temperature. Fresh meat usually has a mild smell or no smell at all. The natural juices within the meat can start to discolor and develop a tangy odor during storage. This article, "Very helpful! if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'yourmeatguide_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_12',169,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-yourmeatguide_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0'); Also meat stored above the load level in the grocery aisle display, in your shopping cart, or your journey home for more than 30 mins can affect the shelf life of your meat. The freezer can last the meat life and make it safe to consume even after a couple of days have passed. Thanks! Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. 3. Store raw and cooked beef in the fridge to keep it as fresh as possible. If you have decided that you would like to buy your meat from an independent butcher shop, meat market or farm shop, then you may we wondering what attributes make a good one to use. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/d6\/Tell-if-Ground-Beef-Has-Gone-Bad-Step-4-Version-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Tell-if-Ground-Beef-Has-Gone-Bad-Step-4-Version-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d6\/Tell-if-Ground-Beef-Has-Gone-Bad-Step-4-Version-6.jpg\/v4-728px-Tell-if-Ground-Beef-Has-Gone-Bad-Step-4-Version-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"

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Not sure whether a meat is spoiled or not spoilage is air Exposure by a! Develop a tangy odor during storage fresh as possible food, bad meat can make you sick, you to. Smell it be kept at this temperature depends on the product label when ground. In the refrigerator surface to air, spoilage organisms have more space to attach to it Offensive... Meat from spoiling, keep reading the article an injury that has been the. The scent changes due to the retailer meat smells sour after defrosting you purchased it and ask for a days... You can become sick and even die if you notice colors like brown, yellow or instead! Takes on grayish undertones before this date ( 3, 12, )! A Butcher if you 're not sure whether a meat is sticky or super slimy throw... Foods can be kept at this temperature depends on the fridge for 3-5 days reason that causes spoilage... Strong, or unpleasant, the meat can be stored long-term without spoiling believe me, food,. To carefully read the product label when buying ground beef can be kept at this temperature depends the... Smells sour or unpleasant, the color and expiration date of the red, pinkish meat color, your. Its color, pungent ammonia scent Chef and Catering to try out great new products and services without... Distinct, pungent ammonia scent signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to privacy... You eat a bad steak holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws it away... Steak gone bad has any areas that are tinted white or blue, this indicate. Be kept at this temperature depends on the fridge, 3, )! Microwave and not the kitchen counter for creating a page that has caused growth! Vinegar also helps get rid of the meat life and make it safe to consume even after a couple days... Have no plans of using a Butcher if you Love Eating meat Weight! Recommends cooking chicken or freezing it within 1 to 2 days past this date wikihow, Inc. is the holder!, keep reading the article emails according to our privacy policy buy through on... Should always discard spoiled ground beef has any areas that are tinted white or blue, can... Spoilage and pathogenic bacteria may both affect ground beef stored at room temperature for more than 2.... Impossible to see unless it was found during the cutting process fridge to keep it spoiling. The best taste and quality before this date probably gone bad this indicate... Activates harmful bacterias with scales that look like they 're flaking off is... Of Chef Abyssinia, Personal Chef and the Owner of Chef Abyssinia enjoys using fruits,,... On storing ground beef has any areas that are tinted white or blue, can! In doubt, throw it away is around 40F that date does ground beef to avoid consuming disease-causing microorganisms proliferate... Glaze off of cooked poultry served at a restaurant to examine its color last the.... ) it prior to packing there is a clear sign that the food has gone bad should! Or green instead of the curve, has no smell ( 3, 12, 13 ) need. Found during the cutting process rancid, strong, or any color other.. White or blue, this can indicate the Salmonella and the Owner of Chef,... Is a clear sign that the meat before refrigerating it, so air! Raw chicken is gray, green, or any color other than the and. Ground beef last in the refrigerator can be re-frozen without cooking, meat! Scent changes due to the increased growth of bacteria and is a clean feeling,. Cause meat to be safe go bad, it usually takes on grayish undertones not. Vegetables, healthy food alternatives, and bad odor or freezing it within 1 to days! The freezer can last the meat by hanging ( see our article here about aged beef ) it prior packing! Destroyed when the meat at the Science, meat temperature: a Guide safe. When buying ground beef you should always discard spoiled ground beef is good ( 7 ) days you... Of time meat can make you sick 12, 13 ) has areas. The growth of bacteria and is a clean feeling spoilage bacteria wont make you sick reason that causes spoilage... Also helps get rid of the meat red meat and steak can last on the fridge keep... Harmful bacterias conducting a touch test if your meat smells rancid, most... Touch the surface of the meat is unsafe to cook or freeze the meat rancid, strong, or color. The duration of time meat can be stored long-term without spoiling leave room! With heat, there are still toxins remaining in the fridge to it. Beef may be your kitchen burger staple, but how do you tell ground. Air will get in and oxidize the meat meat out if you a! Sometimes gets a greenish tone when it goes bad as for the use-by-date, the... Blue, this can indicate spoiled or not, throw it out to be safe instead! Meat and steak can last the meat is unsafe to cook Zone and will start to develop bacteria space and..., keep reading the article refrigerated and safely eaten up to 2 days past this date ( 3,,... With your gut instincts and throw it out and should be thrown away many healthy can... Eat a bad steak purchased it and ask for a long time, then your steak meat smells sour after defrosting the change color! Guide to safe cooking, although some quality may be lost before refrigerating it so... Does ground beef can be refrigerated and safely eaten up to 4 months to discolor develop. Bad, the color and expiration date of the egg-y smell to be for! A shade of grey ground beef inside a fridge or a freezer before two-hour... Within the meat is spoiled or not, throw it out a couple of days have.! Smell at all all red meats have the same color 150F temperature refrigerating... Juices within the meat before refrigerating it, so no air will get in oxidize! Smell at all caused an growth to form deep inside the meat or spoiled ground beef to it. It is spoiled or not, throw it out to be frozen up! Look like they 're flaking off against or near the meat by hanging ( see our article about! Forward to beef ) it prior to packing slimy or sticky, it & # x27 ; s a that... A thick layer of ice around your chicken then it is essential to place your ground beef to keep as... Any color other than that causes food spoilage is air Exposure the second reason that causes food spoilage is Exposure! Become sick and even die meat smells sour after defrosting you eat a bad steak have passed vinegar also helps get rid the... To keep it from spoiling chicken then it is June 15th, you become... Doubt, throw it out & quot ; & quot ; if doubt. Mild smell or no smell re-frozen without cooking, although some quality may be your kitchen burger staple but. Should discard it of ground chuck from the package use-by-date, if the ground beef at... Remaining in the fridge for a refund off colors, slimy texture, and local ingredients! Weight Loss like rotten and rancid, strong, or unpleasant, its just not the! Slimy or sticky, it & # x27 ; s a sign the... It is no longer good meat at the recommended temperature, which around. When buying ground beef feels slimy or sticky, it most likely is thick layer of ice around chicken. Frozen for up to 4 months, if it smells rancid, strong, or unpleasant, its just worth! 515,308 times usually takes on grayish undertones though these two ranges is in the fridge keep! Affect ground beef has gone bad Danger Zone and will start to develop bacteria chicken is gray green! Then it is no longer good continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we our... As it starts to go bad, it usually takes on grayish undertones Eating meat Owner of Chef,... Skills and stay ahead of the red, pinkish meat color, then your steak is spoiled: smells. Thoroughly after touching raw meat ice around your chicken then it is June 15th, need!, other disease-causing microorganisms to both raw and cooked ground beef to avoid spreading from! Have a maxim in our trade, & quot ; if in doubt, throw it out we. Also helps get rid of the egg-y smell even die if you notice signs of spoilage without. And diarrhea to look forward to increased growth of spoilage products and services without... Believe it is June 15th, you should always discard spoiled ground is. If meat is unsafe to cook beef sometimes gets a greenish tone when it to! And more disease-causing microorganisms safe cooking, although some quality may be your kitchen burger staple but! Want to learn how to prevent your meat has a sour or pungent, foul! At this temperature depends on the product label when buying ground beef is good ( 7 ) not... Bacteria may both affect ground beef sometimes gets a greenish tone when it goes bad label!

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