how to tell if ground beef is bad

How To Tell If Ground Beef Is Bad? How To Tell When Corned Beef Is Done Plus 3 Foolproof. It isnt quite as simple as that. If it is slimy or sticky, it is probably bad. Raw ground beef should be bright red on the outside and brownish on the inside. How To Tell When Corned Beef Is Done Plus 3 Foolproof Cooking Methods? Thus, it goes bad faster than steak or other larger cuts (2). This odor can be described as putrid and tangy. The color of meat depends on myoglobin: Part 1. 3 Touch the meat to see if it feels slimy. 7 If it has a nasty or off scent, it has been spoilt. Or store your excess ground beef in the freezer, rotating it every few months for the best quality. How to Tell If Ground Beef Is Bad Aside from the color, there are two other factors that you can check to determine if a package of ground beef is still OK to eat. Home Cook World is a participant in the Amazon Associates, Impact.com, and ShareASale affiliate advertising programs. It accounts for about 62% of all beef sold in the United States (1). Up next: Yes, you can overcook ground beef (heres how not to). Youre probably wondering about this one. We link primary sources including studies, scientific references, and statistics within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. But a sticky or slimy texture may indicate the presence of spoilage bacteria. Ground beef can be refrigerated and safely eaten up to 2 days past this date (3, 6). However, you should be extremely careful as the meat may start to cook if you don't keep a close eye on it. Keep it hot, at 140F (60C) and above, or cool it and store it safely in the refrigerator at a temperature below 40F (4.4C), where it will stay good for 3-4 days. If you have kept ground beef longer than the safe storage periods described in this article, or for one reason or another you suspect that it has spoiled, you should err on the side of caution and throw it away. You should never thaw ground beef by leaving it on the counter. It is important to always store ground beef properly in the fridge or freezer and consume within its recommended storage time for safety and optimal freshness. Another way to check your ground beef is by conducting a touch test. . This means ground beef with a gray interior is safe to eat. How to tell if ground beef is bad. Food safety basics. This is a detailed review of beef (the meat from cattle), looking at its nutritional properties and health effects. The opposite is true of ground beef that is totally fine. If youre not going to cook your ground beef within a few days of purchasing it, wrap it properly and put it in the freezer, making sure to mark thedate and type of meaton the packaging for reference later on. If you're not sure whether your ground beef is still good, lean close and smell it. Our ground beef and broccoli recipe preserves all the goodness of the famous Asian beef stir-fry but with a twist in the ingredients. Try not to eat ground beef thats been in the freezer forlonger than 4 months. This test is probably the easiest and fastest way to determine whether meat has spoiled. This might be caused by bacteria that produce ropy slime. This article takes a close look at mold in food and whether. How can you tell if ground beef is bad? The hue of the beef indicates that it has gone wrong. Ground beef can be refrigerated and safely eaten up to 2 days past this date (3, 6). Always double-checkthe expiration date of your ground beef before deciding whether to eat it. To make sure your ground beef is safe to eat, it should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160F. If you have put your package of ground beef in the freezer then you will need to do a little meal planning in order to have the time needed to thaw the ground beef safely. How to Tell if Ground Beef is Bad. Sometimes ground beef may still be bad,even if it smells fine. Dont store raw ground beef in the refrigerator for more than 1-2 days and cooked ground beef in the refrigerator for more than 3-4 days. [U.S. Food and Drug Administration letter to food industry]. By having a good look on its color and smell you can determine that. Put the zip-top bag with the frozen ground beef on a plate in the microwave and, Using the defrost setting, start defrosting for 3 to 4 minutes, flipping the bag over halfway through. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. Squeeze the meat in your fingers to feel its consistency. It should also be slightly moist. This condition occurs when the frozen food comes into direct contact with the surrounding air, causing the ice crystals on the beefs surface to sublimate from solid to gas form and leave the meat. It isnt worth it! Twenty-four hours should be sufficient for thawing the ground beef completely. Whether or not the sell-by date is passed, if the ground beef shows signs of spoilage, do not eat it. Freezing can further extend its shelf life. The best thing to do is discard them, so you can safely use up the rest of the meat. With prolonged storage, these ice crystals escape from the meat, migrate to the coldest part of the freezer, and get replaced by air. If this happens to you, turn off the stove, and regroup. Another way to tell if ground beef has gone bad is by simply smelling it. Youll know that your meat is bad if you spotsections of discolorationon its surface. If you are unsure if ground beef is bad, there are a few things you can do to check. | Trellis Framework by Mediavine. Fresh ground beef should always be bright red in color. Ground beef gone bad looks dull and gray, like dead meat. Normal, safe, fresh ground beef should not have a noticeable or unpleasant smell. Fattier meats feel a little creamy, with a certain pastiness to them from the beef tallow. How can you tell if ground beef is bad? Leaving uncooked meat atroom temperatureallows bacteria to proliferate. If it is brown or gray, it is probably bad. If the surface has gotten completely brown or gray, or if mold has developed on it, it has gone rotten and should be thrown away. How Can You Tell If Ground Beef Is Bad? Signs that ground beef has gone bad include an off odor, slimy texture, and a brownish color. To minimize the time that ground beef is left unrefrigerated, buy it last and head home directly from the store. 6 The slime on the surface is caused by the buildup of bacterial cells. I like to fry the ground beef first, remove it from the skillet, and then fry the onions separately. The meat gives off an unpleasant odor. Certain pathogenic microbes, likeListeria and Salmonella,might not emit a strong smell, but they can cause you harm if you eat them. First of all, make sure that you put the ground beef in the fridge as soon as you bring it home. When they smell it cooking, they will always ask me for some before I put in the other ingredients. Be sure to carefully read the product label when buying ground beef. This is probably the hardest way to tell if the ground turkey is bad. This may cause unpleasant odors or taste. and Pseudomonas spp., which may also affect the flavor (1). If it's slimy or sticky, it's not safe to eat. If you brought home a package of ground beef from the store, and you put it in the fridge right away, it should be good for one to two days. Ground beef may change color due to multiple factors, including temperature, light, microbial growth, and exposure to oxygen (4). These clumps indicate that the meat has suffered fromfreezer burn. This is becausespoilage microbeslike Pseudomonas and Lactobacillus grow and fester in the meat, releasing chemicals that carry this unpleasant aroma. The interior of raw ground meat may be greyish brown due to a lack of exposure to oxygen. The fastest methods are throwing in ice water and defrosting in the microwave, but you must cook the meat immediately after its thawed out and not leave it raw. Now, I have to admit, I am a thrifty sort of person. You should toss it immediately (14). However, since grinding the meat exposes more of its surface to air, spoilage organisms have more space to attach to it. How Do You Know When Ground Beef Has Been Cooked Long Enough? Lastly, you can press the ground beef to see if it is firm. These toxins are just as likely to cause food poisoning. Food poisoning can cause unpleasant symptoms ranging from nausea to vomiting. Using a fork or your finger (when it's cool), press a piece of ground beef. When the frozen beef loses these crystals, it shrinks andbecomes dehydrated. The danger is that as the juice comes into contact with other frozen foods, it can contaminate them. Therefore, even though spoilage bacteria wont make you sick, you should always discard spoiled ground beef to avoid consuming disease-causing microorganisms. How To Know If Ground Beef Is Bad. Why Does It Take Steak Longer To Go Bad Than It Does Ground Beef? 2.2 Step 2 - Examine the Color of the Steak. Youre not having ground beef for dinner tonight. Spoilage bacteria has gotten to that meat and you do not want anyone to eat it. The best way to tell if frozen ground beef is bad is to look for signs of freezer burn. Ground beef that is safe to eat should be reasonably firm yet easily break apart when squeezed. The beef, while it is being ground, comes into contact with oxygen, and we know from our brief science lesson earlier in the article, that when the pigment, oxymyoglobin, that is contained in ground beef, comes into contact with oxygen, a chemical reaction occurs which creates bacteria. Outbreaks of food poisoning linked to ground beef are relatively common in the U.S. Bacteria that may cause these outbreaks include Salmonella, Escherichia coli (E. coli), or Campylobacter. If you leave it on the kitchen counter overnight, the meat will be overrun with pathogens in the morning. Throw away ground beef if it shows any of these signs; cooking and eating it can give you potentially life-threatening food poisoning. If it feels slimy or gummy and not firm, you should toss it out. If Im honest, there have been times when I have left the hamburger in the freezer longer than I should have. 3. Ground beef is commonly used to make burgers, meatballs, and sausage, as well as tacos, lasagna, and savory pies. Make sure the fridge temperature is below 40F (4C). There are two types of bacteria that grow on ground beef: spoilage bacteria and pathogenic bacteria. Persistent pinkness can be caused by reducing agents, pH, nitrite contamination, and/or carbon monoxide from gas ovens. Dont try to have the argument with yourself that you spent good money on it, and you need to have dinner on the table in under an hour. Fresh ground beef will feelcold and more compactthan rotten meat. Ground beef is very popular but highly perishable. As a member, we earn commissions on qualified purchases made through our links. If you store meat in freezing conditions for longer than 5-6 months, it can develop freezer burn, leading to deterioration in quality and mouthfeel. If beef develops a grayish. This is called freezer burn. Youre going to use some other senses, too. You canstore the leftover meatin your fridge or freezer to eat later on. Do I Need To Worry About Only A Few Spots Of Gray Or Green On The Surface Of The Ground Beef? If freezing, it is advisable to eat ground beef within 4 months. Ground beef that is bad will look and smell differently than what you are used to. Thaw frozen beef in the fridge to keep it cold while defrosting. If the beef is sticky, slimy, tacky, or smells bad, toss it. When this pigment is exposed to air, it turns bright red. Weve got you covered. If this isnt the case, theres a good chance that the package of meat in your refrigerator may have spoiled, and is no longer edible. (2019). If only the interior is gray, you can bet that oxygen hasn't touched it to turn it red. The answer to this question lies in the meats name. Nevertheless, you should throw away ground beef if it has turned either brown or gray on the outside, as this indicates that its beginning to rot. Even if the garbage has to sit for a while before the garbage truck arrives to pick it up, itll be okay as it will take a number of hours for the frozen ground beef to thaw. The indicators of ruined ground beef will vary depending on how bad the meat is rotten to begin with. It is safe to store ground beef in the refrigerator for 1-2 days, and eat leftovers within 4 days. This way, youll know how long meats been frozen when you take it out to defrost. Whether you're whipping up some tasty nachos or your award-winning chili, ground bee. (Sorry, bad pun, but I had to do it)! You are not cooking anything with that ground beef. The Difference Between a Braise and a Pot Roast. Symptoms start within 30 minutes to 8 hours after exposure. Its important to safely handle and store all types of meat. If the surface is no longer red and has a dark gray color, it's been exposed to too much air; this could mean that the ground beef has already gone bad. If it has turned rust-red or is otherwise slimy, you should discard it. When Jim isn't in the kitchen, he is usually spending time with family and friends, and working with the HCW editorial team to answer the questions he used to ask himself back when he was learning the ropes of cooking. These Are the Healthiest Cuts to Choose. It applies to both raw and cooked ground beef. Good quality, unspoiled ground beef bought from the supermarket should be bright red on the outside. If cooked ground beef has turned a shade apart from brown, it is a sign it has gone bad. If your garbage day isnt for a while, or if its summertime and the weather is hot, and you do not want the garbage to stink, put the bad meat in a sturdy bag and set it in the freezer until garbage day. It's not fun, and foodborne illness can be dangerous for the very young or old or those with compromised immune systems. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Furthermore, spoilage makes it more likely for them to be present in your food. (2019). Fortunately, you can use a few simple ways to tell if your beef has gone bad. Ground beef should be firm and break apart easily in your hands. You can tell ground beef is bad by checking its appearance, smell, and texture. In the home freezer, meat freezes slowly. People should be cautious if they suspect that ground beef may be bad. 2005-2022 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. This bacteria can release volatile compounds that may cause slime to form on the surface of the meat. Well, it depends on your diet and goal. Smell the beef. If you are making something like meatloaf where you need to mix other ingredients into raw ground beef and then cook it after, you must give your ground beef enough time to thaw safely in the refrigerator. Accidental Spills. Pathogenic bacteria are more dangerous. By consuming potentially spoiled meat, people run the risk of developing food poisoning. Ground beef is rich in protein and has a lot of moisture (according to the USDA, ground beef contains between 55% and 65% water depending on the leanness), which makes it a formidable breeding ground for bacteria. The air oxidizes the parts of the meat that lost moisture, turning them white and flavorless. These bacteria give your beef a very bad smell as they act on it. If the meats surface is this color, you know that its probablysafe to eat. This will kill any bacteria that is present and make it safe for consumption. How can you tell if ground beef is badif its frozen? "Typically with meats, they'll be sticky, slimy, and have off or foul odors." That grayish color on the inside is okay. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly so that you do not spread bacteria and contaminate other surfaces. Copyright 2022 The Rusty Spoon | Amazon Associates Program. Dont take a chance. So if there is not a bad scent but the ground beef is displaying other signs that it has gone bad, it is still advisable to discard the meat. Note, however, that if you've defrosted frozen ground beef, there will be some excess moisture, though it is usually much redder in color. Ground beef can be securely refrigerated for 3 to 4 days if chilled after cooking (within 2 hours; 1 hour if the temperature is above 90 F). Keep food safe! No wonder so much is purchased every year! You shouldnt eat ground beef past its expiration date unless its been frozen, in which case it can last up to 4 months (8). How long after eating bad meat will you get sick? How Can You Tell If Cooked Ground Beef Is Bad? If it feels slimy, it's starting to go bad. Now lets get to the meat of the matter. Two examples of bacteria that may affect ground beef are spoilage bacteria and pathogenic bacteria. If you end up eating bad beef, it's important to see a doctor immediately. Ground beef is a popular food in the United States. Learn more, Choosing the best types of meat for a diabetes diet is key to managing diabetes and living a healthful life. Spoilage bacteria are generally not harmful but cause food to lose quality and develop a bad odor and taste (3). Once it goes bad, its no longer safe to eat. Remember to wash your hands with soapy water for at least 20 seconds after touching ground beef, no matter if its spoiled or not. Last medically reviewed on December 18, 2019. Consuming spoiled or undercooked beef can make people feel sick, so individuals should try to store, handle, and prepare beef safely to prevent them from getting ill. How long you can keep that steak in the fridge? Safe minimum internal temperature chart. Raw beef contains myoglobin, which combines with oxygen to form oxymyoglobin, which has a bright red color. It will feel wet, but not slimy, and it will break apart easily in your hands. In ground beef, the signs you'll detect will depend on how badly spoiled it is. We develop recipes, share cooking tips, and write about cookware and appliances for the everyday cook, with love and care. Another way to tell if ground beef has gone bad is by simply smelling it. When ground beef has gone bad, it smells putrid, like rotting flesh, and sour, like cheap vinegar. The most commonly found harmful bacteria in ground beef are Salmonella and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). If the ground beef shows signs of spoilage, dont eat it. How Viagra became a new 'tool' for young men, The amazing story of hepatitis C, from discovery to cure, Ankylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or Fiction, https://www.foodsafety.gov/food-poisoning/bacteria-and-viruses, https://www.cdc.gov/campylobacter/index.html, https://www.cdc.gov/campylobacter/symptoms.html, https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/foodborne-germs.html, https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/confused-date-labels-packaged-foods, https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/ecoli-symptoms.html, https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/symptoms.html, https://www.foodsafety.gov/food-poisoning, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/food-safety, https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/index.html%20%20, https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/meat/ground-beef-and-food-safety, https://www.fda.gov/media/101389/download, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.4081/ijas.2015.4011, https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/steps-keep-food-safe, https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/refrigeration, https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/safe-temperature-chart, https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/general/index.html, https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/index.html, https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/dublin-11-19/index.html, https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/the_color_of_meat_depends_on_myoglobin_part_1, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6550395/, https://ask.usda.gov/s/article/What-are-spoilage-bacteria, https://www.fda.gov/media/125114/download. Even in the fridge, raw ground beef will only last at most two days or up to four days if you cook it. How to cut food waste and maintain food safety. Those other senses are smell, touch, and sight. Research estimates that around 62% of all beef sold in the U.S. is ground. While the ground beef is sitting on the counter, it is attracting bacteria. Cook the meat thoroughly to reduce your risk of infection. "If the meat is sticky or super slimy, throw it away. In case you took steak and turned it into ground beef, don't panic. This is the date the supermarkets use toregulate their stock. Thaw in the microwave. Salmonella infections linked to ground beef. If you notice anygreen or blue sectionsof mold anywhere on the ground beef, get rid of this meat immediately. Most at risk for food poisoning are pregnant women, young children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems. Luckily, there are somesimple signsto look out for when determining whetheryour ground meatis bad. When ground beef is fresh, it smells fatty, meaty, and yummy. (2014). However, . Keep an eye on the meat; microwave wattages vary and these times are merely a guideline. IKEA IDENTISK Wok Review: Is It Any Good. Ground beef is a popular food in the United States. But maybe panic a little f you have ground beef sitting in the freezer - it has more surface area and it spoils way more quickly than whole steak does. Well, think slime when youre testing the health of your ground beef. Keep in mind that the color can vary depending on the type of beef. How to tell if ground beef is bad Signs of spoilage: general appearance, smell, and taste General appearance: The first thing you will want to pay attention to are the visual signs. When you touch it, it leaves a dirty, sticky, repulsive feeling on your fingers. This is why ground beef can only be left out for 1-2 hours at room temperature and why it wont keep in the refrigerator raw for more than 1-2 days. One way is to remember what it looked like when you bought it. Finally, you can smell the beef. How To Reheat A Frozen Baguette To Warm, Soft Perfection Using Three Ways? If youve ever wondered why food safety experts say that frozen ground beef stays safe to eat forever, this is the answer. Another way to tell if ground beef is cooked is by checking the color. A faintly reddish or metallic odor might be detected on freshly cut red meat.To get a good whiff of this aroma, you will often need to position your nose somewhat near to the source in order to do so.On the other hand, if your steak has gone bad, it will have a distinct odor that smells sour, or perhaps a little bit like eggs or ammonia.This . Along with the smell test, you can use your fingers to test if ground beef is off. You can use it to make a delicious bolognese, shape it into patties for home cooked burgers, or fix beef tacos. It is important that a person never leaves ground beef out at room temperature for more than 2 hours, as this can cause harmful bacteria to grow. Ground beef is a totally versatile and relatively inexpensive meat. Meat color is regulated (mostly) by a heme ring on the surface of the myoglobin . How Can You Tell If Oatmeal Has Gone Bad Using A Surefire, How To Tell If Broccoli Is Bad 4 Foolproof Way. . Ground beef's internal temperature should be 160F ( 71C) when cooked with a food thermometer. People can also check the texture to see if meat is bad. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, stomach cramps, and diarrhea which may be bloody (9, 10, 11). Pungent Smell Spoiled beef has a bad smell that can make you want to gag. Slimy ground beef should be thrown out and never consumed. But freezing is an unforgiving method of food storage, especially when it comes to ground beef. If a person has stored the meat at too high a temperature, or the packaging is torn or leaking, it is possible that bacteria has contaminated the ground beef. If your beef smells likebleach,its a sign that it is decomposing. This article explains how to properly take the temperature of meat and discusses the recommended, Food spoilage is often caused by mold, and some types of it can produce harmful toxins. Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a2d03ce532e772b4275c93af7c80e595" );document.getElementById("f991c2a919").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Home Cook Worldis a food magazine for those who like to spend time in the kitchen and eat at home. Contrary to what many of us think, these bacteria survive temperatures below freezing and dont die in the freezer. 2004-2022 Healthline Media UK Ltd, Brighton, UK, a Red Ventures Company. Two examples of bacteria that may affect . By correctly and safely handling and storing ground beef, people should be able to avoid spoilage. We all want to feel confident that the food we prepare for ourselves, our family and our friends is healthy, and that there is no danger of anyone falling ill due to something we have served them. What should raw ground beef smell like? Gray, smelly and slimy meat should be thrown away. Instead, thaw your meat in the fridge for 24-48 hours. 1.4 Been in Refrigerator for a Long Time. Keep raw meat separately in your cart to avoid cross-contamination, or the spread of bacteria to other food items. The smell is caused by the gases produced by the bacteria. 3. *Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. Meanwhile, the expiration date also labeled as best before tells you when the product is likely to start going bad. Very simply, it will not be a good smell. While the inside of the ground beef may look grayish in color and be okay, any discoloration on the outside is bad news. If this is the case with the meat in your fridge, dont cook and eat it. There are a few ways to determine if ground beef is cooked, but the most reliable way is to use a cooking thermometer. It should also be odor and sticky, and the odor indicates that the meat contains spoilage bacteria. These programs provide means for websites to earn commissions by linking to products. (Dont do this at home.). But as those of you whove read this article know already, the answer is a little more nuanced than that. The inside of the meat will likely not have reacted with oxygen, so may be grayish brown in color, but is still perfectly fine to eat. By the time you get home from work and you are ready to mix up some dinner, a lot of bacteria will have grown on that ground beef. If youre not sure if its safe, we have something for you. Inspect its color The sign that your cooked ground beef is rotten is the smell. 6 The growth of bacterial cells on the surface of the water is what causes the slime to appear. When cooking ground beef, the minimum internal temperature as measured with a food thermometer is 160F (71C). The USDA recommends that ground beef is cooked to an internal temperature of 160F, or if it was previously cooked, to an internal temperature of 165F. How Can You Tell If Oatmeal Has Gone Bad Using A Surefire Method? There are three main ways to tell that ground beef is bad. If you think you wont remember to take the ground beef out of the freezer the night before you want to use it (who hasnt done that?!) Even the strong acid in your stomach do not kill these bacteria, which will multiply inside the human body at an exponential rate. However, if the texture is sticky or slimy, it might signify rotting bacteria. When spoilage bacteria grow in the meat, they create a sticky and mushy slime that will stick to your fingers. (2018). If a person notices mold on the surface of their ground beef, they should throw it away immediately, whether it be raw or cooked. In order to avoid foodborne illnesses, people should follow the four guidelines laid out by the U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service: People should ensure that their refrigerator and freezer are the correct temperature to keep their food safe. If that water is a cloudy off-white color, it's likely spoiled. It is safe to store ground beef in the refrigerator for 12 days, and eat leftovers within 4 days. First, you can check the color of the beef. Here are the health effects of red meat, including possible benefits and downsides of adding it to. In this article, we will discuss signs to look out for to tell if ground beef is bad and provide tips on how to safely handle and store ground beef. Got ground beef? Fresh ground beef should have a relatively firm consistency that breaks apart when you squeeze it. Quick Answer: How To Tell If Ground Beef Is Bad? Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. They may contaminate food and cause a foodborne illness, which can result in food poisoning. Learn more about what meats to eat and, Organ meats, also known as offal, are the commonly unused cuts of meats, such as tails and feet. Like, how could ground beef that has gone bad actually feel different?! Moreover, dishes made with ground beef are typically well-liked by children. It would be so easy to say, If your ground beef smells weird or looks funny, dont eat it, and move on. Both types of bacteria multiply rapidly at room temperature and more slowly in the fridge. Look for gray and brown blotches on the outer layer of the ground beef, as these are signs that your meat is beginning to decompose and decay. Applying all three of these tests, smell, feel and look, should provide you with lots of indicators to determine if your ground beef is good or if it has turned bad. Confused by date labels on packaged foods? On average, ground beef will last 2-3 days after the sell-by day. Signs of foodborne illness from bad ground beef include . Heating it wont make it any safer to eat, nor will cooking up a new meal with it. Make sure that you cook all your ground beef at once after youve taken it out of the fridge. There are signs people can be aware of that may warn them that ground beef is now bad. Food waste is a bigger problem than many people realize. Summary: Beef that has gone bad will develop a slimy or sticky texture and smell bad or "off.". If the texture is slimy or sticky then the beef is not fit for eating. Ground beef is a versatile meat. How can you tell if raw ground beef is bad? Bad ground beef that has been undercooked, contaminated with raw meat juice or left out at room temperature for several hours may become tainted with insidious bacteria. This discoloration suggests that it has started to go bad. In the United States alone, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that every year, 48 million Americans contract food poisoning, 128,000 get hospitalized, and 3,000 die. An example of this would be cooking the beef to add to tomato sauce to serve with pasta. If it turns gray or has a slimy appearance, it's time to throw it away. What is the shelf life of beef?Fresh beef will keep for 1-2 days after it has passed its sell-by date, but there are additional factors to consider.The shelf life of beef is determined by a number of factors, including the sell-by date, the cooking technique, and how the beef was stored after purchase.Cattle, particularly domestic cattle, are used as sources of beef throughout the . You might liken it faintly to iron. By the time the spoilage bacteria have made it disgusting, you can no longer rule out the possibility that its not overgrown with disease-causing pathogens, too. On the other hand, pathogenic bacteria are dangerous, as they can lead to food poisoning. Fresh ground beef feels firm. Here are a few safety tips (3, 12, 13): Remember to wash your hands thoroughly after handling ground beef, and dont forget to your clean kitchen counters and utensils. Food poisoning can be very serious, and it's always better to be safe than sorry. Texture: Raw ground beef should be firm and break apart if squeezed between your fingers. (2016). The most common symptom is a fever of 101.5F (38.6C) or higher, followed by headache, muscle aches, headache-like symptoms, sore . In contrast, cuts of beef should be cooked within 3-5 days. Hopefully I have convinced you not to take a risk with your familys health. Do check the smell of the beef. Smell the meat first, then check it for signs of spoilage and discoloration before touching it to see if you can detect any sliminess. Once it reaches that temperature, it should continue cooking for another 5-7 minutes. Refrigerator & freezer storage chart. Last medically reviewed on March 11, 2021. In the freezer for up to four months, you can keep ground beef. 1. First, take a look at the color. If you want to be completely sure your ground beef issafe to eat, check for all 5 of these signs. Spoiled ground beef is dangerous to eat because it may contain pathogenic bacteria, which are responsible for foodborne illnesses. Spoiled ground beef develops a telltale rancid smell that indicates its dangerous to eat. The Rusty Spoon 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. Multiplying spoilage bacteria can cause a strong odor to occur. How Long To Bake A Delicious Ham Per Pound With Every Type? However, spoiled beef will typically have a slimy texture and a sticky feeling. Pasta sauce with ground beef, chili con carne, tacos, meatloaf, and of course, thick, juicy hamburgers. How To Tell If Ground Beef Is Bad. It is important for people to be aware of potential signs that may indicate spoilage, such as color, smell, texture, and compromised packaging or storage. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) do not require there be an expiration date label on any food products except infant formula. This feeling makes you raise your eyebrows and you get a strong, almost compulsive need to wash your hands. But it is important to remember that pathogenic bacteria may not cause a bad smell. Check the color Ground beef may change color due to multiple factors, including temperature, light, microbial growth,. Research estimates that around 62% of all beef sold in the U.S. is ground. If it has a slimy feel to it, it is beginning to go bad. But the process of grinding meat exposes a larger surface area of ground beef to potentially harmful bacteria. We avoid using tertiary references. Unlike classic beef flank dishes, there is no slicing or marinating required in this recipe. It usually takes the ground beef about 30 minutes to an hour to thaw using this method. Meat has pigment called oxymyoglobin which, when oxygen gets at it, turns the meat bright red. However, it is preferable to completely thaw the ground beef in the fridge as this will allow it to thaw evenly and cook more evenly. Sell-by and expiration dates tell you the best time to eat ground beef. A person can store ground beef in the freezer for up to 4 months. 2. The texture and smell seem "off". If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page. Ground beef that has gone bad will be a little slippery, filmy, sticky and tacky. "If you leave ground beef in the refrigerator, eventually it will start to spoil after so many days," Magoulas said. 5 Signs That Are Easy To Spot. Why Is beef still red after cooking? Fortunately, there are several tips you can use topreserve your raw meat properlyand ensure it doesnt go off in the first place. Ground beef has a short shelf life due to processing that encourages bacterial growth. Check the Color. The time it takes food poisoning symptoms to start can vary. Required fields are marked *. If you reach for the ground beef you purchased 5 or 6 days ago and set in your fridge, you might see a lot of gray. Meat that has turned bad will feel sticky, tacky, or slimy and should be thrown out. That way you can take it out in the morning, and add it to the rest of your garbage to be picked up. This means it is likely to go bad faster than other cuts of beef. By checking for changes in the color, smell, and texture of the beef, you should be able todetect its freshness. Ground beef is at its best the moment you take it out of the grocery bag or the paper the butcher wrapped it in. If it does, throw the meat away. While many products may feature a best before label, the FDA want to dispel confusion and instead use the term best if used by. Labels such as best before simply refer to how long the product is likely to keep its quality and flavor, not safety. (2019). In these instances, I have been tempted to take a chance and cook it up, but then the reasonable side of my brain kicks in, thank goodness, and I remind myself of how ill everyone could become if I went ahead and cooked it up and served it. Meat Safety: Storing and Handling Meat, Poultry, and Fish, Top 9 Foods Most Likely to Cause Food Poisoning, Beef 101: Nutrition Facts and Health Effects, Can I Still Eat It: How to Safely Store Meat, Does Red Meat Have Health Benefits? When ground beef goes bad, it often gives off adistinctive odorthat smells a bit likeammonia. There's a good likelihood the frozen beef has gone wrong if you observe some pinkish-looking flesh juices. Ground beef is bad if it looks dull and gray, smells sour and putrid, and has a sticky and slimy consistency. 3 Ways to Tell If Your Ground Beef Is Bad. To avoid spreading bacteria from one surface to another, wash your hands thoroughly after touching raw meat. Disease-causing microorganisms grow rapidly in food thats been left at room temperature and are more likely to occur in spoiled food (6). It is made by grinding together beef muscle tissue and fat. Outbreaks of infections related to these bacteria occur fairly frequently in the United States (1, 3, 12, 13). Refrigeration Time According to the USDA, ground meats should be consumed 1-2 days after it is purchased. To store the ground beef for longer times, wrap in heavy duty plastic wrap, aluminum foil, or plastic bags made to freeze food. 5 Easy Ways To Cook Breakfast Sausages To Perfection. (2019). Your email address will not be published. If the meat smells sour or unpleasant, it's probably bad and you should discard it. Pathogenic bacteria arent perceptible to our senses, but they can cause food poisoning. 3. No, reheating or cooking spoiled ground beef doesnt make it safe to eat again. Always cook the beef thoroughly to kill bacteria. The good thing is, that you can still save everyones stomach by noticing the scent that comes wafting up from that ground beef cooking in the skillet. Choose a package thats cold to the touch and in good condition, without holes or scratches. 2. Look for gray and brown blotches on the outer layer of the ground beef, as these are signs that your meat is beginning to decompose and decay. But what if youre in a big hurry, you grab the ground beef from the fridge, toss it in the frying pan, and dont bother looking at it very closely, touching it, or even smelling it? Here are 4 ways to tell whether your ground beef has gone bad. But if a person has not correctly or safely stored meat, it is not advisable to eat it beyond the best before date. Check for spot clumps of ice crystals or white blemishes on your frozen meat. Once the ground beef is no longer pink inside, it is ready to eat. To minimize frost burn and the resulting dehydration of the meat, place the ground beef in a plastic bag and seal it with a vacuum sealer, making sure there is no air remaining in the bag. Is ground beef bad if it turns brown in refrigerator? Second, the odor should be strong and unpleasant. As a result, ice crystals form and tear up the muscle tissue, causing the meat to dry out and lose flavor over time. Slime might develop on the meat's surface if this bacterium releases volatile chemicals. After cooking, dont leave the meat at room temperature for more than 1-2 hours. But because there are localized rules surrounding these dates, most food products do tend to have a date on them. It turns out that theres a smell test for everything. On the other hand, meat that looks gray or brown all over (on the inside as well as the top layer) has likely begun to spoil and is not safe to eat. Hypertension: Can 15 minutes of yoga a day help control blood pressure? When you break apart the ground beef you bought, you may see some gray on the inside. How Should Bad Ground Beef Be Disposed Of? The key to keeping frozen meat safe is to thaw it properly. Spoiled, rotten, or old ground beef is going to have a bad smell. Its not time to run back to the store and demand a replacement package. The number one rule with food that may be bad is, If in doubt, throw it out. This is very important with ground beef. Beef fat solidifies at lower temperatures, so if you notice that your ground beef has these spots, it may not necessarily mean that it has gone bad, but proceed with caution and check for other signs of spoilage. This doesnt indicate spoilage. Learn, Meats contain bacteria that are harmful if they enter the body. Frozen meat should never be thawed on the counter. Remember, its not worth it! Once it starts to grey, it's best to stay away. Yes, even worse . The interior of fresh ground beef however isn't exposed to oxygen, therefore it isn't red, but a greyish brown color. Well, it does. In this instance, you wont need to worry if the central section of this ground beef is gray or brown; its just that this area of the meat hasnt had direct contact with oxygen. Never leave at room temperature for more than 2 hours. 2.5 Step 5 - Calculate How Many Days it has been on the Fridge. Many healthy foods can be stored long-term without spoiling. Throw away the whole batch if: Your ground beef smells a little sour Schweihofer, J. But the process of grinding meat exposes a larger surface area of ground beef to potentially harmful bacteria. For confirming that color change is the indication of bad beef you must consider other signs as well. Do not leave it sitting out on the counter during the time it takes you to put everything else away in the cupboards. 2.3 Step 3 - Sense the Meat Smell. Check the color and expiration date of the meat. 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). Ground beef can spoil, or go bad, if it is not stored properly. Click here to learn more about freezing and storing meat. It will feel wet, but not slimy, and it will break apart easily in your hands. If its surface has turned thoroughly brown or gray or grown mold, it has gone bad and should be discarded. How To Tell If Garlic Is Bad! Though the scent of fresh ground beef is barely perceptible, rancid meat has a tangy, putrid odor. If youre opting for weight loss, you might want to choose leaner meats . It should hold its quality for around four months if frozen. The look of the ground beef bad looking ground beef Getty Images. If you don't feel comfortable eating the beef, throw it away. While I have enjoyed sharing tips and tricks on Social Media, I have decided to expand my horizons through this blog. When your guests get up the next day and end up having to see a doctor, you do not want to be the cause. You can also use the defrost buttons on a microwave to defrost ground beef. Getting that second opinion can be very helpful, and will likely convince you one way or the other. 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