What Should I Do With Raw Ground Beef Left Out Overnight?
Any overnight exposure of raw ground beef should be discarded. Until you’re ready to prepare them, all raw meat products should be stored in the refrigerator. Meat should only be kept at room temperature for a maximum of two hours, or for just one hour if the outside temperature is above 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
How Long Can Raw Ground Beef Left Out?
Keep all meat products refrigerated at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. They may attract the type of bacteria that causes food-borne illnesses if kept at room temperature for an extended period of time, or anywhere between 40 and 140 degrees.
As a rule of thumb, don’t leave raw ground beef out for any longer than 2 hours, or 1 hour if the temperature outside is 90 degrees or more. Leave the raw meat in the fridge until you’re ready to start cooking.
Therefore, if you left raw ground beef out overnight, you should throw it away right away. It’s not worth the risk even if it seems and smells fine. This is the case even if the meat is cooked.
While you wait to start the next batch of burgers, it is acceptable to leave a plate of uncooked burgers next to the grill. However, do not wait too long because the meat could reach the danger zone between 40 and 140 degrees. No matter the season, this is crucial, but especially so in hot weather.
How Long Does Ground Beef Last In The Fridge?
Always cook and eat raw ground beef within a day or two of buying it. While premium ground beef may last a little longer, it usually starts to lose its quality after 48 hours in the refrigerator.
You will have a little more time if you cook the ground beef first. It should keep for 3 to 4 days under the right circumstances, like most cooked meat does. As always, think about freezing it instead if you don’t think you’ll be able to finish it all within that time frame.
The meat should be tightly wrapped and kept in the lower shelf of the refrigerator for best results. If you intend to freeze it, make sure to package it airtightly and defrost it within eight months.
How To Tell If Ground Meat Has Gone Bad
Ground beef is a popular grocery item in the US, where it accounts for about 60 percent of all beef products sold for home preparation. Despite its popularity, it’s more prone to spoilage than larger cuts of beef. Here’s why.
Meat that has been ground or chopped finely has more surface area exposed to the air. That gives spoilage and pathogenic bacteria more room to adhere. Even though spoilage bacteria aren’t always dangerous, they’ll reduce the food’s appeal. On the other hand, pathogenic bacteria are the kind of bacteria that can result in food poisoning.
If spoilage bacteria are present, there is a good chance that the pathogenic variety has come after them. This is the reason why you should never keep raw beef that exhibits any signs of spoilage.
Spoiled ground beef usually carries telltale signs. The key is to familiarize yourself with them. Examine the meat for the following traits before cooking it.
First of all, check the color of the meat. Because of the presence of oxymyoglobin, which is the result of the proteins’ reaction with oxygen, fresh ground beef is bright red.
However, if you cut through the outer layer, you might find brown or grayish meat. It hasn’t necessarily gone bad; rather, the color has dulled as a result of oxygen deprivation. However, if the meat’s exterior has turned gray or brown, it has definitely gone bad and needs to be thrown out.
Additionally, it’s important to note that cooked ground beef, even when kept in the refrigerator, can develop mold if it’s kept for an extended period of time. Check leftovers for any suspicious-looking furry spots or green, blue, or gray patches and discard them if you find any.
Fresh ground beef feels firm to the touch but typically crumbles when lightly pressed. It might feel slimy or sticky to the touch if it has gone bad. This is true whether the beef is raw or cooked.
Even if you’ve decided that the raw meat is safe to eat, remember to wash your hands right away. Check out the Tips For Safe Handling section below for more tips on hygiene and quality control.
Probably the quickest method for determining freshness is the sniff test. Once more, it works with both raw and cooked ground beef.
If the ground beef is fresh, there should be no smell to it. But when it’s harboring spoilage bacteria, it will start to smell rancid. If the smell of the meat is particularly sweet or tangy—or worse—it is no longer safe to eat.
The sniff test is a simple but not always accurate way to identify spoilage. Even if the meat smells fine but has a slimy texture or an odd color, you should still throw it away.
Check the “sell-by” date on the package. As long as the ground beef has been properly stored, you should be able to eat it for another two days without any problems.
The “best by” or “best before” date, on the other hand, denotes the time when the meat will start to turn. It should be prepared and consumed before this date for the best results. Consider freezing the ground beef if you’re running short on time so you can use it later.
Tips For Safe Handling
You can prevent potential spoilage by adhering to a few food safety recommendations.
Before leaving the grocery store or butcher shop, make the meat case your last stop. Go home directly afterward. By doing this, the amount of time the ground beef is exposed to room temperature will be reduced. Especially in hot weather, you might think about keeping a cooler with a cold pack in your car when you go shopping.
Check the expiration date before every purchase.
Verify that the beef’s visible portion is a vibrant red color and that the packaging is in good condition.
Refrigerate or freeze the ground beef immediately after returning home.
Keep the refrigerator below 40 degrees Fahrenheit at all times.
To prevent juices from dripping onto other ingredients, keep raw ground beef on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator.
Don’t let raw meat or any other food products come into contact with each other.
Wash all utensils used to prepare raw ground beef completely.
Although it’s disappointing to discard meat before you’ve had a chance to cook it, in this instance it’s the best course of action. When it comes to products made of raw meat, it’s always better to err on the side of caution. If not, you might not be in good enough health to enjoy your upcoming barbecue.
Best of luck, and happy grilling!
Hi there! I’m Darren Wayland, your BBQHost. I created this website as a resource for all of my fellow pitmasters who share my love of great barbecue. If you can see me at all through the clouds of enticing smoke, you can find me at the grill when I’m not researching and learning everything I can about the newest tricks and techniques. And in case you’re wondering, yes, my face probably has barbecue sauce on it. Welcome to the party!.
How Long Can You Leave Food Out?
FAQ
Is ground beef OK if left out overnight?
A perishable food, such as meat or poultry, may not be safe if it has been out at room temperature for more than two hours or overnight. Discard it, even though it may look and smell good.
Can I leave beef out for 5 hours?
Perishable foods should only be left out at room temperature for a MAXIMUM of TWO HOURS (ONE HOUR at temperatures of 90 degrees F or higher). This INCLUDES the period of time they remain at the table while you eat. A single bacterium can multiply to over 2,097,152 bacteria in 7 hours by doubling every 20 minutes!
How long can ground beef sit out to thaw?
Freezing meat keeps bacteria in a dormant stage. However, once thawed, these bacteria can become active again. Never let meat sit out of the refrigerator or on the counter to thaw for longer than two hours.
How long does it take for ground beef to go bad?
The Food Safety Inspection Services of the USDA state that ground beef has a shelf life of one to two days after purchase. When preparing, wash your hands in warm, soapy water before handling raw beef and prepared foods. Ensure that other foods are kept away from raw meat and meat juices.