Keeping beef around the house is a great idea in all of its forms and varieties. A nice steak can add a special touch to a quick meal, and ground beef can be quickly transformed into hamburgers for a large group. Although it may be tempting to make more than you need and freeze it for later use, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) warns that ground beef can still easily turn into a breeding ground for bacteria even after it has been cooked.
Both pathogenic and spoilage bacteria have the potential to cause beef to spoil. According to the USDA, spoilage bacteria cause your meat to turn green or smell rotten, which are clear signs that it has spoiled. Conversely, pathogenic bacteria usually don’t affect the nutritional value of the food, but they are still very dangerous, according to Boston University School of Public Health. This includes the likes of E. Coli and Salmonella. For this reason, it’s crucial to make sure that food is stored safely and appropriately. Though even properly preserved food can spoil after a certain amount of time, the safe period for ground beef might be shorter than you anticipate.
BEEF ROAST, ALL CUTS (INCLUDING CHUCK, RIB, FLANK, TENDERLOIN, ROUND, SHOULDER, BLADE) – COOKED
- The precise response to the question of how long cooked beef roast keeps in the refrigerator depends in large part on storage conditions; beef roast should be refrigerated within two hours of cooking.
- Cooked beef roast should be refrigerated in shallow airtight containers to extend its shelf life and maintain its quality, or it can be tightly wrapped in heavy-duty aluminum foil or plastic wrap.
- Beef roast cooked properly can be kept in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
- Cooked beef roast can be frozen, then wrapped tightly in heavy-duty aluminum foil or freezer wrap, covered airtight containers, or both to further extend its shelf life.
- When stored properly, cooked beef roast will maintain its best quality for approximately 2 to 3 months, but it will continue to be secure after that period of time.
- The indicated freezer time is only for best quality; cooked beef roast kept frozen at 0°F continuously will keep safe indefinitely.
- After being frozen and thawed, cooked beef roast can be stored for an additional three to four days in the refrigerator before cooking; however, beef roast that was thawed in the microwave or in cold water should be consumed right away.
- Bacteria grow quickly between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit, so cooked beef roast should be thrown away if left at room temperature for longer than two hours.
- The best way to determine whether a cooked beef roast is bad is to smell it and examine it. Bad beef roast will have a sour smell and a slimy texture; discard any such beef roast without first tasting it.
Sources: For more information on the informational data sources used for food storage, please click here.
Ask the Test Kitchen: How Long Will Meat Last in the Fridge?
FAQ
Can I eat cooked beef after 7 days?
Cooked ground beef can remain safe to consume for a few days in the refrigerator before it becomes spoiled. However, it is best to discard it if it has been there for more than seven days or displays signs of spoilage, such as off flavors, color changes, or mold growth.
How long does a roast beef last in the fridge?
Roasts, steaks, and chops made of beef, veal, lamb, and pork can be kept for 3 to 5 days. Meat, poultry, and seafood can be safely kept in the refrigerator for three to four days after cooking.
How do you store cooked roast beef in the fridge?
According to Southern Living, the best way to store cooked beef is to wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator. Cooked beef can be safely stored for three to four days. The ideal time to complete this is two hours after cooking the meat.
How do you know if cooked meat has gone bad?
The meat ought to resemble the texture and aroma of the day you cooked it. Your meat may be spoiled if it feels slimy or mushy, has a green tint, or smells sour or rotten.