How Long Does Cooked Ground Beef Last In The Freezer?

It can be challenging to prepare and store ground beef because it must be done so safely for you and your family. In this blog post, we’ll go into great detail about how long cooked ground beef lasts in the fridge, what containers work best for keeping it fresh, and how to recognize when it’s past its prime. Read on to find out more!.

BEEF, GROUND (HAMBURGER) – COOKED

• The precise answer to the question of how long cooked ground beef lasts in the refrigerator or freezer depends in large part on storage conditions; ground beef should be refrigerated (including cooked hamburgers) within two hours of cooking.
• Cooked ground beef 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.
• Cooked ground beef will keep in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days if stored properly.
• Cooked ground beef can be frozen, then wrapped tightly in heavy-duty aluminum foil or freezer wrap, covered airtight containers, or both to extend its shelf life.
• When stored properly, cooked ground beef will retain its best quality for approximately 2 to 3 months, but it will continue to be secure after that period.
• The freezer time indicated is only for the best quality; cooked ground beef that has been frozen at 0°F continuously will keep safe indefinitely.
• After being frozen and thawed, cooked ground beef can be kept for an additional three to four days in the refrigerator before cooking; however, ground beef that was thawed in the microwave or in cold water should be consumed right away.
• Bacteria grow quickly at temperatures between 40 °F and 140 °F, so cooked ground beef should be thrown out if left at room temperature for longer than 2 hours.
• The best way to determine whether cooked ground beef is bad is to smell and visually inspect it. Bad ground beef will have a slimy texture and a sour smell; discard any such ground beef without tasting it first.

Sources: For more information on the informational data sources used for food storage, please click here.

How long should you keep meat in the fridge or freezer?