You’ve just returned from a quick trip to your neighborhood warehouse store where you stocked up on raw meat. However, you don’t feel like putting the meat into the freezer right away because your feet hurt and your legs are tired. Here are some suggestions for how long to keep raw meat in the refrigerator.
| Food | Type | Refrigerator (40 °F or below) |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh beef, veal, lamb, and pork | Chops | 3 to 5 days |
| Roasts | 3 to 5 days | |
| Ham | Fresh, uncured, uncooked | 3 to 5 days |
| Fresh, uncured, cooked | 3 to 4 days |
BEEF ROAST, ALL CUTS (INCLUDING CHUCK, RIB, FLANK, TENDERLOIN, ROUND, SHOULDER, BLADE ) – FRESH, RAW
- The precise duration of a raw beef roast’s storage in a refrigerator or freezer depends in large part on the storage environment; keep beef roast chilled at all times.
- After being purchased, raw beef roast may be refrigerated for 3 to 5 days; although the “sell-by” date on the package may pass during that time of storage, the beef roast will still be safe to use after that point if it has been properly stored.
- When storing beef roast in the fridge, you can keep it in its original store packaging, but you shouldn’t open the package until you’re ready to use it.
- Bacteria grow quickly at temperatures between 40 °F and 140 °F; a raw beef roast should be thrown out if left out for more than 2 hours at room temperature.
- Place beef roast in the freezer to further extend its shelf life; do this before the number of days indicated for refrigerator storage has passed.
- By covering the original store packaging with airtight heavy-duty aluminum foil, plastic wrap, freezer paper, or placing the package inside a heavy-duty freezer bag, you can extend the shelf life of beef roast in the freezer and avoid freezer burn.
- A raw beef roast can be safely stored in the freezer for up to 12 months, during which time it will retain its best quality, but it will continue to be safe.
- How long does a raw beef roast last after being frozen and thawed? Beef roast that has been defrosted in the refrigerator can be kept for an additional 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator before cooking; beef roast that has been thawed in the microwave or in cold water should be cooked right away.
- After being cooked, beef roast typically keeps well for three to five days in the refrigerator and three months in the freezer.
- The best way to determine whether a beef roast is bad is to smell it and examine it: signs of bad beef roast include a sour smell, dull color, and slimy texture; discard any beef roast with an off smell or appearance.
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
How long is raw roast beef good in the fridge?
For raw ground meats, poultry, seafood, and variety meats (liver, tongue, chitterlings, etc.) on March 23, 2023 ), keep them in the fridge for just one to two days before cooking or freezing. Roasts, steaks, and chops made of beef, veal, lamb, and pork can be kept for 3 to 5 days.
Can raw beef go bad in the fridge?
Beef. No matter the cut, most raw meat can be kept in the refrigerator for three to five days. But there are definitely exceptions. Only one to two days should be allowed for ground meat and offal like liver and kidneys to be stored in the refrigerator.
How long can meat from butcher stay in fridge?
Storage Requirements: Cut MeatFreezer (0 C or below) Refrigerator (5 C or below) Steaks 3-5 days 6-12 months Chops 4-6 months Roasts 3-5 days 4-12 months Steaks 3-5 days 6-12 months
How long can a raw prime rib roast stay in the fridge?
In summary, the USDA states that uncooked prime rib can be kept in the refrigerator for 3-5 days if it is properly stored (below 40°F/4°C). The meat should be kept in a cool, dry area of your refrigerator.