You’re not alone if you’ve ever brought home a package of ground beef and wondered if it was still safe to cook days later or stored ground beef in the freezer and wondered if it was still edible months later. This perplexing situation can make you worry that your delicious meal might make someone ill. Fortunately, there are many ways to determine if your ground beef has gone bad from the time you buy it until the moment you eat it.
Things You Should Know
- If ground beef is slimy, smells foul, or changes color after being cooked, it has gone bad.
- Never use ground beef that is more than 3 days past its sell-by date when cooking.
- To keep beef as fresh as possible, keep it both raw and cooked in the refrigerator. Freeze it if you can’t cook or consume it right away.
- To stop the spread of food-borne illnesses, cook ground beef to an internal temperature of 160 °F (71 °C).
Signs That Ground Beef is Bad
- My ground beef has been in the freezer for about three months. With the exception of the fact that it appears to be slightly white, it appears to be perfectly normal. Can you tell me if it is bad or not? Staff Member at wikiHow This response was checked for accuracy and comprehensiveness by one of our trained researchers before being posted. Beef lasts for about four months in the freezer, so if it’s only been three months, it should still be in good condition. wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer Use your best judgment in the end; if the meat seems off to you, throw it out rather than eating it.
- Can you reheat frozen hamburger without cooking it first? wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer This response was checked by a trained professional to ensure that it had the requisite rigor and comprehensiveness. Yes, but only if you defrosted the meat in your refrigerator, according to wikiHow Staff Editors. It is unsafe to refreeze meat that has been microwaved, placed in a bowl of water, or otherwise defrosted.
- I left my cooked hamburger outside at 58 degrees for 12 hours. Is it safe to eat wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer This response was checked for accuracy and comprehensiveness by a member of our specialized research team. Unfortunately, no—you should throw it out. wikiHow Staff Editor The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service states that ground beef is only suitable for room temperature storage for a maximum of two hours (or one hour if the temperature is at least 90 °F/32 °C). 2 °C).
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- Keep hot foods above 140 °F (60 °C) and cold foods below 40 °F (4 °C). Anything between these two ranges is in the “Danger Zone,” where bacteria will begin to grow. [20] Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1 .
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Lean in close and smell your ground beef if you’re not sure if it’s still good. You should toss the meat if it smells sour or unpleasant because it probably doesn’t taste good. Test the texture with your fingers to see if it seems alright. Throw away any meat that feels slimy, sticky, or otherwise off because it has gone bad. The color of the meat can also serve as a guide. While ground beef that is brown or gray can still be consumed, if it starts to turn green, you should toss it. Continue reading for advice on how to keep ground beef from spoiling!
Reader Success Stories
- Sharn S. “I bought a 4 lb. ground chuck package from the shop I typically shop at When I opened it and started forming patties, I saw a “tunnel” of gray beef inside the bright red container. Though I’ve been cooking for more than 50 years, I’m not happy with the new experience. When my granddaughter suggested it, I googled “ground chuck gray.” The part about exposing the gray meat to the air in particular was very helpful. It stayed gray. Returning it! Thanks!”. ” more .
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Sharn S. “I bought a 4 lb. ground chuck package from the shop I typically shop at Opened it, began making patties, and.
“Just didn’t know what to do if meat smells sour and a little grey,” said Anna Holt. My gut instinct said throw it out! That.
After being cooked and defrosted, the hamburger I pulled out of the freezer for dinner had a strange flavor.
“I worry when I buy hamburger that is red in the store, get it home, and it is brown inside,” said Gail Swartzell. This article.
M. Easy to read, but what I liked the most was how informative it was. It answered all my questions and then
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Here’s How To Tell If Ground Beef Has Gone Bad
FAQ
Can ground beef go bad while thawing?
Foods that are thawing in the fridge (at 40 °F or less) are still safe to eat. Use ground meats, poultry, and fish within one or two more days of thawing, and roasts, steaks, or chops of beef, pork, lamb, or veal within three to five days.
What does spoiled ground beef look like?
However, if the outside of the ground beef has turned brown or gray, it should be discarded as it is starting to rot. Additionally, mold can contaminate cooked ground beef, so if you see any fuzzy blue, grey, or green spots, you should toss your leftovers.
What happens if I eat bad ground beef?
Consequences of Consuming Old Ground Beef These microorganisms can cause severe stomach cramps, fever, diarrhea, and vomiting. If you do end up getting bacteria from tainted beef, your symptoms may not appear for a few days or they may appear suddenly.
What does spoiled ground beef smell like?
Normally, fresh ground beef has the smell of iron. The meat will likely have a strong rotten smell if it has been bad for a while. The majority of bad meat has a rancid or pungent smell, but you should be cautious of any strange odors. Rotten meat can even smell sweet at times.