Ground beef is the perfect choice for so many dinner options. Burgers, lasagna, taco night … even for the pickiest of eaters, theres bound to be something that ground beef can cover.
Still, ground beef won’t last forever in your fridge, and you certainly don’t want to serve up spoiled meat. Avoiding food-borne illness should always be a priority in every kitchen, whether commercial or at home.
So, how do you know whether or not your recently purchased ground beef has become unsafe to eat? Don’t worry! In most cases, there are plenty of hard-to-miss signs that your beef should just be tossed as well as a few failsafe options to keep you and your family safe.
“If you open the package and the meat feels or looks slimy, that’s a problem,” states Dr. Craggs-Dino. “Fresh ground beef should be a little firm to the touch and crumbly. But if it’s sticky and looks wet, that’s not so good.
Consequences of Eating Old Ground Beef
Unfortunately, many people 48 million people every year will experience food poisoning at one point or another. Consuming ground beef that’s just begun to go bad can be very dangerous, depending on your age and personal health.
The most common bacteria that grow within meat are E Coli and Salmonella- it isnt just cookie dough you need to look out for. These bacteria can cause stomach issues like diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and intense stomach cramps.
If you do end up contracting bacteria from bad beef, it may take a few days to show symptoms or suddenly rush up on you. Make sure to have plenty of fluids available, preferably with electrolytes and vitamins if possible.
Why Does Ground Beef Spoil?
Unfortunately, all meat will eventually go bad. Still, it’s helpful to know exactly what’s going on when inspecting your beef and even trying to ensure that it lasts as long as possible. Meat is generally susceptible to a variety of bacteria, especially pathogenic and spoilage.
Pathogenic won’t cause any odors, color changes, or noticeable changes in your meat. However, it will certainly still cause illness. Meanwhile, spoilagebacteria will cause observable effects on your ground beef that we’ll discuss further in this article.
It’s important to keep both of these bacteria in mind when inspecting your ground beef. Both will make you sick, but only one will show signs.
This may be the first thing you notice if your beef has gone bad, even before you open the fridge. Spoiled beef will develop a scent to it similar to ammonia or sulfur. In short, it won’t smell good.
Occasionally ground beef will develop a light smell if it’s been in airtight packaging, and that’s alright. But if you take a whiff and you’re immediately making a face, that’s your bodys natural reaction to something that should not be consumed.
Healthy ground beef will be pink with strips of white fat running through it. Oxidation — AKA overexposure to oxygen — will lead to a bit of grayness, which isn’t necessarily the end of the road.
However, if your meat is turned fully gray, has patches of dark gray, or has started to develop any amount of mold, it’s time to throw away the entire package. Do not be tempted to remove the mold you can see and salvage the ground beef remaining. There very well may be more mold growing beneath the surface.
If your ground beef has a funky odor and looks unappetizing, it’s safe to say that it’s gone bad and should be tossed out. However, if you need more confirmation, you can always check the meat’s texture.
Healthy ground beef will be smooth, and you should be able to make an indent when you push your finger into it. If the meat has gone bad, the surface will feel slimy and wet.
You shouldn’t feel any wetness on ground beef, particularly raw beef.
As we mentioned, some bacteria don’t show any observable signs of spoilage. It wont smell, look, or feel different. But you can always double-check the time that the beef has been on the shelf and use that number as your final decider.
Raw beef should be consumed within 3 days of getting it into your fridge since it was recently packaged. Always double-check your ground beefs packing and expiration dates, whether you get it at a grocery store, butcher it, or have it delivered from a high-quality local farm.
Here’s How To Tell If Ground Beef Has Gone Bad
FAQ
How can you tell if raw ground beef is bad?
What happens if you cook bad ground beef?
How long is raw ground beef good in the fridge?
How do you know if raw beef has gone bad?
How do you know if raw beef is bad?
Signs of Spoiled Raw MeatThe use-by-date has passed. Meat is discolored. Meat has a foul odor, like a robust cheesy smell. The beef has a slimy appearance & texture. The steak has been in the fridge for weeks. What does bad raw beef smell like? If your beef has gone bad, you might notice this even before opening the refrigerator.
How can one tell if they have food poisoning?
See a doctor if you have any severe symptoms, including: Bloody diarrhea. Diarrhea that lasts more than 3 days. High fever (temperature over 102°F) Vomiting so often that you cannot keep liquids down.
How do you know if meat has gone bad?
But it’s a different story if the meat has gone bad, says Dr. Craggs-Dino. “You open the package and it just doesn’t smell right. If it smells rancid, or tangy, or just plain putrid, that’s a sign of spoiled meat.” The expiration date printed on the label is another important clue to your meat’s safety.
How do you know if ground beef is rotting?
Fresh ground beef will have a bright red hue—almost like a cherry. It can also be burgundy or purplish if it’s been vacuum sealed, per the USDA. Gray or brown meat could be a sign of rot, though it’s not unusual for the inside of raw beef to have a different color than the outside since it’s not exposed to oxygen. If it looks funky, it probably is.