Ground beef is a kitchen staple for many of us. We use it to make burgers, meatballs, tacos, chili, and so much more. But because ground beef is made by grinding up scraps and trimmings of beef, it spoils faster than steaks or roasts. So how can you tell if your ground beef has gone bad? Here are the signs to look for.
Changes in Color
Fresh ground beef is bright red on the interior and exterior. Oxygen from the air reacts with the meat pigment myoglobin to produce a red color. The inside of a package of ground beef may turn brownish, which is normal since the interior is not exposed to oxygen.
However, if the exterior of the meat has turned fully brown or gray that’s a sign it has spoiled. Cooked ground beef can also turn gray, green, or blue when it goes bad. The color changes as bacteria grow and the pH of the meat changes. If you see these colors on raw or cooked meat toss it.
Frequency of color occurrences 8
Slimy Texture
Fresh ground beef has a firm, moist texture that easily breaks apart into crumbles when you handle it. Bad meat will feel slimy and sticky due to high bacteria levels. It may also smell bad (more on that next). Always give ground beef a squeeze test before cooking. If it feels slimy or mushy don’t risk eating it.
Frequency of texture occurrences: 4
Rancid Smell
Your nose is one of the best tools for detecting spoiled meat. Fresh ground beef has a very mild odor. As it starts to rot, it will develop a tangy, putrid smell from the breakdown of proteins and fats. Some describe the stench as sour, ammonia-like, or “off.” If you detect an unpleasant funk when you open the package, that meat needs to go in the trash.
Frequency of smell occurrences: 5
Change in Expiration Date
Check the expiration or sell-by date printed on the package. Ground beef lasts 1-2 days past its sell-by date if properly refrigerated. Don’t cook ground beef more than 3 days past the marked date, even if it looks okay. The expiration date tells you when the meat is at peak quality and flavor. After that date, spoilage bacteria start to multiply rapidly. So even if the meat looks fine, its quality declines past the expiration date.
Frequency of expiration date occurrences: 4
Mold Growth
If you’ve stored cooked ground beef in the fridge, check closely for signs of mold. Tiny fuzzy spots of blue, gray, or green are tell-tale signs that mold has started decomposing the meat. Mold grows quickly on refrigerated leftovers and can spread harmful bacteria. Don’t take chances – throw away moldy ground beef.
Frequency of mold occurrences: 2
Preventing Spoiled Ground Beef
To keep ground beef fresh longer, store it properly. Keep raw meat chilled at 40°F or below until ready to cook. Freeze ground beef for longer storage. Thaw frozen meat in the fridge, not on the counter. When cooking ground beef, use a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature reaches 160°F, hot enough to kill bacteria. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours. With proper handling and storage, you can extend the shelf life of ground beef and reduce food waste.
I hope these tips help you feel confident about spotting bad ground beef. Trust your eyes, nose, and common sense – if your meat looks or smells questionable, throw it out and avoid the risk of foodborne illness. Fresh, high-quality ground beef has a bright red color, firm texture, and barely noticeable odor. So look for those signs of freshness, and your homemade burgers and meatloaf will be perfectly safe to enjoy.
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.
Is Hamburger Meat Spoiled When It Turns Grey or Brown Before Cooking? : Meat Preparation Tips
FAQ
How to tell if ground beef has gone bad?
If it smells bad and has a too soft, slimy texture, it is spoiled and no longer safe to eat.Jun 17, 2024
What color is bad ground beef?
Bad hamburger meat can exhibit several signs indicating spoilage or poor quality: Color: Fresh ground beef is typically bright red on the outside and may be a darker red or brown on the inside. If the meat appears gray or has an unusual color (like green or brown spots), it may be spoiled.
What happens if you eat slightly spoiled beef?
Risks of eating spoiled meat: – If the spoiled meat is contaminated with pathogenic bacteria like salmonella, staphylococcus, clostridium, or E. coli, it can cause food poisoning (2). – Symptoms of food poisoning can include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal issues (2).
Is raw ground beef good after 7 days in the fridge?
If stored in the refrigerator, raw ground beef can last for 1-2 days. Likewise, cooked ground beef can be kept in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. After which, you should discard the ground beef as spoiled food can lead to food poisoning.
How do you know if ground beef has spoiled?
This test is probably the easiest and fastest way to determine whether meat has spoiled. It applies to both raw and cooked ground beef. Though the scent of fresh ground beef is barely perceptible, rancid meat has a tangy, putrid odor. Once it goes bad, it’s no longer safe to eat.
How do you know if ground beef is bad?
Meat that has turned bad will feel sticky, tacky, or slimy and should be thrown out. You can also use the color of the meat as a guideline. Ground beef that is brown or gray is still safe to eat, but if it is turning green, you should throw it away. Read on for tips on storing ground beef to keep it from spoiling!
Does ground beef change color when spoiled?
Finally, ground beef can change color when it spoils, going from the familiar rust-red color (produced by iron, the same ingredient that gives blood its color) to a flat gray color. This color change occurs as the bacteria break down the iron compounds in the meat. If your ground beef is gray, slimy, or smelly, it’s spoiled.
Does cooked ground beef go bad?
Raw or cooked ground beef has gone bad if it smells funky, changes color, and/or feels slimy. Don’t cook with ground beef that’s more than 3 days past its sell-by date. Store raw and cooked beef in the fridge to keep it as fresh as possible. If you can’t cook or eat it right away, freeze it for future use.
Can ground beef be spoiled?
Your food could already be spoiled by that point.” “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.
Does spoilage affect ground beef?
Spoilage and pathogenic bacteria may both affect ground beef. These bacteria are generally not harmful but cause food to lose quality and develop a bad odor and taste. On the other hand, pathogenic bacteria are dangerous, as they can lead to food poisoning. Furthermore, spoilage makes it more likely for them to be present in your food.