Can you keep raw ground beef in the fridge for 7 days? No, you can’t. Raw ground beef may become unsafe after 2 days of storage.
Ground beef is a significant beef product in the United States. More than one-half of the beef consumed in the United States is in the form of ground beef.
And because it has a substantial market share in fast-food restaurants, traditional restaurants, institutions, households, and other places, knowing how to store raw ground beef is essential.
In this article, you will find out how to store raw ground beef in the fridge, how long it will last, and if it is safe to eat spoilt ground beef.
What is ground beef?
Ground beef, minced beef, or beef, is beef that has been beautifully sliced up with a machine, a meat grinder, or a knife.
It is a common ingredient in many dishes, such as meatloaf, meatballs, kofta, Bolognese sauce, and hamburgers.
Ground beef is made by mechanically grinding or chopping boneless beef cuts and offcuts at high speeds.
The manufacturing of ground beef products is governed by the United States Department of Agriculture—Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) codes, which outline the composition and labeling requirements for ground beef products.
One of such composition is that ground beef should be made using fresh and frozen meat, either with or without flavoring and fat addition, and must contain no more than 30% fat.
Can you store raw ground beef in the fridge for 6-7 days?
You cannot keep raw ground beef for six or seven days in the refrigerator.
Ground beef can be kept in the fridge for two days only. But, you can keep your fresh ground beef in the freezer for up to 4 months.
Can you store raw ground beef in the fridge for 3-5 days?
No, you can only keep raw ground beef in the refrigerator for a maximum of two days. Uncooked ground beef can be frozen for a maximum of four months and kept for two days in the refrigerator.
However, cooked ground beef that has been removed from the refrigerator and left over for three days can be eaten.
How long will raw ground beef last in the fridge?
Your raw ground beef has a two-day shelf life in the refrigerator, after which it might start to spoil. But, you can freeze ground beef to extend its shelf life for four months if you want to keep it for a long time.
What is the lowest temperature for cooking ground beef?
As calculated by a food thermometer, the lowest internal temperature for ground beef is 160°F (71°C).
How do you store raw ground beef?
According to the USDA, after buying the beef, put ground beef in the fridge or freezer as soon as possible. If the meat is not to be eaten immediately, it can be refrigerated; otherwise, freeze beef in its packaging.
If you choose to refrigerate your beef, it should be used between one or two days and kept at 40°F or lower.
However, if you have no intention of using the beef soon, wrap it in freezer paper, aluminum foil, heavy-duty plastic wrap, or plastic bags designed for freezing for extended freezer storage and use within four months.
How to tell if raw ground beef is bad
1. Check the color
The color of raw ground beef should always be red. However, it can turn gray, but this doesn’t always indicate spoilage.
The inside of raw ground meat may be grayish-brown due to a lack of oxygen exposure, but this is not an indication of spoilage.
Nonetheless, when the exterior of the ground beef has turned brown or gray, discard it.
2. Appearance of mold
Mold can also pollute cooked ground beef, so toss your leftovers when you see any fuzzy blue, gray, or green spots. It is a clear sign that the meat is bad.
3. Inspect the texture
Feeling the texture of your meat by hand is another method of inspecting your ground beef. Fresh ground beef should be firm but fall to pieces apart when squeezed.
A slimy or sticky surface, whether raw or cooked, may indicate the presence of spoilage bacteria. As a result, you should get rid of it right away.
4. Smell and taste
This is most likely the easiest and quickest method for figuring out whether or not meat has gone bad. It applies to both raw and cooked ground beef.
The smell of rancid meat is tangy and putrid, whereas the fresh aroma of ground beef is barely detectable. Once it has an off smell, it has gone bad and is no longer safe to eat.
Furthermore, the flavor may also change due to an increase in the growth of spoilage bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Pseudomonas species.
If there is no unusual odor, but you can still see indications of spoilage in the color or texture, it is best to throw meat away because pathogenic bacteria cannot be smelled.
5. Check the expiration date
“Sell-by” and expiry dates are extra guidelines for defining if your ground beef is safe to eat.
The sell-by date of a product tells the retail outlet how long it can be displayed for purchase. As a result, you can store ground beef in the refrigerator for as long as two days after this date.
On the other hand, the “best before” date, which also serves as the expiration date, implies when the item is most likely to go wrong. As a result, beef will be of the highest quality and taste before this date.
FAQs
Where is the best place to store ground beef in the refrigerator?
At the bottom fridge shelf in the back. Also, keep unaltered ground beef in its original packaging.
Can you store ground beef in Tupperware?
Yes, you can if the meat is not hot.
Many folks store their raw meat in Tupperware containers in the freezer.
Whether you’re dealing with ground beef or raw chicken, Tupperware containers keep your meat fresh and inhibit freezer burn. They outperform Ziploc bags in the long run.
What is raw ground meat called?
It is known as tartare or beef tartare. This beef is served with a raw or raw egg yolk.
Why do people eat raw ground beef?
People in favor of raw beef argue that the vitamins are more easily absorbed and digested by the body.
Conclusion
Since raw ground beef has a higher risk of acquiring bacteria or contamination, it is always best frozen.
Accordingly, if you choose to store it in the refrigerator, it might delay the incursion of these pathogens for two days. However, after that, it needs to be cooked, or you risk the possibility of eating contaminated ground beef.
Additionally, although it is not recommended to eat raw ground beef, it has been claimed to have more nutrients for the body. Even so, the best course of action is to cook your raw ground beef after storing it, as there is no research to support this claim.
Also, find out how long cooked ground beef can last before it goes bad.
Thanks for reading.
