Hint: Its not bad yet.
You’re all set to make themeatloaf, hamburgers, ormeatballsyou’ve been craving all day.
Don’t chuck that chuckyet.
Credit: iStock / Getty Images Plus
Chances are, it is perfectly edible.According to the USDA, extremely fresh beef is actually purplish in color.
That’s rightbright red, the color we associate with beef, isn’t an indicator of freshness.
When the surface of the meat comes into contact with oxygen, it turns red.
When the meat has no oxygen exposure, it changes to a gray-brown hue.
But that does not mean it is spoiled.
If it is a bit gray on the inside, that’s probably fine.
If the ground beef is gray on the inside and outside, it most likely has spoiled.
A simple sniff test will confirm that for you.
Check The Smell
Spoiled ground beef will have an unpleasant smell after you launch the packaging.
Odor is always an indicator that something is off because fresh ground beef should not have any scent.
Check The Texture
Fresh ground beef should also be firm but pliable when squeezed.
You risk Salmonella and E. coli growing on improperly stored or expired ground beef.
Fresh ground beef will be red when first purchased.
Keep ground beef cool and refrigerate as soon as possible.
Cross-contamination can occur when using the same platter forcooked meatas uncooked meat.
Frozen ground beef may also turn gray, but it is safe to eat if stored properly.
Labeling your frozen foods with dates helps to knowwhen food is best-by.
Fresh ground beef should smell like iron.
