Hole in My Ground Beef Package and Now It Is Brown. Is It Still Safe to Eat?

This Is What Ground Beef Turning Brown Really Means

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We've all been there: Y'all grocery shop over the weekend, and and so when you reach for the ground beef on Taco Tuesday, you lot find information technology has turned brown. Tossing it out is a bummer — non only for the environmentally conscious who try to avoid food waste, but also for those of united states of america who don't similar wasting money or having to figure out a backup dinner at the last minute. But there's skillful news: While the fading of the meat'southward red/pink hue tin be off-putting, you may non take to throw it abroad; beef turning brown doesn't necessarily mean information technology has spoiled. Science tells u.s. both what that brown/gray colour means — and how to know whether it's still taco time or if it'due south safer to call for takeout.

Interestingly, the molecule responsible for givingbeef its signature ruby color is the same one responsible for turning information technology brown: oxygen. When the meat first comes in contact with the air, information technology turns red/pink, according to the U.Due south. Department of Agronomics. Notwithstanding, one time the meat has been exposed to that oxygen, it has a limited time before the same air that turned it red takes it to its next phase of oxidation, which is grey/brown. It's the same miracle that turns your avocado or sliced apple brown. And oxidized food isn't necessarily bad food, at least not right away.

How to tell if your ground beef it still okay to eat

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If your basis beef has turned brown or gray in color, or if the outer layer is still pink but the inside has turned (or vice versa), in that location are a few other ways to tell if it is okay to use. Beginning, cheque the expiration date. If the beef is nonetheless within its "good by" time period, it is more than likely to exist safe, as long as it has been transported and stored properly (Healthline). Next, odor it. If the beef has an unremarkable "normal" smell, it is likely not notwithstanding spoiled, simply if it smells off to you, it'due south safer to throw it out. Concluding, feel the texture. If information technology is slimy or greasy in feeling, toss information technology. That could indicate bacteria growth and spoilage. If, nevertheless, the meat smells fine, feels fine, hasn't yet hit its expiration date, and has been handled properly, you lot are probably okay to make those tacos.

How to properly buy and store ground beef to assistance it concluding longer

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If you lot're getting your meat at the butcher counter, select beefiness with a bright reddish cherry colour, suggests Food Network. Packaged meat might have a darker purple-red color, and that's okay. That but means information technology hasn't been exposed to much oxygen because of its vacuum-seal packaging. Also check that the packaging doesn't contain excessive liquid and that information technology's properly sealed with no holes.

Once y'all become your beefiness habitation, what y'all program to practice with it will be a good guide on how best to store it, say the experts at Food Network. For freezing, programme the meals yous'll be using it for and portion it out accordingly so you can repackage and freeze it in the right portions. If you want to freeze information technology in its original packaging, you should only exercise so for well-nigh two weeks. If, however, yous demand to shop it longer, wrap it in heavy duty aluminum foil, place in a freezer purse, and try to remove as much air every bit possible before freezing. It can safely be stored upwardly to iii to iv months this style. Plan to use information technology in the adjacent few days? place it on the lowest shelf of the refrigerator on a plate or tray to catch any juices that may drip to prevent cantankerous-contamination.

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Source: https://www.thelist.com/254456/this-is-what-ground-beef-turning-brown-really-means/

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