What if ground beef is brown

The materials contained in this Web Site are not intended as safety advice to any party but as guidelines. Please consult the safe handling directions and labeling on meat and poultry products for assurances. For more information, please contact FSIS for details.

Powered by Orchid Suites Orchid ver. Fridge time: 1 to 2 days Freezer time: 3 to 4 months Fresh ground beef goes through a number of color changes during its shelf life. Look for ground beef with a bright red color.

It should not have a tangy smell even after it has been cooked. When you touch ground beef it will be a little wet but should not be slimy in the least. Slimy ground beef should be thrown out and never consumed. Ground beef should be firm and break apart easily in your hands. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly so that you do not spread bacteria and contaminate other surfaces. You want your ground beef to be red in color.

When you see brown or dull grey then it has spoiled and no longer safe to cook or serve. You may see some brown in the middle of prepackaged ground beef which can be normal. Oxygen can not get to the middle of the package and it will start to turn brown.

If only a little brown, it should still be ok but always check all three steps to make a decision whether your ground beef is bad or not. This in and of itself doesn't indicate at all that your meat is going bad.

Interestingly, the oxygen has another role with the color of the meat — the oxygen that interacts with the surface of the meat actually lends it its cherry-red flavor. But that doesn't last forever.

So, what does it mean if your ground beef has gone from its bright, reddish-pink color to a brownish gray? It's simple really: Once exposed to oxygen, ground beef will turn brown, and that is perfectly normal via The Takeout. This is similar to what happens to apples, avocadoes, and eggplants when they get a whiff or two of fresh air.

If the interior of your beef is grayish brown, it's probably just because that part of the meat hasn't been exposed to oxygen, and it's safe to eat. However, if all or a lot of the meat in the package has turned gray or brown, you should check its freshness in two ways.

First, the sniff test. Fresh ground beef may have a mild iron smell, but if it starts to smell rotten beef tends to get a funky sweet odor , you should err on the side of caution and throw it out. Second, the touch test. Fresh ground beef is usually cool to the touch, smooth, and slightly damp. But ground beef that's starting to go bad can feel slimy, tacky, or sticky.

Once again, you shouldn't risk it if you think the texture is off — it's best to throw it out if you suspect it's starting to go bad via The Takeout. Whatever you do, never eat the meat to see if it's spoiled.

Even a slight taste of it could result in a foodborne illness via Insider.