Is It Ok to Use Ground Beef When It Turns Brown

This Is What Ground Beef Turning Brown Really Means

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We've all been there: You grocery store over the weekend, and then when you lot reach for the ground beef on Taco Tuesday, you find information technology has turned brown. Tossing it out is a bummer — not merely for the environmentally conscious who try to avoid food waste, but also for those of us who don't like wasting money or having to figure out a backup dinner at the last minute. But there's good news: While the fading of the meat'south red/pink hue tin exist off-putting, you may not take to throw it away; beef turning dark-brown doesn't necessarily mean it has spoiled. Science tells us both what that brown/grey color means — and how to know whether information technology'south still taco time or if it's safer to phone call for takeout.

Interestingly, the molecule responsible for givingbeef its signature cherry color is the same one responsible for turning it brown: oxygen. When the meat first comes in contact with the air, it turns ruddy/pink, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. However, once the meat has been exposed to that oxygen, it has a limited fourth dimension before the aforementioned air that turned information technology ruby-red takes it to its adjacent stage of oxidation, which is greyness/dark-brown. It'south the same phenomenon that turns your avocado or sliced apple brown. And oxidized food isn't necessarily bad nutrient, at least non correct away.

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

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If your ground beef has turned brown or gray in color, or if the outer layer is however pink but the inside has turned (or vice versa), there are a few other ways to tell if it is okay to use. First, check the expiration engagement. If the beefiness is still within its "proficient by" time period, it is more likely to be safe, equally long equally it has been transported and stored properly (Healthline). Next, olfactory property it. If the beef has an unremarkable "normal" smell, it is likely not yet spoiled, simply if information technology smells off to you, information technology'south safer to throw information technology out. Last, experience the texture. If information technology is slimy or greasy in feeling, toss it. That could bespeak leaner growth and spoilage. If, nonetheless, the meat smells fine, feels fine, hasn't nevertheless hit its expiration engagement, and has been handled properly, you are probably okay to make those tacos.

How to properly buy and store basis beef to help information technology concluding longer

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If you're getting your meat at the butcher counter, select beef with a bright ruby-red cherry color, suggests Food Network. Packaged meat might have a darker royal-red color, and that's okay. That just means it hasn't been exposed to much oxygen because of its vacuum-seal packaging. As well check that the packaging doesn't contain excessive liquid and that it'southward properly sealed with no holes.

Once you go your beef domicile, what yous plan to do with it will be a good guide on how best to store it, say the experts at Food Network. For freezing, plan the meals you'll be using information technology for and portion it out accordingly and then you tin repackage and freeze it in the correct portions. If you want to freeze information technology in its original packaging, you lot should but do so for about two weeks. If, however, you need to store it longer, wrap information technology in heavy duty aluminum foil, place in a freezer purse, and try to remove as much air as possible earlier freezing. Information technology can safely be stored up to iii to iv months this mode. Plan to use it in the next few days? place information technology on the lowest shelf of the fridge on a plate or tray to catch any juices that may baste to prevent cantankerous-contagion.

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

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