Ground Beef Bought Pink, Turned Brown. Is It Bad?

This Is What Ground Beefiness Turning Chocolate-brown Actually Means

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We've all been at that place: You grocery shop over the weekend, so when you accomplish for the basis beefiness on Taco Tuesday, you lot find it has turned brown. Tossing it out is a bummer — not only for the environmentally conscious who try to avoid food waste, only also for those of us who don't like wasting money or having to figure out a backup dinner at the last infinitesimal. Only there'south good news: While the fading of the meat's red/pink hue can be off-putting, yous may not have to throw it away; beef turning brown doesn't necessarily mean it has spoiled. Science tells us both what that brown/grayness color means — and how to know whether it'southward still taco fourth dimension or if it'south safer to call for takeout.

Interestingly, the molecule responsible for givingbeef its signature scarlet colour is the aforementioned one responsible for turning it brown: oxygen. When the meat showtime comes in contact with the air, it turns red/pink, co-ordinate 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 same air that turned information technology cherry takes it to its side by side phase of oxidation, which is greyness/brownish. It's the same phenomenon 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 basis beefiness it even so okay to eat

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If your ground beef has turned chocolate-brown or gray in color, or if the outer layer is yet pinkish but the inside has turned (or vice versa), at that place are a few other ways to tell if information technology is okay to use. Kickoff, check the expiration date. If the beef is even so within its "good by" fourth dimension period, it is more likely to exist safe, every bit long as it has been transported and stored properly (Healthline). Side by side, smell it. If the beef has an unremarkable "normal" smell, information technology is likely not withal spoiled, but if information technology smells off to you, it'southward safer to throw it out. Last, feel the texture. If it is slimy or greasy in feeling, toss it. That could signal leaner growth and spoilage. If, however, the meat smells fine, feels fine, hasn't yet hitting its expiration date, and has been handled properly, yous are probably okay to make those tacos.

How to properly purchase and store ground beef to help information technology last longer

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If you're getting your meat at the butcher counter, select beef with a bright red scarlet color, suggests Food Network. Packaged meat might have a darker purple-red colour, and that'south okay. That just means it 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 it'south properly sealed with no holes.

In one case you become your beef home, what yous plan to practice 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 information technology out accordingly then you can repackage and freeze it in the correct portions. If you want to freeze it in its original packaging, you lot should just practice then for about ii weeks. If, however, y'all need to store it longer, wrap it in heavy duty aluminum foil, identify in a freezer bag, and effort to remove equally much air as possible earlier freezing. It can safely exist stored up to three to four months this way. Plan to employ it in the side by side few days? place information technology on the lowest shelf of the fridge on a plate or tray to grab any juices that may drip to preclude cross-contamination.

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

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