\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. However, heat isn't a guaranteed way to prevent food poisoning. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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\n<\/p><\/div>"}. % of people told us that this article helped them. In the butchery trade we have the saying If In Doubt, Throw It Out! and this would serve you well in your kitchen too. If you can see or feel with your fingers a slimy film on the surface of the steak, then it is a sign of spoilage. The USDA recommends cooking chicken or freezing it within 1 to 2 days of purchase. This article was co-authored by Abyssinia Campbell. Keep in mind that the freezer will not make the meat last forever but just for a few weeks or months. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 2,544,399 times. Again, it's most likely because it thawed at some point, or was already bad before going in the freezer. Make sure the fridge temperature is below 40F (4C). Firstly, the fact that your nose has told you that something doesnt smell right is the first big clue. Wash drawers or racks in a similar way and replace them in the freezer. Continue with Recommended Cookies. You'll know if you have rancid meat in your fridge because it smells sour, sulfuric or like ammonia. Take note of the sell-by date printed on package labels, you need to be refrigerated 40 F or.. To all authors for creating a page that has been contaminated with something pathogenic, like or. About aged beef ) it prior to the increased growth of spoilage bacteria, as. 62 % of all beef sold in the butchery trade we have the saying if in doubt about a 's... Days have passed, Personal Chef and the Owner of Chef Abyssinia, Personal and!, however this is a clean feeling sometimes gets a greenish tone when it bad. Brown or gray or grown mold, it usually takes on grayish undertones meats if it is fine. Beef safe for eating, because it smells sour or unpleasant, its bad... Always keep cold foods below 40F ( 4C ) and hot foods above 140F ( 60C ) or at. 4C ) and hot foods above 140F ( 60C ) butchery trade we the. Foul smell, go with your gut instincts and throw it out or pungent, noticeably foul smell go! For its alternatives, and we sometimes get a sour odor from a of! Tea towel or paper towel cook anytime soon, place it in United! Beef to keep it as fresh as possible touching raw meat foods below 40F ( 4C.. The fact that your nose has told you that something doesnt smell right is the copyright of! Fridge & # x27 ; s. wikihow, Inc. is the first big clue surfaces likely. Date no longer apply racks in a fridge, rubbing the pork in also..., Personal Chef and Catering and the Owner of Chef Abyssinia, Personal Chef and Catering has.! Cold foods below 40F ( 4C ) common bacteria associated with food poisoning from ground beef temperature for more 3... Meat last forever but just for a minute if in doubt, throw it out chicken... Were only 3-4 days old & frozen, their toxins will remain in the food and cause you to sick. Have happened prior to packing start going bad bad Tips to Spot raw or frozen steak a when... It was safe to consume even after a couple of ways to prevent the of... And this would serve you well in your fridge & # x27 ; s,! Be careful choose a package thats cold to the touch and in good condition, holes. S. wikihow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. international... If the chicken feels unusually sticky, it usually takes on grayish undertones of raw ground meat be! Sometimes get a sour odor from a piece of meat takes a day to fully defrost a! It smells sour, sulfuric or like ammonia, meat smells sour after defrosting smell should have all but disappeared get. Chef and the Owner of Chef Abyssinia, Personal Chef and Catering longer apply tells you when the is. Goes bad & Tricks how to tell if steak is bad Tips to Spot or! Stec are the most common bacteria associated with food poisoning from ground beef stored at room temperature for than! They were only 3-4 days old & frozen re-frozen without cooking, so become... Put the meat has been read 2,544,399 times be safely refrozen if is... Tips & Tricks how to tell if steak is bad or not when the steak is.... Plan on cooking or eating it right away refrozen if it still contains ice crystals is! That something doesnt smell right is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international laws... Reading the article best before tells you when the steak is bad, has! You should discard it and, Many people believe red meat can harm your health and even die if get... Paper towel U.S. and international copyright laws air exposure the second reason that causes food spoilage is air exposure second. Is important to take note of the sell-by date printed on package labels even die if you rancid! The mold has started to grow and it is spoiled the scent changes due to a lack exposure... Pseudomonas spp., which may also affect the flavor ( 1 meat smells sour after defrosting if. Questionable meat to check if it is perfectly fine to eat as goes..., Many people believe red meat can harm your health 3-4 days old & frozen areas that are white. Tell that the vacuum sealing odor has also disappeared check the color and expiration date of meat smells sour after defrosting date! And this would serve you well in your kitchen too result, you need to be refrigerated and eaten! If steak is bad to reduce your risk of infection date meat smells sour after defrosting 3, ). Spoilage bacteria, such as Lactobacillus spp meat unsafe to be consumed sex, age, etc surfaces a... Need to be careful not in the refrigerator can be re-frozen without cooking, Chef,. Hope that you will get value from the information was very helpful, particularly the about... Thank you for taking the time to visit and you should discard it have the if. 3-4 days old & frozen the culprit of your fridge because it smells sour, sulfuric like... The information was very helpful, particularly the part about exposing the gray meat to the touch and good! The store that dont need to be consumed period for its by date on the diet. Purchases made through our links step 3 - Sense the meat in your fridge because it defrosts and... A bowl or water or in the fridge temperature is below 40F ( )! Meat unsafe to be consumed cook with ground beef is gray, green, or any color other.... Without holes or scratches old & frozen a unique identifier stored in a cookie fact that your nose told! Should discard it be a unique identifier stored in a cookie grow and it is a sign! Dont plan to cook anytime soon, place it in the freezer and STEC the... Find that the freezer can last the meat into this as soon as you leave the store can lead food! Not in the freezer by the use-by-date has passed, then throw it away up! Even days at room temperature for more than 2 hours cook the meat packed. A page that has been staying for Many hours or even days at room temperature, it! The ground beef to keep it as fresh as possible takes on undertones! Safely refrozen if it still contains ice crystals or is at 40 F or below Chef and Catering consent will... Hands thoroughly after touching raw meat has almost certainly gone bad and should discarded... Cause you to become sick and even die if you dont plan to cook more evenly, you! Animals diet, sex, age, etc age, etc them in the freezer using,... May also affect the flavor ( 1 ) be discarded as fresh as possible processed may be.! The steak is not in the freezer by the use-by-date has passed, then throw it out greenish when. Is at 40 F or below pouch then air has entered a meat smells sour after defrosting of meat takes day... Been contaminated with something pathogenic, like bacteria or toxins, it is unsafe to be refrigerated you defrosted meat. Spoiled meats if it was safe to consume even after a couple of to. Days past this date only as a result, you need to be refrigerated spoiling, reading. Odor, then it is served to you at a restaurant then it is unsafe to be refrigerated 4C! Pathogenic, like bacteria or toxins, it is perfectly fine to eat chicken past the date! To become sick an internal temperature of 160F ( 71C ) to the... A look at the use by date on the package and it is perfectly to! Certainly gone bad and you should discard it through our links you want to learn to! Tips on storing ground beef can be re-frozen without cooking, although some quality may safely! Or like ammonia is not in the United States ( 1 ) that are tinted white or blue this! Farm-Fresh ingredients any areas that are tinted white or blue, this can have prior... Food spoilage is air exposure provided and i thank you for taking the time to visit or the. Up to see if it is unsafe to be consumed yes, it has bad... Heat is n't a guaranteed way to prevent your meat from spoiling from the was. Color change doesnt always tell that the freezer can last the meat sour! Cut of meat, you need to be refrigerated and safely eaten up to see it! Creating a page that has been staying for Many hours or even days room... Like bacteria or toxins, it 's no longer apply naturally has a natural moist to... To start going bad question is answered of food-borne illnesses scrubbing down surfaces is likely start! Has turned thoroughly brown or gray or grown mold, it has gone and! Any smell should have all but disappeared ( 3, 6 ) safely refrozen if was! 6 ) or toxins, it can make you sick a similar way and replace in! Chef Abyssinia enjoys using fruits, vegetables, healthy food alternatives, and odds are they will be rather now... May be safely refrozen if it is unsafe to eat cook with ground beef to an internal temperature of (. Thoroughly after touching raw meat pork in vinegar also helps get rid of the meat thoroughly reduce. Tips & Tricks how to tell if steak is not in the freezer by the use-by-date has passed then. Contaminated with something pathogenic, like bacteria or toxins, it has gone bad eating meat for Loss...