3 Ways To Tell If Ground Beef Has Gone Bad - WikiHow

Home » How To Tell When Ground Beef Is Bad » 3 Ways To Tell If Ground Beef Has Gone Bad - WikiHow

Maybe your like

Skip to ContentQuizzes
  • Home
  • Random
  • Browse Articles
  • Quizzes & Games
  • All QuizzesHot
  • Love Quizzes
  • Personality Quizzes
  • Fun Games
  • Dating Simulator
  • Learn Something New
  • Forums
  • Courses
  • Happiness Hub
  • Explore More
  • Support wikiHow
  • About wikiHow
  • Log in / Sign up
Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow Spoiled Ground Beef: How to Identify and Prevent It PDF download Download Article How long does ground beef last in the fridge? Co-authored by Abyssinia Campbell and Janice Tieperman

Last Updated: December 31, 2024 Fact Checked

PDF download Download Article
  • Signs of Spoiled Ground Beef
    • |
  • How long is raw ground beef good for in the fridge?
    • |
  • Storage & Cooking Best Practices
    • |
  • Can I get sick from bad ground beef?
    • |
  • Signs That Ground Beef is Bad
    • |
  • Video
    • |
  • Q&A
    • |
  • Warnings
|Show more |Show less X

This article was co-authored by Abyssinia Campbell and by wikiHow staff writer, Janice Tieperman. Abyssinia Campbell is an Executive Chef and the Owner of Chef Abyssinia, Personal Chef and Catering. With over a decade of experience, she specializes in catering, event planning, menu development, meal planning, and food business operations. When it comes to cooking, Chef Abyssinia enjoys using fruits, vegetables, healthy food alternatives, and local farm-fresh ingredients. She holds a BASc in Culinary Arts and Food Service Management from Johnson and Wales University. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 2,754,937 times.

Whoops! A whole week has passed, and that package of ground beef is still chilling in the back of your refrigerator. Is it still safe to cook with and eat, or are you better off tossing it out? Luckily, both raw and cooked ground beef display obvious signs when they go bad—and we’re here to show you exactly what those signals are. Read on for plenty of foolproof tips and hacks for inspecting, storing, and cooking your ground beef, so you can feel confident that your meat is 100% safe to eat.

Things You Should Know

  • Raw or cooked ground beef has gone bad if it smells funky, changes color, and/or feels slimy.
  • Don’t cook with ground beef that’s more than 3 days past its sell-by date.
  • Store raw and cooked beef in the fridge to keep it as fresh as possible. If you can’t cook or eat it right away, freeze it for future use.
  • Cook ground beef to an internal temperature of 160 °F (71 °C) to prevent the spread of food-borne illnesses.

Steps

Signs That Ground Beef is Bad

Signs Ground Beef Has Gone Bad Section 1 of 4:

Signs of Spoiled Ground Beef

PDF download Download Article
  1. Step 1 The beef has turned completely gray or brown. 1 The beef has turned completely gray or brown. Raw beef is still safe to eat if the inner section is grey and the outer section is red—prepackaged ground beef develops a brown color on the inside because oxygen is not able to reach the center.[1] However, the beef definitely is spoiled if the topmost layer turns brown/grey (as well as the center portion).[2]
    • Cooked ground beef sometimes gets a greenish tone when it goes bad.
  2. Step 2 The beef has a sour smell. 2 The beef has a sour smell.[3] Like many foods, ground beef starts to smell sour and disgusting when it’s no longer safe to eat.[4] Before you start cooking, open up the package and take a quick sniff—if you don’t smell anything weird or off-putting, you’re good to go!
    • Cooked beef also smells sour and foul when it’s no longer good to eat.
    Advertisement
  3. Step 3 The beef feels slimy to the touch. 3 The beef feels slimy to the touch. Squeeze the meat in your fingers to feel its consistency. Fresh meat breaks apart in your hands easily and separate into chunks—if it has a slimy consistency, the beef is no longer safe to eat.[5]
    • Cooked beef also feels slimy to the touch after it goes bad. It might also be on the mushy side.
    • Always wash your hands before and after you handle raw beef so you don’t spread bacteria or contaminate surfaces.
    4. Advertisement
Section 2 of 4:

How long is raw ground beef good for in the fridge?

PDF download Download Article
  1. Step 1 Raw ground beef is safe to use if it’s less than 3 days past its sell-by date. 1 Raw ground beef is safe to use if it’s less than 3 days past its sell-by date. Generally speaking, raw ground beef is safe to use for around 3 days after the recommended sell-by date—but it’s still important to inspect your beef before you start cooking with it. Check the calendar to determine how many days have passed since you bought it and throw it away if it’s old.[6]
    • Let’s say you left raw ground beef in the fridge for 7 days—if the meat still wasn’t 3 days past its sell-by date (or showed any signs of spoilage), it would still be safe to eat.
  2. Step 2 Thawed ground beef can chill in the refrigerator for 1-2 days. 2 Thawed ground beef can chill in the refrigerator for 1-2 days. Defrosted ground beef doesn’t have a super long shelf life, so try to use it within a couple of days after thawing it out.[7] If you decide not to use your beef, refreeze it within that 48-hour period.[8]
    3. Advertisement
Section 3 of 4:

Storage & Cooking Best Practices

PDF download Download Article
  1. Step 1 Store cooked and uncooked ground beef in the fridge at or below 40 °F (4 °C). 1 Store cooked and uncooked ground beef in the fridge at or below 40 °F (4 °C). If you plan to cook raw ground beef soon, store it in your refrigerator. Any meat left out at room temperature starts harboring harmful bacteria colonies within 2 hours. As a general rule of thumb, never leave meat out for longer than 2 hours at room temperature, or for more than 1 hour if it is above 90 °F (32 °C).[9]
    • Freeze any beef if you don’t plan on cooking or eating it right away.
  2. Step 2 Freeze both uncooked and cooked ground beef for up to 4 months. 2 Freeze both uncooked and cooked ground beef for up to 4 months. Transfer the ground beef into a freezer-safe bag and label it with the current date. Then, go over the surface of the bag with a rolling pin to flatten out the ground meat (so it’s easier to thaw in the future). Seal up the bag before freezing it.[10]
    • Frozen beef technically doesn’t go bad, but it’ll start to taste less fresh if you freeze it for longer than 4 months.
  3. Step 3 Defrost the frozen beef in the fridge or in a sink filled with cold water. 3 Defrost the frozen beef in the fridge or in a sink filled with cold water. Transfer the frozen beef to the fridge 1 to 2 days before you cook with it so the meat thaws completely. To thaw the beef in the sink, fill it up with cold water and submerge the beef. Change the water every 30 minutes until it’s completely defrosted.[11]
    • Beef thawed with water needs to be cooked right away, while beef defrosted in the refrigerator can be refrozen within 24-48 hours.
    • Never leave the meat to thaw at room temperature, and make sure that it isn’t out for more than 2 hours (or 1 hour in really hot conditions).
    • Beef can be thawed in the microwave but it needs to be cooked right after it’s finished thawing to avoid any contamination.
  4. Step 4 Cook ground beef to 160 °F (71 °C) before storing or eating it. 4 Cook ground beef to 160 °F (71 °C) before storing or eating it. The only way to kill the natural bacteria in your beef is to cook it all the way through to a piping hot temperature of 160 °F (71 °C). Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the meat while you’re cooking it.[12]
  5. Step 5 Toss out any... 5 Toss out any beef that’s recalled by the manufacturer. Even if there’s a low chance that your beef is actually affected in the recall, you don’t want to risk giving yourself (or your family members and roommates) food poisoning. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to see if you can return the food to the store and get your money back (or if you need to throw it out).[13]
    • Seal away the beef in several bags before you toss it out (especially if you opened the package already). You don’t want animals rooting around in your trash and snacking on recalled meat!
    6. Advertisement
Section 4 of 4:

Can I get sick from bad ground beef?

PDF download Download Article
  1. Yes, you can definitely get sick from eating bad ground beef. Yes, you can definitely get sick from eating bad ground beef. Spoiled meat can have dangerous bacteria in it, which can lead to food poisoning.[14] Raw beef in particular can host a wide variety of harmful, illness-causing bacteria, including E. coli, salmonella, Listeria, staphylococcus aureus, and more.[15] With all of these risk factors, it’s never a good idea to cook with or eat spoiled ground beef.

Community Q&A

Search Add New Question
  • Question Once the hamburger has been freezing can you refreeze it without cooking it first? Janice Tieperman Janice Tieperman Community Answer Yes, but only if you defrosted the meat in your refrigerator. If you defrosted the meat in a bowl or water or in the microwave, it's no longer safe to refreeze. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 1 Helpful 5
  • Question I have had ground beef in the freezer for approximately three months. Can you tell me if it is bad or not? It looks perfectly normal aside from the fact that it looks a little bit white. Janice Tieperman Janice Tieperman Community Answer Beef is good for around 4 months in the freezer, so your beef should theoretically still be in good shape if it's only been 3. Ultimately, use your best judgment—if the meat seems off to you, toss it out instead of eating it. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 7 Helpful 3
  • Question I left my cooked hamburger out for 12 hours at 58 degrees. Is it safe to eat Janice Tieperman Janice Tieperman Community Answer Unfortunately, no—you should throw it out. According to the Food Safety and Inspection Service of the USDA, ground beef is only safe at room temperature for up to 2 hours (or 1 hour if it's at least 90 °F/32.2 °C). Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 1 Helpful 5
See more answers Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Submit Advertisement

Video

Tips

Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Warnings

  • Always keep cold foods below 40 °F (4 °C) and hot foods above 140 °F (60 °C). Anything in between these two ranges is in the “Danger Zone” and will start to develop bacteria.[16] Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Advertisement

You Might Also Like

Tell if Ground Turkey Is Bad3 Telltale Signs That Ground Turkey Has Gone Bad Know if Meat Is BadHow to Know if Meat Is Bad (& How to Prevent Spoilage) Tell if Steak Is BadHow to Tell If Raw, Frozen, or Cooked Steak Has Spoiled 5 Warning Signs That Pork Has Gone Bad Tell if Bacon Is BadHow to Check if Your Bacon is Spoiled (And How to Keep it Fresh) Tell if Chicken Is Bad4 Ways to Tell if Chicken has Gone Bad Is Your Fish Good to Eat? Signs of Spoilage & Storage Tips Tell if Ham Is BadHow Long Does Ham Last? Tips for Storage and More Tell if a Cucumber Is BadHas Your Cucumber Gone Bad? Here’s What Signs to Look For How Long Is Chicken Good in the FridgeHow Long Does Raw or Cooked Chicken Last in the Fridge? Can Tofu Go BadDoes Tofu Go Bad? Signs of Spoilage to Look Out For Defrost Beef3 Methods for Thawing Steak, Roasts, & Ground Beef Tell if Shrimp Is BadHow to Tell If Shrimp Has Gone Bad: Raw, Cooked & Frozen How toDefrost Meat in the Microwave Advertisement

References

  1. ↑ Abyssinia Campbell. Executive Chef. Expert Interview
  2. ↑ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/meat/ground-beef-and-food-safety
  3. ↑ Abyssinia Campbell. Executive Chef. Expert Interview
  4. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-tell-if-ground-beef-is-bad
  5. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-tell-if-ground-beef-is-bad
  6. ↑ https://extension.oregonstate.edu/ask-extension/featured/beef-safe-after-sell-date
  7. ↑ https://ask.usda.gov/s/article/How-soon-should-beef-be-cooked-after-thawing
  8. ↑ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/meat/ground-beef-and-food-safety
  9. ↑ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/meat/ground-beef-and-food-safety
More References (7)
  1. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-freeze-and-defrost-ground-beef-249806
  2. ↑ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/meat/ground-beef-and-food-safety
  3. ↑ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/meat/ground-beef-and-food-safety
  4. ↑ https://www.foodsafety.gov/blog/what-do-you-do-if-you-have-recalled-product
  5. ↑ https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/blog/2016/03/25/protecting-your-family-food-spoilage
  6. ↑ https://www.foodsafety.gov/food-poisoning/bacteria-and-viruses
  7. ↑ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/danger-zone-40f-140f

About This Article

Abyssinia Campbell Co-authored by: Abyssinia Campbell Executive Chef This article was co-authored by Abyssinia Campbell and by wikiHow staff writer, Janice Tieperman. Abyssinia Campbell is an Executive Chef and the Owner of Chef Abyssinia, Personal Chef and Catering. With over a decade of experience, she specializes in catering, event planning, menu development, meal planning, and food business operations. When it comes to cooking, Chef Abyssinia enjoys using fruits, vegetables, healthy food alternatives, and local farm-fresh ingredients. She holds a BASc in Culinary Arts and Food Service Management from Johnson and Wales University. This article has been viewed 2,754,937 times. 31 votes - 66% Co-authors: 26 Updated: December 31, 2024 Views: 2,754,937 Categories: Featured Articles | Beef and Lamb Article SummaryX

If you’re not sure whether your ground beef is still good, lean close and smell it. If the meat smells sour or unpleasant, it’s probably bad and you should discard it. If it seems okay, use your fingers to test the texture. Meat that has turned bad will feel sticky, tacky, or slimy and should be thrown out. You can also use the color of the meat as a guideline. Ground beef that is brown or gray is still safe to eat, but if it is turning green, you should throw it away. Read on for tips on storing ground beef to keep it from spoiling! Did this summary help you?YesNo

In other languages Spanish Italian German Portuguese Russian French Chinese Indonesian Dutch Czech Thai Arabic Korean Vietnamese Turkish Persian Japanese
  • Print
  • Send fan mail to authors
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 2,754,937 times.

Reader Success Stories

  • Sharn S.

    Sharn S.

    Jul 15, 2016

    "I bought a 4 lb. package of ground chuck from the store I usually buy from. Opened it, began making patties, and..." more
More reader stories Hide reader stories Share your story If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.

Did this article help you?

Yes No Advertisement If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Abyssinia Campbell Co-authored by: Abyssinia Campbell Executive Chef 31 votes - 66% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 26 Updated: December 31, 2024 Views: 2,754,937 Sharn S.

Sharn S.

Jul 15, 2016

"I bought a 4 lb. package of ground chuck from the store I usually buy from. Opened it, began making patties, and..." more Anna Holt

Anna Holt

Feb 17, 2017

"Just didn't know what to do if meat smells sour and slightly grey. My gut instinct said throw it out! That..." more Lois Corbett

Lois Corbett

Aug 23, 2016

"I took some hamburger out of the freezer to make for dinner, and after it'd been thawed and cooked, it had a..." more Gail Swartzell

Gail Swartzell

Feb 9, 2017

"I get concerned when I buy hamburger that is red in the store, get it home and it is brown inside. This article..." more M. Mercer

M. Mercer

Sep 5, 2016

"Very helpful! Easy to read, but what I like the most is it was very informative, answered all my question and then..." more Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories

Quizzes & Games

Is Your Egg Bad?Is Your Egg Bad?How Disgusting Am I QuizHow Disgusting Am I QuizTake QuizWhat's the Best Meal Kit for Me QuizWhat's the Best Meal Kit for Me QuizTake QuizHow Good Are My Survival Instincts QuizHow Good Are My Survival Instincts QuizTake QuizDo I Smell Bad QuizDo I Smell Bad QuizTake QuizAm I a Picky Eater QuizAm I a Picky Eater QuizTake Quiz

You Might Also Like

Tell if Ground Turkey Is Bad3 Telltale Signs That Ground Turkey Has Gone BadKnow if Meat Is BadHow to Know if Meat Is Bad (& How to Prevent Spoilage)Tell if Steak Is BadHow to Tell If Raw, Frozen, or Cooked Steak Has SpoiledTell if Pork Is Bad5 Warning Signs That Pork Has Gone Bad

Featured Articles

A Complete Style Guide for the Gamine Kibbe Body TypeA Complete Style Guide for the Gamine Kibbe Body Type Tell if You’re in LoveHow to Tell if You’re in LoveWhich Chaotic Evil Villain Am I QuizWhich Chaotic Evil Villain Am I QuizWhat Does It Mean If Someone Tries to Kill You in Your Dream?What Does It Mean If Someone Tries to Kill You in Your Dream?200+ Best Questions to Ask Someone You Like (Texting & IRL)200+ Best Questions to Ask Someone You Like (Texting & IRL)How Beautiful Am I QuizHow Beautiful Am I Quiz

Trending Articles

Let Us Rate You 1-10: Attractiveness Scale QuizLet Us Rate You 1-10: Attractiveness Scale QuizCan We Guess If You're Single or Taken?Can We Guess If You're Single or Taken?Make OutHow toMake OutAm I a Gigachad or Totally Chopped?Am I a Gigachad or Totally Chopped?How Rare Is My Birthday QuizHow Rare Is My Birthday QuizHow Nonchalant Am I QuizHow Nonchalant Am I Quiz

Featured Articles

13 Types of Hairlines for Men and Women (And How to Maintain Yours)13 Types of Hairlines for Men and Women (And How to Maintain Yours)Which of the 8 Face Shapes Do You Have? Helpful Tips & Style GuidanceWhich of the 8 Face Shapes Do You Have? Helpful Tips & Style GuidanceMental Illness TestMental Illness TestEnjoy the HolidaysHow toEnjoy the Holidays Get 250 Grams of Protein Daily: Best Foods, Meal Plans & MoreHow to Get 250 Grams of Protein Daily: Best Foods, Meal Plans & MoreAm I Girly QuizAm I Girly Quiz

Featured Articles

200 Fun, Flirty, & Deep Questions to Get to Know a Guy Better200 Fun, Flirty, & Deep Questions to Get to Know a Guy Better Tighten Skin Under Your Chin: Natural or Surgical OptionsHow to Tighten Skin Under Your Chin: Natural or Surgical OptionsWhat Would My Nickname Be QuizWhat Would My Nickname Be Quiz21 Common Hand Signs & Gestures (& What They Mean)21 Common Hand Signs & Gestures (& What They Mean)170+ Best Useless Facts That Sound Like Lies170+ Best Useless Facts That Sound Like LiesIs He Interested In Me QuizIs He Interested In Me Quiz

Watch Articles

Wrap a Round GiftHow toWrap a Round GiftSteam in an OvenHow toSteam in an Oven Make Plant-Based Meat: 4 Incredible RecipesHow to Make Plant-Based Meat: 4 Incredible RecipesClean a Silver NecklaceHow toClean a Silver Necklace4 Easy Ways to Open a Can of Soda4 Easy Ways to Open a Can of SodaPart Your HairHow toPart Your Hair

Trending Articles

180 Good Comebacks & Savage Roasts to Win Any Argument180 Good Comebacks & Savage Roasts to Win Any ArgumentAm I a Furry QuizAm I a Furry QuizHave I Met My Soulmate Yet QuizHave I Met My Soulmate Yet QuizRandom Fortune GeneratorRandom Fortune GeneratorWhat Should My Name Really Be QuizWhat Should My Name Really Be QuizWhat Are the Gay Male Body Types (And Which Do You Have?)What Are the Gay Male Body Types (And Which Do You Have?)

Quizzes & Games

Why Am I So Bloated QuizWhy Am I So Bloated QuizTake QuizAm I Healthy QuizAm I Healthy QuizTake QuizWhat Should I Eat for Dinner QuizWhat Should I Eat for Dinner QuizTake QuizHow Well Do You Know Gen Alpha Slang QuizHow Well Do You Know Gen Alpha Slang QuizTake QuizFunny or Cringe? (Brainrot Edition)Funny or Cringe? (Brainrot Edition)Take QuizHow Many Brain Cells Do I Have QuizHow Many Brain Cells Do I Have QuizTake Quiz wikiHow
  • Categories
  • Food and Entertaining
  • Recipes
  • Meat
  • Beef and Lamb
wikiHow Newsletter You're all set! Helpful how-tos delivered toyour inbox every week! Sign me up! By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy.
  • Home
  • About wikiHow
  • Experts
  • Jobs
  • Contact Us
  • Site Map
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Info
  • Not Selling Info
  • Contribute

Follow Us

×

wikiHow Tech Help Pro:

Level up your tech skills and stay ahead of the curve

Let's go! X --731

Tag » How To Tell When Ground Beef Is Bad