How to Tell if Ground Beef Has Gone Bad

Ground beef is a versatile ingredient that you can use to make burgers, taco meat, spaghetti sauce, and so much more. If you have beef in your fridge and you’re not sure if it’s still good to use, you can check in a few easy ways to see if it’s spoiled. Just remember never to eat meat that’s gone bad!

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1 Check to see if it has turned a dull brown or grey. Fresh beef will be bright red in color, but it may have a few brown spots in the middle since ground beef is taken from different parts of the cow. Your ground beef will turn more grey the longer you keep it. If all of your beef is grey rather than red or brown, it’s best to throw it away.^[1]
- Prepackaged ground beef develops a brown color on the inside because oxygen is not able to reach the center.
2 Smell the beef to see if you notice a sour smell. Fresh beef will have a slight smell, but beef starting to go bad will smell rotten or sour. The smell is produced from gases made by some of the bacteria on your beef. If there is a strong smell, avoid eating it.^[2]
- Many bacteria that cause food-borne illnesses like salmonella cannot be smelled and can be found on fresh beef. Always cook the beef thoroughly to kill bacteria. If you don’t feel comfortable eating the beef, throw it away.
3 Touch the meat to see if it feels slimy. Squeeze the meat in your fingers to feel its consistency. Fresh meat should break apart in your hands easily and separate into chunks. If the meat is sticky or has a slimy texture, it has most likely gone bad.^[3]
- Always wash your hands before and after you handle raw beef so you don’t spread bacteria or contaminate surfaces.