Making Hamburgers for Dinner? Here’s How To Tell if Your Ground Beef Is Bad Before You Eat It

Christina Heiser
·6 min read

We got food experts to spill the deets so you don’t get sick.

It’s a tale as old as time: You buy a package of ground beef, stash it in the back of your fridge and then promptly forget about it. When you dig it out a few days later, you wonder to yourself: What does spoiled ground beef smell like? And is ground beef still good if it’s brown?

Well, we went straight to the pros for answers so you don’t risk getting sick from expired meat. Here’s how to tell if ground beef is bad once and for all.

Related: How Long Does Meat Last in the Freezer?

How To Tell if Ground Beef Is Bad

If you’re wondering how to tell if your ground beef is bad, here’s the short answer: “When in doubt of the freshness and wholesomeness of the product it is best to discard it,” says Jessica Lancaster, director of product quality and research at Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner, a one-stop shop for all things beef.

Ground beef should be a bright cherry-red color and firm-to-the-touch when you buy it, says Elizabeth Shaw, RN, president of Shaw Simple Swaps and author of Instant Pot Cookbook for Dummies. As for the smell, it shouldn’t have much of an order when it’s fresh.

So, what does spoiled ground beef smell like, look like and feel like, exactly? “If ground meat is slimy, completely gray or brown or smells rancid and sour, it has spoiled,” says Bryan Q. Le, PhD, food scientist and author of 150 Food Science Questions Answered.

Keep in mind, though, that color isn’t the best indicator of ground beef freshness. “Ground beef color is more susceptible to changes than most steaks and roasts,” explains Lancaster. “Several factors impact ground beef color including packaging, exposure to air and storage time and temperature.”

That’s why it’s important to use additional factors like proper product storage and utilizing sell-by dates on product packaging when determining whether your ground beef is still good, she says.

Shaw recommends always buying ground beef on or before the sell-by date. And according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), you should cook or freeze your ground beef within two days of purchasing it for maximum quality.

Related: Has Your Chicken Gone Bad? Here's What To Look For

How To Tell if Frozen Ground Beef Is Bad

Want to know how to tell if frozen ground beef is bad? Le says frozen ground beef usually goes through freezer burn, which impacts the flavor (not the safety) of the meat. Freezer burn may cause the beef to develop dry spots or become brown or gray, he says—although it should still be safe to eat.

Frozen ground beef also has a longer shelf life than ground beef you store in the fridge. Per the USDA, uncooked ground meat usually lasts three to four months in the freezer, while cooked ground meat lasts two to three months. So, if it’s been longer than that, it might just be time to toss the ground beef in your freezer.

Now, if you’re wondering how to tell if ground beef is bad after thawing, here’s what to look for: “Typically speaking, when you thaw frozen ground beef, if it has an odor, feels slimy to touch (and not just wet) or is off-color, it’s likely best to toss,” says Shaw.

How To Tell if Cooked Ground Beef Is Bad

If you’re asking yourself how to tell if cooked ground beef is bad, we’ve got you covered: “Cooked brown beef should be eaten within three to four days after cooking for best quality,” says Shaw. “If you realize it’s been a bit longer, evaluate the cooked beef’s color, smell and texture before taking the risk to consume it.”

What Can Happen if You Eat Spoiled Ground Beef?

Before you take a bite of that questionable ground beef, know this: According to the USDA, bacteria like E. coli and salmonella can grow quickly in ground beef that’s spoiled.

And what can happen if you eat spoiled ground beef that’s contaminated with these bacteria? Food poisoning! “Some side effects of eating spoiled ground beef include gastrointestinal pain, vomiting, fever, cramps and diarrhea,” says Le. Yuck!

Related: 150+ Ground Beef Recipes to Make Dinner a Whole Lot Easier

The Best Way To Store Ground Beef

“You can play a role in maintaining the freshness and safety of ground beef,” says Lancaster. Below, our experts share tips for storing ground beef the right way:

  • “When selecting beef, make sure the package you buy is cold and consider selecting meat products as the last items prior to heading to the checkout stand,” suggests Lancaster.

  • “Check the package label to ensure the product you are purchasing is on or before the sale-by-date listed,” says Lancaster. “In addition, check that the product does not have excessive liquid and is free of any holes or tears in the packaging.”

  • If you think it’ll take more than 30 minutes to get home after grocery shopping, place your ground beef in a cooler along with any other perishable items you’ve purchased, recommends Lancaster.

  • Properly store ground beef in the fridge or freezer. “Ground meat should be refrigerated or frozen in its original packaging,” says Le. “The refrigerator should be kept at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below.” Le adds that you can also wrap ground meat in heavy-duty plastic, aluminum foil or plastic Zip-loc bags with as little air in the packaging as possible.

  • Store fresh ground beef in the fridge for one to two days tops, says Shaw. She says it’s best to put it on the bottom shelf and inside a pan or plate in the original packaging to prevent any of the contents from leaking onto other food.

  • Freeze ground beef in the original, sealed and unopened packaging before the best-by date and/or after two days in the fridge, says Shaw.

  • Store cooked ground beef in an airtight container once cooled in the fridge for up to four days, says Shaw. Or, you can freeze cooked and cooled ground beef for up to three months, per the USDA.

  • You’ll want to cook your ground beef properly too. “As recommended by USDA, cook ground beef to a minimum of 160 degrees Fahrenheit, using an instant-read meat thermometer,” says Lancaster. “For ground beef patties, insert the thermometer from the side to the center of the patty.”

  • As for leftovers, wrap or store them in an airtight container promptly after serving (within two hours after cooking), says Lancaster, and keep them refrigerated and use them within three days.

Related: How Long Does Cooked Rotisserie Chicken Last In the Fridge?

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