Buying Beef
When buying fresh beef, there are some tell-tale signs of freshness that you can consider so that you purchase the best cut.
The first sign is the most obvious and that is to check the label to see the use-by/freshness date. You need to plan to either use or freeze the beef before this time.
If you do not plan on using the meat right away but do not want to freeze it, then look behind the other cuts of meat at the store. The freshest meat cuts will be placed in the back of the shelf. This grocery store standard is proper food storage so your market should have the freshest meat in the back and soonest to expire meat in the front.
Additional information that you will find on the package is the grading sticker. You can choose which grade of meat you prefer depending on your budget and the cooking method you plan to use that piece of beef for.
Now besides the physical package instructions and information there are other ways to tell if this cut of meat is best.
Fresh beef should not have any brown or green discoloration and the package should also not have excess liquid or blood.
When buying frozen beef, do not buy frozen meat that has any excess ice crystallization or ice chunks crusted over it. This is because that could mean that the meat was defrosted and refrozen. When meat is defrosted and refrozen it loses flavor, and the texture is compromised.
Beef Freshness
So you purchased the cut of meat that you need for whatever recipe you plan to make and now some time has passed and you are wondering if the beef you purchased is still fresh and safe to use.
Well, let’s sort that out right now by going over three main ways you can tell if your beef is fresh: time frame, visual and physical inspection.
Besides the “use by” label on your package of beef, there are general time frames that beef should be used.
- Ground beef should be used within 1-2 days of purchasing.
- Fresh beef should be used within 3-4 days.
- Cooked beef should be used within 4 days.
- Chunks of beef can be frozen for 4-8 months.
- Ground beef can be frozen for 3 months.
- Cooked beef can be frozen for 2 months.
If your beef passed this time frame of freshness then you can do a visual inspection. Beef color can range from bright red to dark red if it is aged. Any discoloration is a sign that the meat is getting older and should be used soon. If the meat is turning a bit gray but does not smell or is not slimy it should be okay to eat but always use caution! Any discoloration on the meat such as brown or green should not be eaten. Any graying or yellowing of the fat on the meat is a sign that the meat may not be fresh.
The second way to check if your beef is safe to eat is by doing a physical inspection of the beef. First, you can feel the meat. Meat that is slimy should not be eaten. Second, you can try the press test. Try pushing your finger gently onto the meat and if it leaves an imprint then that is a sign that it is no longer fresh.
Finally, smell the meat. Meat that has any kind of bad odor should not be eaten. You will know a bad odor when you smell one.
Storing Beef
Now that you purchased the best freshest cut of beef, let’s cover how to store that beef. To keep your beef as fresh as possible make sure it is stored at the proper temperatures for freezing and or refrigeration.
When storing in the freezer, keep air off the meat as much as possible. You can do this by wrapping your beef in freezer paper then placing it in a freezer bag. It is best to freeze meats while they are freshest so that you do not miss out on any nutrients. When storing beef in the fridge, again keep air off of the surface. It is recommended that you wrap your meat in plastic wrap securely and place it into an airtight container.
