How to store, thaw, and tell if ground beef has gone bad
Quick answer
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Fridge
Keeps for 1-2 days
Refrigerate ground beef as soon as possible after buying it, at 40°F (4°C) or below, and freeze it if you won't use it within 1 or 2 days.
Watch out Never leave ground beef out at room temperature for more than 2 hours, or 1 hour at 90°F (32°C) and above.
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Freezer
Keeps for 4 months
Freeze it in its original package if you'll use it soon, or wrap it in heavy-duty plastic wrap, aluminum foil, freezer paper, or freezer bags and mark the date for longer storage.
Watch out Ground beef stays safe indefinitely when frozen but loses quality over time, so it's best used within 4 months.
Ground beef lasts 1 to 2 days in the refrigerator at 40°F (4°C) or below, so use it by then or freeze it. Frozen ground beef stays safe indefinitely and is best used within 4 months. Cooked ground beef keeps about 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. A bad odor or a sticky outside are signs of spoilage, but a gray inside is normal.
Buying ground beef this week?
On a Listonic list, every item gets the amount you need and a note on when to use it by.
- Quantity and unit on every item
- A note like “fridge, use within a week”
- One list shared with everyone at home
Ground beef lasts only 1 to 2 days in the refrigerator, so you either use it fast or freeze it. Frozen, it stays safe indefinitely, but it’s best used within 4 months.
Storage starts at the store. Choose a package that feels cold and isn’t torn, put it in a plastic bag so juices don’t drip on other food, and pick it up last.
How long does ground beef last?
Raw ground beef lasts 1 to 2 days in the fridge, and cooked ground beef lasts about 3 to 4 days. The freezer times are for quality, because ground beef kept at 0°F (-18°C) stays safe.
| Ground beef | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|
| Raw | 1 to 2 days | 4 months for best quality |
| Cooked | About 3 to 4 days | About 4 months |
How long does ground beef last in the fridge?
Ground beef can stay in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days at 40°F (4°C) or below, according to the USDA’s Ground Beef and Food Safety page. Refrigerate or freeze it as soon as possible after buying it.
Never leave ground beef out at room temperature for more than 2 hours, or 1 hour at 90°F (32°C) and above. Bacteria grow most rapidly between 40°F (4°C) and 140°F (60°C), doubling in number in as little as 20 minutes.
If you’ll use it soon, you can refrigerate or freeze it in its original package.
Does the sell-by date matter?
A sell-by date is a guide for the store, not a safety date. The 1 to 2 days in the refrigerator is the window to watch, along with the signs of spoilage below.
Is raw ground beef still good after a week in the fridge?
No, a week is well past the limit for raw ground beef in the refrigerator. It keeps only 1 to 2 days at 40°F (4°C) or below, and the USDA says to use it within that time or freeze it.
How it looks and smells can’t settle the question. Spoilage bacteria cause the bad odor and the sticky feel, but the harmful bacteria cannot be seen or smelled.
To avoid this next time, freeze ground beef you won’t use within 1 or 2 days. At 0°F (-18°C), it stays safe indefinitely and is best used within 4 months.
How long does cooked ground beef last in the fridge?
Cooked ground beef keeps about 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator and about 4 months in the freezer. That applies when you refrigerate it within 2 hours of cooking, or within 1 hour above 90°F (32°C).
Reheat cooked patties or casseroles with ground beef to 165°F (74°C), measured with a food thermometer.
Can cooked ground beef be pink inside?
Yes, cooked ground beef can still be pink inside after it’s safely cooked, so color doesn’t show doneness. Cook ground beef to 160°F (71°C), measured with a food thermometer.
How to tell if ground beef is bad
Ground beef has gone bad when it develops a bad odor or feels sticky on the outside. Spoiled meat usually fades or darkens too, and it may also be slimy. Meat with these signs should not be used.
Spoilage bacteria cause the odor and the sticky feel. The harmful bacteria cannot be seen or smelled.
Is it normal for ground beef to be gray inside?
Yes, the inside of pre-packaged ground beef can be grayish-brown, and that’s normal.
The outside is bright red because oxygen reacts with the meat pigments. The inside can turn grayish-brown from lack of oxygen.
If all the meat in the package has turned gray or brown, it may be beginning to spoil. Check the smell and feel too, because color change alone doesn’t mean meat is spoiled.
Ground beef color chart
Ground beef that has gone bad usually looks faded or darker, and it also has an off odor, feels sticky, or is slimy. Color change alone doesn’t mean ground beef is spoiled, so check the smell and feel too. The chart below follows the USDA’s guide to the color of meat and poultry.
| Color | What it means |
|---|---|
| Purplish | Fresh cut meat, before oxygen from the air turns it bright red |
| Bright red on the outside | Normal, because oxygen reacts with the meat pigments |
| Grayish-brown on the inside | Normal, because little oxygen reaches below the surface |
| Gray or brown all through the package | May be beginning to spoil, so check the smell and feel |
| Faded or darker, with an off odor, a sticky feel, or slime | Spoiled, so don’t use it |
How long does ground beef last in the freezer?
Ground beef kept constantly at 0°F (-18°C) stays safe indefinitely, but it loses quality over time and is best used within 4 months.
For longer freezer storage, wrap ground beef in heavy-duty plastic wrap, aluminum foil, freezer paper, or freezer bags, and mark the date.
Freezer burn doesn’t make ground beef unsafe. It shows up as grayish-brown leathery spots where air reached the surface, and you can cut those parts away before or after cooking.
How to defrost ground beef
The best way to defrost ground beef is in the refrigerator, where even a pound of ground meat needs a full day to thaw. Cook it or refreeze it within 1 or 2 days after it thaws.
The three safe ways to thaw ground beef are in the refrigerator, in cold water, and in the microwave, as the USDA’s guide to safe defrosting methods explains. Never thaw it on the counter or in hot water.
How to thaw ground beef fast
If you can’t wait a full day, thaw ground beef in cold water or in the microwave, and cook it right away either way.
- For cold water, put the beef in a watertight bag, submerge it in cold tap water, and change the water every 30 minutes.
- For the microwave, cook the beef right away once it’s thawed.
Can you cook frozen ground beef?
Yes, it’s safe to cook ground beef from frozen. Cooking takes about 50% longer than for fully thawed or fresh meat, and the beef should still reach 160°F (71°C) on a food thermometer.
Can you refreeze ground beef?
Yes, if you thawed it in the refrigerator, and you don’t have to cook it first. You’ll lose some quality, and you should refreeze it within 1 or 2 days of thawing.
Don’t refreeze raw ground beef thawed in cold water or the microwave unless you cook it first.
Frequently asked questions
How long can ground beef sit out?
No more than 2 hours at room temperature, or 1 hour at 90°F (32°C) and above.
Can you thaw ground beef on the counter?
No. Never thaw ground beef on the counter or in hot water. Use the refrigerator, cold water, or the microwave.
How soon should you cook thawed ground beef?
Cook it or refreeze it within 1 or 2 days if it thawed in the refrigerator. If it thawed in cold water or the microwave, cook it right away.
Is ground beef safe after 4 months in the freezer?
Yes, ground beef kept constantly at 0°F (-18°C) stays safe indefinitely. It loses quality over time, which is why it's best used within 4 months.
What temperature should ground beef be cooked to?
Cook ground beef to 160°F (71°C), measured with a food thermometer. Color doesn't show doneness.
