Raw ground beef expiration date

[Angie]

I found a pound of ground beef in the fridge today with yesterday's expiration date.

Should I pitch it? It has lost the red color and is browish.

 

[Jeff G.]

I found a pound of ground beef in the fridge today with yesterday's expiration date.

Should I pitch it? It has lost the red color and is browish.

Give it a sniff... you should be able to tell. Just cook well.

 

[Bigjim68]

I have been told that the expiration dates are buy by dates, and allow a couple of days for use. Don't know is that is true or not. Like Jeff, I would give it a sniff. and, just to be on the safe sied, I would cook it well.

 

[Angie]

OK. I plan on using it tonight.

 

[miniman]

Open it and smell it - off meat has a very distinctive smell. If it smells OK, cook it very well - I would suggest a caserole of pasta sauce type thung with a lenghtyish cooking time. The browness will probably be due to oxidation - not a problem.

There are often two dates on - one for the shop which is a sell by date. There may also be a use by date. These are usually guidelines and an indicator of when quality begins to deteriote. Things can go off before the sell by date!!!! - always do a smell and visual check.