Beef stew is a delicious and comforting meal that is popular during the colder months However, improperly stored beef stew meat can go bad quickly and make you sick So how do you know if the beef stew meat sitting in your fridge or freezer has spoiled?
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about determining if your beef stew meat is still safe to eat. We’ll go over:
- The signs of spoiled beef stew meat
- Proper storage techniques
- What to do if your meat has gone bad
- Tips for extending shelf life
- Answers to common questions
How To Tell If Raw Beef Stew Meat Has Gone Bad
When inspecting your raw beef stew meat there are a few clear signs that indicate it has spoiled and should be discarded
Unpleasant Smell
Fresh beef should have a mild odor. If you notice a strong sour or rancid smell from the raw meat it means bacteria is present and the meat has spoiled.
Discoloration
Raw beef typically has a red or purple hue. If you see any gray, green, yellow or brown colors, it’s a sign that microorganisms are growing and the meat has gone bad.
Slimy Texture
Good quality raw beef should feel lightly damp but not overly sticky or slimy. A sticky, slimy texture indicates bacterial growth.
Mold Growth
If you notice any fuzzy white or green mold growing on the raw meat, it has spoiled and should be thrown out.
Expired Date
Always check the expiration or sell-by date on the packaging. If it has passed, the beef stew meat should not be consumed.
If you notice any of these signs, do not attempt to cook or eat the meat. Play it safe and discard it right away.
How To Tell If Cooked Beef Stew Meat Has Gone Bad
It can be trickier to identify spoiled cooked beef stew meat, but there are still clear signs to look for:
Unpleasant Smell
Cooked beef stew that has gone bad will also have a distinct, sour odor. Some describe it as “rotten” smelling.
Change In Color
The stew meat may begin to look grey, green or yellow in places instead of brown.
Mold Growth
Check thoroughly for the development of fuzzy white or green mold on the cooked meat.
Slimy Texture
The meat will start feeling excessively soft or slimy. Good quality cooked beef stew should still have some firmness to it.
Expired Date
Cooked stew meat should be eaten within 3-4 days if refrigerated, even if it looks and smells okay. Don’t take chances past the expiration date.
Trust your senses – if anything seems off about the appearance, smell or texture of cooked stew meat, play it safe and throw it out.
Proper Storage Methods
Storing beef stew meat correctly is key to preventing it from spoiling quickly. Here are the recommended storage guidelines:
Raw Meat
- Store in original packaging on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator
- Use within 1-2 days of purchasing
- Freeze for up to 4 months in an airtight container
Cooked Meat
- Refrigerate leftovers in airtight container within 2 hours
- Consume within 3-4 days
- Freeze for up to 4 months in airtight container
Thawing Meat
- Thaw frozen meat in the refrigerator, not at room temperature
- Cook immediately after thawing, don’t refreeze
Preserving Meat
- Can stew meat using a pressure canner for shelf stable storage
- Cure, smoke or freeze meat for extended storage
Following these proper storage methods will help prevent your beef stew meat from expiring quickly.
What To Do If Your Meat Has Spoiled
If despite your best efforts, you discover that your beef stew meat has gone bad, you’ll want to take action right away:
1. Throw it out immediately
Do not taste, cook or eat any spoiled beef stew meat. Discard it promptly in the outside garbage, not your kitchen trash can.
2. Clean any surfaces it touched
Thoroughly wash any plates, cutting boards, pots/pans or utensils that may have touched the spoiled meat. Sanitize with a disinfectant.
3. Monitor for illness
If you ate some of the spoiled beef, monitor yourself for signs of food poisoning over the next few days. Seek medical treatment if severe symptoms develop.
4. Identify the source
Try to figure out why the meat spoiled prematurely so it can be prevented next time. Was it stored at the wrong temperature or for too long?
Following safe handling and cooking standards is the best way to avoid foodborne illness from spoiled beef products.
Tips For Extending Shelf Life
To make your beef stew meat last as long as possible, keep these tips in mind:
- Purchase fresh, high-quality cuts of meat
- Portion stew meat into smaller servings and freeze right away
- Use frozen meat within 4 months for best quality
- Store cooked stew in shallow containers for faster cooling
- Reheat cooked stew thoroughly to 165°F before eating
- Can or pressure cook stew meat for shelf-stable storage
- Keep meat refrigerated at 40°F or below at all times
- Monitor refrigerators and freezers with appliance thermometers
Proper purchasing, storage, freezing, cooking and reheating habits can extend the shelf life of beef stew meat significantly.
Answers To Common Questions About Spoiled Stew Meat
Q: Can I still cook beef stew meat if it has a slight odor but hasn’t expired?
No, any unpleasant or strong odors from raw meat means it has started to spoil and should be discarded. Don’t risk getting sick.
Q: My frozen beef stew meat has ice crystals on it. Is it still ok to use?
Small ice crystals are normal for frozen meat. Large crystals or meat that looks gray and dried out has “freezer burn” and should be tossed.
Q: I left thawed beef stew meat in the fridge for 5 days. Can I still use it?
No. Raw meat should only be refrigerated for 1-2 days before cooking. Toss out any meat that has been thawed for longer.
Q: My cooked beef stew was left out overnight. Can I reheat and eat it?
No. Cooked stew should be refrigerated within 2 hours. Leaving it out for longer creates a breeding ground for dangerous bacteria. Play it safe and discard.
Q: How do I know if canned beef stew has gone bad?
Look for bulging lids, leaks, slimy texture, foul odors and mold when opening. Also watch for deeply dented or rusted cans. If anything seems off, play it safe and toss it.
Q: Can I still use beef stew meat if I cook it thoroughly?
No. Cooking does not destroy the toxins from spoiled bacteria. Cooked or raw, bad meat should always be thrown away. Don’t take chances with food poisoning.
Hopefully this guide has helped explain what to look for to determine if your beef stew meat has gone bad. Trust your senses, follow proper storage methods, and throw away any meat at the first signs of spoilage. With the right techniques, you can safely enjoy delicious beef stew, even during busy winter months. Let us know if you have any other beef stew meat questions!
How can I tell if my meat’s gone bad?
How do you know if beef stew has gone bad?
There are several ways to tell if raw beef stew meat has gone bad. One way is to use your senses – smell, sight, and touch. If the meat smells sour, has a slimy texture or appears brownish in color, it’s a sign that it’s gone bad and should be discarded. Another way to check is by looking at the expiration date on the packaging.
How long does cooked beef stew meat last?
Cooked beef stew meat will usually stay good for 3 to 4 days in the fridge and 4 months in the freezer. How to tell if raw beef stew meat is bad? The best way is to smell and look at the beef stew meat: signs of bad beef stew meat are a sour smell, dull color and slimy texture; discard any beef stew meat with an off smell or appearance.
How do you know if beef is bad?
Beef kept in an open space or meat that has access to the open air will not smell very bad. This does not mean that the beef has not gone bad. You should use other methods to check if it is bad. If the beef is slimy, there is a high chance that it is bad. Other methods to tell if it is bad are by checking for mold and checking the color. 4.
Can you use the wrong cut of beef in beef stew?
Using the wrong cut of beef is probably the worst mistake you could ever make when it comes to beef stew. We’ve even tried using cuts of meat that are good for braising—like sirloin—and they just didn’t break down in the same way in a stew. You’re left with chunks of tight, dry meat rather than meltingly tender beef. The only cut you should use?