Shelf Life Tips
- How long does raw ground beef last in the fridge or freezer? The exact answer to that question depends to a large extent on storage conditions - keep ground beef (including raw hamburgers) refrigerated at all times.
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How long does raw ground beef last in the refrigerator? After ground beef is purchased, it may be refrigerated for 1 to 2 days - the "sell-by" date on the package may expire during that storage period, but the ground beef will remain safe to use after the sell by date if it has been properly stored.
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Unopened raw ground beef may be kept in its original store packaging when refrigerating; to maximize the shelf life of ground beef, do not open the package until ready to use.
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How long can raw ground beef be left at room temperature? Bacteria grow rapidly at temperatures between 40 °F and 140 °F; ground beef should be discarded if left out for more than 2 hours at room temperature.
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To further extend the shelf life of raw ground beef, freeze; when freezing, place ground beef in the freezer before the number of days shown for refrigerator storage has elapsed.
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You can maximize the shelf life of ground beef in the freezer by overwrapping the original store packaging with airtight heavy-duty aluminum foil, plastic wrap, or freezer paper or place the package inside a heavy-duty freezer bag in order to prevent freezer burn.
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How long does raw ground beef last in the freezer? Properly stored, raw ground beef will maintain best quality for about 3 to 4 months in the freezer, but will remain safe beyond that time.
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The freezer time shown is for best quality only - ground beef that has been kept constantly frozen at 0°F will keep safe indefinitely.
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How long does raw ground beef last after being frozen and thawed? Ground beef that has been defrosted in the fridge can be kept for an additional 1 to 2 days in the refrigerator before cooking; ground beef that was thawed in the microwave or in cold water should be cooked immediately.
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How long does ground beef last in the fridge once it is cooked? Cooked ground beef will usually stay good for 3 to 4 days in the fridge and 4 months in the freezer.
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How to tell if raw ground beef is bad? The best way is to smell and look at the ground beef: signs of bad ground beef are a sour smell, dull color and slimy texture; discard any ground beef with an off smell or appearance.
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