expired meat

[Chiropteran]

If cooking beef to a 160 internal temperature makes it "safe" to eat, then why does meat expire?

Is there some microorganism that can survive 160 temperature, but which can only exist on expired meats? Is there some higher temperature you can cook expired meat at, to make it safe?

Is there a point where the meat is so expired it will kill you to eat it no matter what temperature you cook it at?

Just some things I have pondered while cooking taco meat a day or two after the listed "sell by" date.

 

[lxskllr]

It tastes bad. It gets a weird sweet flavor, but is probably safe if cooked thoroughly.

 

[bignateyk]

... because it starts to rot?

 

[TerryMathews]

If cooking beef to a 160 internal temperature makes it "safe" to eat, then why does meat expire?

Is there some microorganism that can survive 160 temperature, but which can only exist on expired meats? Is there some higher temperature you can cook expired meat at, to make it safe?

Is there a point where the meat is so expired it will kill you to eat it no matter what temperature you cook it at?

Just some things I have pondered while cooking taco meat a day or two after the listed "sell by" date.

Generally, no. It's not unsafe. That said, you have to take care of meat to take it beyond the sell by date. Look at Peter Luger's for an example of how old meat can get and still be good; better, in this case.

 

[bignateyk]

The "use by" dates are probably pretty conservative too. I usually use meat that's been in the fridge for up to about a week after the use-by date. If I know I'm not gonna use it in time I'll throw it in the freezer.

Fish, on the other hand, I don't use after the use by date.

 

[NetWareHead]

It tastes bad. It gets a weird sweet flavor, but is probably safe if cooked thoroughly.

This

Some bacteria/organisms may release a toxin into the meat which may not necessarily be rendered safe by cooking. You may kill the bacteria but depending on what specimens you are dealing with, the danger may still persist.

Sell by date is a reference for the store. The store needs to sell it by a certain date. I can tell you that many grocery stores routinely donate "expired" food items including meat/seafood/veggies to homeless shelters. It can still be safely eaten but the store won;t sell it past a certain date.

 

[Chiropteran]

The "use by" dates are probably pretty conservative too. I usually use meat that's been in the fridge for up to about a week after the use-by date. If I know I'm not gonna use it in time I'll throw it in the freezer.

Yeah, that is generally what I do, was just curious if there was ever really a point where meat is so bad that it will hurt you to eat it even after a thorough cooking. I suspect meat reaches the "eww it's gross I won't eat that" stage before it reaches the "kill you even after being cooked" stage.

Fish, on the other hand, I don't use after the use by date.

I take it a step further. I never eat fish, period.

 

[bignateyk]

This

Some bacteria/organisms may release a toxin into the meat which may not necessarily be rendered safe by cooking. You may kill the bacteria but depending on what specimens you are dealing with, the danger may still persist.

Sell by date is a reference for the store. The store needs to sell it by a certain date. I can tell you that many grocery stores routinely donate "expired" food items including meat/seafood/veggies to homeless shelters. It can still be safely eaten but the store won;t sell it past a certain date.

This is how I get cheap meat. Our store (wegmans) marks it down to about half off when it reaches the sell by date. I get prime cuts of beef for the same price as regular.

 

[CraigRT]

I don't so much care about dates, as much as I do about smell.
If it claims expired but smells fine, I generally assume it is.
I've had chicken that started to reek before it was even at its "use by" date. Tossed it.

 

[Baked]

That's what the freezer is for! Plus I only buy them fresh and cook them same day majority of the time. Supermarkets don't screw around. They don't sell stuff past the "sell by" date.

 

[spidey07]

I don't so much care about dates, as much as I do about smell.
If it claims expired but smells fine, I generally assume it is.
I've had chicken that started to reek before it was even at its "use by" date. Tossed it.

Yep. The smell test is all I use regardless of date.

If it smells OK, it's good to eat.

Conversely I've had some things go bad before the expiration date, namely sausage. The tube will get all puffy, when it's puffy you're in trouble. DO NOT rupture that plastic tube of sausage, the smell will knock you over and gag you and the entire house.

Made the mistake of letting beef bones with meat sit out for a few days on the counter. Threw them in the trash and in doing so the smell wafted up into my face. I was puking, no controlling it.