Why does beef turn brown in the fridge?

[mercanucaribe]

I remember reading on ATOT that it's better once it turns brown. Why does this happen though? This site says that beef is naturally dark and turns bright red when exposed to oxygen.. But I've left beef in the fridge for a few days, and it's turned from red TO brown. What's the deal??

 

[Steve]

It's rotting, toss it.

 

[MageXX9]

aging? *shrug* I dunno. I try to cook it as soon as possible, otherwise it goes in the freezer.

 

[mdchesne]

it's natural, unless it's slimy or has a smell to it, it's fine. just keep it frozen and don't put it in the firdge for more than a day

 

[mercanucaribe]

Ah I found another site.. http://ask.metafilter.com/mefi/21292

When freshly slaughtered meat is cut into steaks, the muscle tissue comes into contact with oxygen in the air. The myoglobin in the meat binds this oxygen, forming oxymyoglobin and giving the meat a red color. However, if fresh meat sits for a period of time, generally over the course of several days, the structure of the myoglobin changes. The iron molecule in the middle is oxidized from its ferrous to ferric form and a different complex is formed called metmyoglobin. This compound turns the raw meat a brown color. The meat is usually still safe to eat when cooked, but the brown, unappealing color turns off most consumers. To avoid having your fresh meat turn brown, use it as soon as possible after purchasing it.

 

[BigJ]

Aren't you only supposed to store raw beef in the fridge if you're defrosting it?

 

[miri]

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
I remember reading on ATOT that it's better once it turns brown. Why does this happen though? This site says that beef is naturally dark and turns bright red when exposed to oxygen.. But I've left beef in the fridge for a few days, and it's turned from red TO brown. What's the deal??

Its the oxygen or something in the air. I work at a restaurant and the top pieces of meat like beef tenderloin, lamb and any other kind of meat in the stack will start turning brown while the pieces of meat under it will stay their natural dark red color.

 

[mdchesne]

Originally posted by: BigJ
Aren't you only supposed to store raw beef in the fridge if you're defrosting it?

:thumbsup: only for <24hours

 

[mercanucaribe]

Originally posted by: BigJ
Aren't you only supposed to store raw beef in the fridge if you're defrosting it?

Well yesterday I bought some ground beef with a sell by date of Nov 22nd, and it's still in the fridge because I made burgers today, and will make some more tomorrow. It has a few brown spots inside.

 

[mdchesne]

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe

Originally posted by: BigJ
Aren't you only supposed to store raw beef in the fridge if you're defrosting it?

Well yesterday I bought some ground beef with a sell by date of Nov 22nd, and it's still in the fridge because I made burgers today, and will make some more tomorrow. It has a few brown spots inside.

unless you cooked it, it's not alright to store raw beef in the fridge. freeze the raw stuff, fridge the cooked patties.

 

[mercanucaribe]

Originally posted by: mdchesne

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe

Originally posted by: BigJ
Aren't you only supposed to store raw beef in the fridge if you're defrosting it?

Well yesterday I bought some ground beef with a sell by date of Nov 22nd, and it's still in the fridge because I made burgers today, and will make some more tomorrow. It has a few brown spots inside.

unless you cooked it, it's not alright to store raw beef in the fridge. freeze the raw stuff, fridge the cooked patties.

How is it different from the grocery having it refridgerated until Nov 22nd though?

 

[mdchesne]

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe

Originally posted by: mdchesne

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe

Originally posted by: BigJ
Aren't you only supposed to store raw beef in the fridge if you're defrosting it?

Well yesterday I bought some ground beef with a sell by date of Nov 22nd, and it's still in the fridge because I made burgers today, and will make some more tomorrow. It has a few brown spots inside.

unless you cooked it, it's not alright to store raw beef in the fridge. freeze the raw stuff, fridge the cooked patties.

How is it different from the grocery having it refridgerated until Nov 22nd though?

they have a lower fridge setting than most fridges at home. their's run basically below freezing just like freezers, but there's an air-room temperature buffer so it acts like a supercool fridge

 

[sharkeeper]

Because the source cow touched and tipped itself at night.

 

[mercanucaribe]

Aging beef http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/nutrition/DJ5968.html

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
Aging beef http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/nutrition/DJ5968.html

Is your fridge 30-35 degrees?

 

[JinLien]

Blood contain iron in it therefor it have colours. The colour of iron oxide (FeO, Fe2O3, Fe3O4 or a combination of any 2~3 forms) can range from red, mauve, maroon, brown, black, grey, green, pink, to yellow.

 

[mercanucaribe]

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
Aging beef http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/nutrition/DJ5968.html

Is your fridge 30-35 degrees?

I'm not saying it is. I just posted that because it's interesting. My fridge may be 30-35 though, because sometimes the top layer of my iced tea and milk freezes.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
Aging beef http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/nutrition/DJ5968.html

Is your fridge 30-35 degrees?

I'm not saying it is. I just posted that because it's interesting. My fridge may be 30-35 though, because sometimes the top layer of my iced tea and milk freezes.

Ah, alright. And yes, it is an interesting article.

 

[OrganizedChaos]

Originally posted by: JinLien

Blood contain iron in it therefor it have colours. The colour of iron oxide (FeO, Fe2O3, Fe3O4 or a combination of any 2~3 forms) can range from red, mauve, maroon, brown, black, grey, green, pink, to yellow.

what he ment to say is that your meat is rusting

 

[OdiN]

geez...you'll be fine.

If it says sell by you can put it in the fridge until then and a few days after and you will be fine. This is assuming the sell by date is only a day or two after the purchase date. If you know you wont' use it for a while - freeze it. Otherwise a little browning is normal and will not harm you.