The Bulk Meat Blog

What is the time to keep raw meat in the refrigerator: Safe and fresh?

The refrigerator is a modern-day miracle that helps us to store perishable food safely for a long time at the best temperature.

When you should cook the meat?

It is important to cook poultry and raw ground meat within 2 days. On the other hand, the chops, steaks, and roasts can be cooked in 5 days.

In simple terms, the larger cuts like steaks, chops, and roasts can be kept in the fridge for a longer time. In case, you do not have the time to cook, then freeze it, and when you freeze it will stop the bacteria growth in the meat.

In case, it is frozen previously then these timelines can go into effect one you have defrosted the meat completely. For 3 days, you have thawed the whole turkey, and then you need to cook it within 2 days, once it is thawed completely.

How to make sure the meat is edible?

With the give simple and effective tips, you can know if the meat is edible or not:

• Check for how long meat has been in the fridge

For raw poultry and raw ground red meat, it is best to keep it in the fridge before use for around 1 to 2 days. Red meat which is cut into steaks, roasts, or chops can last for around 3 to 5 days before you can cook it. If you have cooked poultry in the fridge then it can last for around 4 days.

• Butcher’ tip

In some cases, people buy meat, and they don’t plan on using it. In that case, you should store it in the freezer as it helps it last for a long time. Keeping it in the fridge allows you to thaw it before you plan on cooking it.

Important factors to consider

In case you have something in the fridge for a long time, and you are not sure when you need to use it, then you should consider these important things:

Smell

First of all, you should check how the meat smells if you have it for a long time. If the meat is spoiled then it will have a pungent and distinct smell to it that will be extremely difficult to eat.

Texture

Not just the smell is affected but the spoiled meat is slimy or sticky when you try to touch it.

Color

If the meat is not healthy to eat then its color will change which means it turns to yellow and bluish-white. The color of the meat can be purplish-red to bright red.

Make sure you keep these points in mind so that you can keep the meat fresh for a long time. Visit our butcher shop to buy quality meat.