HOW TO TELL IF A GROUND TURKEY HAS GONE BAD
How to tell if a ground turkey has gone bad
Ground turkey is a nutritious, lean protein that provides a variety of nutrients. From chili turkey and meatballs to meat sauce and dumpling and gyoza fillings, there are many ways to incorporate ground turkey into delicious home cooking. You can buy prepared ground turkey in the meat section of the grocery store, but before you get the product, find out how long the ground turkey can last in the refrigerator and if it can get cold.
But keep reading to learn the signs that ground turkey has gone bad and get safety tips to make it last longer.
How long does ground turkey last in the fridge?
You may be surprised to learn that ground turkey has a short shelf life. According to the USDA’s FoodKeeper app, uncooked ground turkey will keep in the refrigerator for a day or two from the date of purchase. Its short shelf life is due to the process of grinding meat: grinding exposes any bacteria that may be on the surface of the meat to other parts of the body, increasing the chance of the growth of bacteria diseases, such as Listeria monocytogenes, E. coli and salmonella,will grow and increase.
Storing ground turkey in the freezer can extend its shelf life by three to four months if the meat is frozen from the date of purchase. Freezing reduces the growth of bacteria and the rate of spoilage.
Read also:HOW LONG DOES TOMATO PASTE LAST IN THE REFRIGERATOR (DOES IT GO BAD)
Tips for Storing Ground Turkey
Store ground turkey on the bottom shelf and in the coldest part of your refrigerator, both in unopened and opened packages. Refrigerator temperature is important: make sure it is kept below 40ºF to reduce the growth of bacteria. Leave the turkey in its original sealed packaging, as this minimizes exposure of the meat to the air.
Placing packaged meat in plastic bags can also reduce cross-contamination. If you decide to use a part of the meat one day and want to save the rest for cooking the next day, place the remaining part in an airtight container or wrap it tightly in food-grade plastic wrap and label it with the date of storage.
If the ground turkey is not going to be used within a day or two, you should store it in the freezer. You can leave the meat in its original packaging or cut it into smaller pieces. For the latter, divide the ground beef on the day of purchase and place it in an airtight container or resealable food container. Whichever method you choose, remember to list the storage date before freezing: ground turkey can last for three to four months once frozen from the date of purchase.
How to tell if a ground turkey has gone bad
No matter how hard you try to store the ground turkey properly, the meat can still go bad and deteriorate.
Here are some signs that your ground turkey has gone well.
1. Check the date
The USDA recommends
cooking (or freezing) ground turkey within a day or two of purchase or
the “sell by” date printed on the package. So if you forgot your best
plan for Tuesday night turkey burgers until Saturday, it’s sad and time
to say goodbye. But what about frozen turkey? The same rule applies, but
not until the meat is completely thawed. (It can take up to 12 hours if
you do it safely in your refrigerator.)
Read also:HOW LONG DOES A MANGO LAST, AND HOW DO YOU KNOW IF IT’S BAD?
2. The smell
Fresh ground raw turkey does not give off any smell. The meat is probably spoiled if you open the package and smell a bad smell, like a sour scent.
3. Look and color
Raw turkey meat should be light pink or beige, depending on the texture and fat content. The color of the skin fades over time, which is normal. However, if the meat is brown, gray or yellow or green, you will want to separate it. It is also ready to throw in the garbage or compost bin if you see something visible and physical.
4. Feel and textures
If the color of the ground turkey looks good and there is no bad smell, another way to tell if the ground turkey is spoiled is to touch it and feel the softness. Is it thin, sticky or dry? If so, throw it away and wash your hands with warm water and soap to avoid contamination.
5. Taste
If you don’t see any signs of spoilage or detect any off-flavors after cooking the ground turkey, you may notice that the flavor of the meat is changed even while it is being cooked. or season it with your favorite herbs, spices and seasonings. sauce. In this case, it is best to spread the meat and throw it away to reduce the risk of food poisoning.
What will happen if you eat a spoiled turkey?
Eating spoiled ground turkey can cause food borne illness, with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. People with weakened immune systems may have more severe symptoms. If you don’t know about your ground turkey, it’s best to throw it away and call it safe.
How to safely handle ground turkey to avoid spoilage
Food waste and ruined dinner plans. Fortunately, it’s easy to make sure you don’t have to worry about a spoiled turkey: buy latest sell by date possible, and refrigerate it as soon as you get home . Then do – cook it or freeze it within two days.
Amazingly, ground turkey will stay fresh forever in the freezer. (At a comfortable temperature of 0°F, bacteria cannot grow and spoilage cannot occur.) But for the best appearance and flavor, the USDA recommends using ground turkey frozen within a year.
At dinner time, continue these food safety practices by always cooking the turkey on the ground until it reaches 165 degrees on a meat thermometer. Serve immediately and store leftovers quickly: small portions in the refrigerator will cool quickly. You should also not leave food out of refrigerator for more than two hours, so as not to enter the “danger zone,” which is between 40°F and 140°F.
Conclusion:
Ground turkey is a great solid protein option for your diet, but it has a short shelf life of a day or two. It will also deteriorate quickly if not properly stored. If the meat will not be used within a day or two, store it in the freezer and enjoy within three to four months. If at any time you see a foul, foul smell, or slimy or sticky look on the ground turkey, do not eat it and throw it away.
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