If you’ve ever text your mum to check if that weird-looking lamb mince at the back of the fridge was still fair game or, heaven forbid, if you regularly resort to the sniff test, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll say it once and once only: it’s not worth risking the runs – or worse - for the sake of last week’s spag bol. That said, there are legitimate ways to determine whether your leftovers are *actually* safe to eat. Show “With raw chicken, beef, or fish in the fridge, you have between three and four days,” food safety expert Jeff Nelken recently told Well & Good. As a general rule, meat and fish always come with an expiration date printed on the label (which, btw, is very important to adhere to.) It’s also best to store fresh produce in the middle of the fridge where it’s coldest. Note: the temperature should be below 5C at all times to minimise the growth of infectious or toxic micro-organisms. “If it has a slimy texture, has changes in colour, or a new odour coming from it, then it’s not good anymore,” Nelken explained. “These are all signs that bacteria is starting to form.” For more Food related news and videos check out Food >> More on 7NEWS.com.au
So far, so straight forward... But what about pre-cooked meat? “It’s best to go by how the meat or fish looks, smells and feels to tell if it’s still good or not,” Nelken continued. For pre-cooked beef, chicken, lamb or fish you can usually allow a few extra days. How long does meat last in the fridge? Credit: Getty ImagesAnd if you’re storing stuff in the freezer, you have a little longer. Food Safety Standards Australia recommends binning raw roasts, steaks and chops after a year, and raw ground meat after four months. Same goes for fish. Cooked meat, on the other hand, should stay good for up to three months before you need to toss it.  When things in the fridge start to mold, ooze, or smell, you know it’s time to throw them out. But how do you avoid getting to that point? How long do leftovers last?According to the FDA Food Code, all perishable foods that are opened or prepared should be thrown out after 7 days, maximum. No leftovers should survive in your fridge for longer than that. Some foods should be even be thrown away before the 7 day mark. Refer to expiration dates and food safety guidelines to know how to handle specific foods. The chart below from Foodsafety.gov is a useful guide for food in the fridge. How to make leftover food last longerIf you want your leftovers to last longer, freeze them. Just be sure to keep track of how long you had it in the fridge before you put it in the freezer. Freezing stops bacterial growth in its tracks like a car at a red light. When you thaw your food, however, the light turns green and bacterial growth continues from where it left off. So, according to the chart below, steak that was in the fridge for 3 days before it was frozen will be good for 1 to 2 days after it is thawed. Remember that frozen foods are safe indefinitely, so the following guidelines for freezer food refer to food quality, not safety. Check out our chart to see if there’s any food in your fridge or freezer that needs to be thrown out.
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Learn about this and more in the StateFoodSafety Food Handler Course. — Suzanna Sandridge Editor’s note: This post was originally published in January 2014 and has been updated for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness. You might also be interested in
Is meat still good after 7 days in fridge?For raw ground meats, poultry, seafood and variety meats (liver, tongue, chitterlings, etc.), refrigerate them only 1 to 2 days before either cooking or freezing. Beef, veal, lamb and pork roasts, steaks and chops may be kept 3 to 5 days.
Can you eat meat after a week?You can safely store larger cuts of meat in the fridge for 3 to 5 days after getting them home and before cooking or freezing. You can safely store steaks, roasts, chops, and other larger cuts of meat in the freezer for 4 to 12 months.
Can you eat beef after 7 days?May 7, 2021
USDA recommends using cooked beef within 3 to 4 days, kept refrigerated (40°F or less). Refrigeration slows but does not stop bacterial growth. USDA recommends using cooked leftovers within 3 to 4 days.
Can you eat steak after 7 days in fridge?How long is raw steak good in the fridge? Store raw steak in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. However, pay attention to sell-by dates and the expiration date. Steak may remain fresh for a few days past their sell-by dates, but you should freeze steak before its expiration date if you won't use it by that date.
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Is meat good after 7 days?
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