Ground beef is a weeknight hero, a Burger essential, and a freezer staple—but like all fresh food, it has a shelf life. Knowing how to tell if ground beef is still good and when it’s time to toss it can make all the difference between a delicious dinner and a regrettable one.

At Schweid & Sons, we’re proud to deliver high-quality beef blends that are handled with care every step of the way. But once that package is in your fridge or freezer, it’s up to you to make sure it stays fresh. Let’s walk through the signs to watch for and the best practices for storing beef like a pro.

How Long Does Ground Beef Keep in the Fridge?

• Raw ground beef should be cooked or frozen within 1 to 2 days of purchase if the package is opened or not vacuum-sealed.
• If your ground beef is vacuum-sealed and unopened, and the use-by date is still several days away, it’s generally safe to follow the printed date, as long as it has been stored below 40°F.
• Cooked ground beef keeps for 3 to 4 days in the fridge when stored in an airtight container. If you’re pushing day three or four, give it a sniff and a look before reheating. When in doubt, throw it out.

Can I Eat Raw Ground Beef That’s Benn in the Fridge for 7 Days?

If the package is open, unfortunately not. Even if it looks fine, raw ground beef stored in the fridge for a full week is past its safe window. Bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella can grow quickly at fridge temps, especially in ground meats, which have more surface area exposed than whole cuts. If your package of raw beef is unopened, look to the “use by” date—if it’s approaching the deadline, cook it or freeze it.

Is Ground Beef Still Safe Past the Sell-By Date?

Let’s break down the dates you might see on packaging:

• Sell-by date tells the store how long to display the product. You can still use ground beef for up to a week after this date if it’s been properly refrigerated.
• Best-by date is about peak quality, not safety—your food is likely still good past this date. Raw meat should also include a use-by or expiration date to clarify. If not, treat the best-by date like an expiration date.
• Use-by or expiration date is the most important—once this date passes, it’s best to toss it, no matter how it looks or smells. Look out for a use-by/freeze-by on all Schweid & Sons products.

The bottom line? Dates are useful, but they’re not the only thing to go by. Storage conditions matter just as much.

How Long Does Ground Beef Keep in the Freezer?

Freezing beef is a great way to extend its life, especially if you bought in bulk or stocked up during a sale.

• Raw ground beef keeps well for 3 to 4 months in the freezer. It is still safe beyond this timeframe if it is stored under 0ºF, but the quality may wane over time. 
• Cooked ground beef can last 3 to 4 months frozen. 

If possible, vacuum seal the beef (if it is not already packaged that way) to prevent freezer burn. No vacuum sealer? No problem. Use a freezer-safe zip-top bag (which are thicker and more insulated than regular sandwich bags) and the water displacement method to get a very close approximation.

How Can I Tell if Refrigerated Ground Beef is Bad?

Here’s what to look (and smell) for:

• Slimy texture: If the meat feels sticky or tacky to the touch, that’s a sign of spoilage.
• Off smell: Sour, tangy, or ammonia-like odors are red flags. 
• Discoloration: If the beef has gone from bright red to brown or grey throughout (not just on the surface), it may be bad. (More on that below!)

How Can I Tell if Frozen Ground Beef is Bad?

Frozen ground beef can still go bad over time if it isn’t stored below 0ºF, or if it is improperly sealed. Watch for:

• Freezer burn: Ice crystals or dry, leathery patches mean the meat is dehydrated. It’s safe to eat, but not particularly tasty.
• Rancid smell after thawing: If it smells sour, metallic, or just “off” after thawing, don’t risk it.
• Color changes: If the beef is an unappetizing brownish-grey or has odd spots after thawing, toss it.

Does Freezing Beef Change the Color When it Defrosts?

Yes, it can. Freezing can darken or dull the color of beef slightly, especially if it wasn’t vacuum-sealed. You might also notice:

• A darker red hue when thawed is generally normal.
• Brown or grey patches, often caused by freezer burn. These aren’t harmful but may affect taste and texture.
• If thawed beef smells bad or is slimy, it’s not safe to eat regardless of color.

How Can I Tell if Ground Beef is Bad?

Whether fresh or thawed, cooked ground beef should never be:

• Slimy or mushy: That means spoilage bacteria have taken hold.
• Sour or funky smelling: A sure sign it’s no longer safe.
• Covered in mold: Even just a little means it’s unsafe.

What Does Bad Ground Beef Smell Like?

This is where it gets tricky. Many companies, including Schweid & Sons, use a safe preservation gas that may cause the package to smell odd when you first open it, but the smell is very different from “bad meat”. Let the meat air out for a minute or two and discard the packaging; the smell will fade.

Bad ground beef will have a persistent sour, rotten, or ammonia-like odor that doesn’t go away—that’s your cue to throw it out.

What Color Should Ground Beef Be? Is Gret Beef Bad?

When ground beef is freshly processed, it has a bright red hue thanks to a protein called myoglobin. This protein reacts with oxygen to form oxymyoglobin, which gives fresh meat that appealing red color you see in grocery store displays.

But over time, as the meat sits in the fridge or loses exposure to oxygen (especially in the center of a package), that myoglobin changes. It gradually transforms into metmyoglobin, which gives the beef a brown or grayish color.

A brown or gray color alone doesn’t mean the meat has spoiled—it simply means it’s not at peak freshness. To determine whether it’s still safe to eat, check for other signs of spoilage like a sour smell, slimy texture, or stickiness, and always keep an eye on the expiration or use-by date. 

How Should I Store Ground Beef to Keep it Fresh?

Here are a few tips to get the most out of your beef:

• Refrigerate ASAP: Don’t let raw beef sit at room temp for more than 2 hours.
• Freeze if you won’t use it in 1–2 days: Label with the date for easy tracking.
• Use airtight packaging: Minimize air exposure to reduce oxidation and freezer burn.
• Keep cooked beef in shallow containers to cool quickly before refrigerating or freezing—this prevents condensation which can turn into freezer burn.
• Don’t refreeze ground beef once it has defrosted. The only exception? Defrosted raw ground beef that is cooked can then be frozen again.

Trust Your Senses and Your Source

When it comes to ground beef, freshness is everything. Dates are helpful, but your eyes, nose, and fingers are your best tools. If something looks, feels, or smells off, it probably is!

That’s why it’s important to start with top-quality beef from a source you can trust. At Schweid & Sons, we’re committed to delivering premium ground beef that’s fresh, flavorful, and expertly handled. Visit our store locator link below to find Schweid & Sons near you and explore our recipes for inspiration, because great meals start with great ground beef!

• Find all Schweid & Sons’ premium Burger blends here.
• Shop your local grocers for Schweid & Sons using our store locator link here.
• Tag us with your favorite way to make Ground Beef on Instagram using @schweidandsons or #schweidandsons.
• Sign up to get all the latest recipes and product news via email.