Learn about defrosting ground meat

Our favorite kitchen staple, and the most crave-worthy ground-meat recipes, appear on our tables again and again. Learn everything you need to know about defrosting and storing ground meat in the refrigerator and the freezer.

How long does ground meat keep in the refrigerator?

Fresh raw ground meat does not keep for long in the refrigerator. When purchasing fresh ground meat, be sure to buy only the amount you need for that specific day. Raw ground meat can be stored for up to 24 hours on the coldest, bottom shelf of the refrigerator, which should always be set to +2°C (36°F).

After purchasing, remove it immediately from its wrapping and place it in a glass or stainless-steel container with a lid. Never leave raw ground meat at room temperature for any reason. It must be cooked within the next 24 hours. Alternatively, raw ground meat may be placed in the freezer.

How long does cooked ground meat keep in the refrigerator?

Cooked ground meat keeps in the refrigerator for 2–3 days, well covered and placed on the middle shelves of the refrigerator, where the ideal temperature is 2–4°C (36–39°F).

Seasoned ground meat in the refrigerator

As with raw ground meat, seasoned ground meat should not remain in the refrigerator for more than 24 hours.
From the moment you add all the ingredients for burgers, meatloaf, or meatballs, the meat begins to change and its color starts to shift. Ideally, seasoned ground meat should stay in the refrigerator for only a few hours before being cooked. If it remains longer, its aroma becomes heavy, it releases liquid, and its color turns a dark gray. Those few hours are ideal for developing rich aromas in seasoned ground meat while it rests in the refrigerator.

Burger patties in the freezer

You can shape the mixture into burgers, meatballs, soutzoukakia, and more, then store them in the freezer in portions. Portion-sized seasoned ground meat can be cooked directly. That is, you freeze the freshly shaped burgers. And now you may ask, how do you cook burgers straight from the freezer?

Transfer them directly from the freezer to the oven. Give your burgers enough time to cook properly all the way through and to eliminate all bacteria. Set the oven to a lower temperature than the recipe indicates so they have time to cook through evenly and develop a nicely browned exterior. Frozen burgers require thorough cooking so their internal temperature exceeds 65°C (149°F).

Cooked ground meat in the freezer

Cooked ground meat, such as meat sauce or sautéed meat prepared for fillings, keeps in the freezer for up to 3 months. Store it in an airtight container and wrap the container very well with plastic wrap. A space-saving tip for the freezer is to portion the ground-meat sauce once it begins to freeze, according to how you plan to use it, placing it in food-safe freezer bags. Remove the air, seal well, and lay the bags flat, stacking one on top of the other. Be sure to label them and write the freezing date.

Raw ground meat in the freezer

Once you place raw ground meat in the freezer, it is best not to keep it for more than 2–3 weeks. When ground meat is left in the freezer for a long time, it dehydrates due to the cold and loses its moisture. As it remains frozen, ice crystals form throughout the meat. You may notice that when cooking thawed ground meat, it behaves differently in the pan compared to fresh meat. This happens because the ice crystals melt and release a large amount of liquid, causing the meat to release moisture instead of browning properly.

Never thaw and refreeze!

Never thaw a product, especially ground meat, and then return it to the freezer. When you remove a product from the freezer, first allow it to thaw properly in the refrigerator. Never thaw ground meat in a bowl of water or at room temperature. It is very important that it be cooked and consumed on the same day. Anything that has been thawed, even if cooked, should never go back into the freezer.

How do I thaw ground meat? Choose the right method, not the fast one

Thawing ground meat is just as important as proper storage. Raw ground meat from the freezer should be placed in a covered bowl on the bottom, coldest shelf of the refrigerator, set at 2°C (36°F), and left there until fully thawed. There is no quick thawing method for ground meat on the kitchen counter, in water, or otherwise. Doing so will result in spoiled meat that is unsuitable for the table.

How can you tell when ground meat has gone bad?

Ground meat is extremely delicate and spoils incredibly quickly. You can tell by its color. Spoiled ground meat turns a very dark, unnatural gray. When touched, it feels sticky with a slick texture, and its condition is confirmed by its heavy, unpleasant odor.

In summary, keep the following in mind when handling ground meat:

– When purchasing ground meat, buy only the amount you need for that specific day.
– It is not recommended to keep ground meat in the refrigerator for more than 24 hours, as it is highly perishable and spoils quickly.
– As soon as you arrive home from the butcher, your first step should be to remove the ground meat from its packaging and place it in a stainless-steel container, ideally one with a rack, so its liquids can drain.
– Always store it on the coldest shelf of the refrigerator, away from uncovered foods, vegetables, and fruits.
– Thoroughly sanitize every surface that comes into contact with ground meat, and never knead the meat while simultaneously touching items such as the salt shaker or pepper mill, as this transfers bacteria.
– Any leftover ground meat should be frozen immediately after wrapping it very well in food-safe packaging.
– A ground-meat mixture should be kept well covered for only a few hours. This short rest will result in far more flavorful dishes.

Happy and safe cooking!