Is beef safe after the "sell by" date?

How many days is ground beef safe after the "sell by" date? I want to make hamburgers with ground beef that I purchased three days ago.

Beef safety

The quality and safety of your beef will depend on the storage temperature at the store and while it was transported to your house, in addition to the temperature of your refrigerator. The optimum temperature is 33°F for meats in your refrigerator.

Generally, you can expect to be able to use ground beef one to three days after the sell-by date depending on how it has been handled. Quality begins to decline on the sell-by date, so you should try to use the meat as soon as you can or put it in your freezer.

Signs of spoilage

Off-odors
Slimy texture
Color changes

Food Preservation and Storage

Want to learn more about this topic? Explore more resources from OSU Extension: Home Food Safety and Storage

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