Why Does My Ground Beef Smell Like Eggs? When To Avoid Eating | Boyd Hampers (2024)

If your ground beef smells like eggs it is due to the substances that causes sulfur, which gives an egg-like smell when beef begins to spoil. When the beef smells like eggs, it’s time to dispose of it to avoid food poisoning!

Ground beef is among the most sought-after meats across the United States, let alone the world, and for a good reason! It’s highly adaptable and delicious.

It can create meatballs, burgers, tacos, and tacos, spaghetti sauce lasagna, meat pies, lasagna, and other delicious dishes.

Sometimes, we purchase a bag of beef ground with great intentions of cooking it into something tasty like tacos, burgers, or tacos.

Then life gets hectic, and before we know it, an entire week has gone by, and the beef in the ground smells sulfurous like rotten eggs.

You might wonder why your beef smells this way, what that means, and if it’s safe to take it in.

If you buy fresh beef, it shouldn’t have any smell whatsoever, so any smell beyond this is an indication of concern and a sign that it’s time to dispose of it.

Take a look to learn more about this smell and how to do it!

What Causes Ground Beef To Smell Like Eggs?

If beef is ground up, it creates greater surfaces for oxygen pathogenic bacteria and spoilage to be exposed to. The process of grinding and the larger surface area mean that this type of beef spoils faster than a steak or roast.

These kinds of bacteria could cause the beef to spoil and cause food poisoning if enough pathogenic bacteria exist inside the beef.

If your meat has passed the expiration date, is sticky or slimy, or was not stored correctly, it smells like eggs; the best choice is to dispose of it.

Certain bacteria interact with blood and proteins, releasing sulfur-based, egg-like scent.Ground beef that is not properly cooked can also emit an ammonia smell. In any event, throwing away the beef carcass is better than putting yourself at risk of becoming sick.

Why DoesMy Vacuum Sealed Ground Beef ComeWith A Strange Smell?

If you purchase beef at the supermarket, it arrives in a sealed vacuum bag to keep it fresher longer.

Sealing with a vacuum eliminates the package’s air and reduces the spoilage risk.However, it may also capture all the smells that naturally come from the beef that has been ground.

Most of the time, so long that the texture, color, and sell-by date are in good order, the smell should not be concerned about.It is usually the first release of natural odors from the meat and juices.

When the expiration date has expired, or the smell persists for a long time after you have opened the bag and smells eggy or rancid,then the meat may have spoiled, and you need to throw it away to ensure you are on the safe side.

Find pink or red beef from the exterior, but it could be more grey or brown inside because it’s not exposed to oxygen. This is the reason why meat is bright in hue.

Also, you would like ground meat that is firmer in texture and breaks up when you squeeze it.

If your beef is sticky or slimy, feel it indicates that the meat will likely become spoiled. Hence, you must make sure you throw it out.

How To Keep Your Ground Beef From Spoiling

To stop your meat from becoming spoiled, I recommend you cut it into portions when you return home and freeze it. And, yes, you can easily cook frozen ground beef!

The freezing process prevents the development of spoilage and pathogenic bacteria. It does not affect the taste or texture of the food as long as youconsume it within 6 to 12 monthsfor the highest quality.

  • If you purchaselarge value packs, divide them into individual or family serving sizes.
  • Place the beef in freezer bags and squeeze out any air left before sealing.
  • Write the date and the contents on the piece of masking tape and then adhere it tothe bag. This will ensure that you don’t make use of old beef.
  • Store in the freezer and use it within 6-12 months.

You can also store the smaller portions made of beef right when you come home from the supermarket.

If you’re not sure when you’ll need it, or you know that you’ll have a busy week to come up, simply put your freezer in, and remove it in the evening before you plan to use it. Then, let it cool in the refrigerator for a few hours.

Why Does My Ground Beef Smell Like Eggs? When To Avoid Eating | Boyd Hampers (2024)

FAQs

Why Does My Ground Beef Smell Like Eggs? When To Avoid Eating | Boyd Hampers? ›

If your meat has passed the expiration date, is sticky or slimy, or was not stored correctly, it smells like eggs; the best choice is to dispose of it. Certain bacteria interact with blood and proteins, releasing sulfur-based, egg-like scent. Ground beef that is not properly cooked can also emit an ammonia smell.

Is ground beef bad if it smells like eggs? ›

So if the protein you open up has a powerful, rotten egg-like odor, seems slimy or sticky in texture, emerges more green or gray than its usual color, or has come from a package with an already-broken seal, don't risk eating it.

What does it mean when ground beef smells like fart? ›

This may be the first thing you notice if your beef has gone bad, even before you open the fridge. Spoiled beef will develop a scent to it similar to ammonia or sulfur. In short, it won't smell good. Occasionally ground beef will develop a light smell if it's been in airtight packaging, and that's alright.

What does spoiled ground beef smell like? ›

Though the scent of fresh ground beef is barely perceptible, rancid meat has a tangy, putrid odor. Once it goes bad, it's no longer safe to eat. The scent changes due to the increased growth of spoilage bacteria, such as Lactobacillus spp. and Pseudomonas spp., which may also affect the flavor.

How to tell if cooked ground beef is bad? ›

If your leftover cooked beef smells or looks off, throw it out rather than eating it—it's just not worth the risk! The meat should have a similar texture and smell as the day you cooked it. A slimy or mushy feel, a green tint, or a sour or rotten-egg smell are all signs that your meat is probably spoiled.

Can you eat meat that smells a little? ›

Remember, raw meat does have a distinct aroma that may not be totally pleasant, but it shouldn't be off-putting. Smelling iodine or a slight metallic odor is normal. Smelling undertones of ammonia (like bleach) or sulfur (like hard-boiled eggs) is not.

Does cooking spoiled meat make it safe? ›

No, you should never consume meat if you suspect it is spoiled. Symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and fever are all commonly associated with food poisoning. While cooking the meat will kill the bacteria in the meat, it will not neutralise the toxins that the bacteria has already produced.

What happens if I eat bad ground beef? ›

Signs of foodborne illness from bad ground beef include stomach cramps or pain, vomiting, diarrhea, chills and/or fever. Symptoms can occur anywhere from one hour to 72 hours from consumption and generally last less than a week.

How to tell if raw beef is bad? ›

If you have bad meat or spoilage, a slimy surface film that you can see or feel on a piece of steak is a tell-tale sign. It'll be clear or yellowish in color but will make the steak appear shinier than usual. It will also have a slippery or sticky feel when you run your fingers over it.

Can you keep raw ground beef in the fridge for 7 days? ›

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidelines, raw ground beef can be stored for one to two days in the fridge.

How to tell if vacuum sealed ground beef is bad? ›

Fresh ground beef will have a bright red hue—almost like a cherry. It can also be burgundy or purplish if it's been vacuum sealed. Gray or brown meat could be a sign of rot, though it's not unusual for the inside of raw beef to have a different color than the outside since it's not exposed to oxygen.

Is grey ground beef bad? ›

If only the interior is gray, you can bet that oxygen hasn't touched it to turn it red. This means ground beef with a gray interior is safe to eat. On the other hand, meat that looks gray or brown all over (on the inside as well as the top layer) has likely begun to spoil and is not safe to eat.

Is wagyu beef supposed to smell like eggs? ›

One of the key molecules smells like egg whites. Wagyu beef is considered by many to be the paragon of meat. The beef from four breeds of Japanese cattle is famous for its beautifully marbled fat, soft texture, and sweet aroma, which some say is reminiscent of coconut or fruit.

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