{"id":1008,"date":"2022-03-14T08:22:32","date_gmt":"2022-03-14T08:22:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pitmastercentral.com\/?p=1008"},"modified":"2023-09-22T08:36:54","modified_gmt":"2023-09-22T08:36:54","slug":"how-to-tell-if-a-steak-is-bad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pitmastercentral.com\/how-to-tell-if-a-steak-is-bad\/","title":{"rendered":"In the Know: How to Tell If a Steak is Bad"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

How to tell if a steak is bad? The steak will feel slimy, change color, or smell bad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As someone who has worked in the restaurant industry for a long time, food safety is very important to me. I have learned all the signs of whether or not meat has gone bad and I am here to share this knowledge with you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this post, I will cover the most important signs, the significance of them, and other tips on food safety. Let’s begin!<\/p>\n\n\n

\"How<\/figure>\n\n\n

Signs Raw Steak Has Gone Bad<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here are the telltale signs that you have a rotten steak on your hands<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is Past the Expiration Date<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

OK, now this should seem like a fairly obvious point – don’t eat food when the expiry date has passed by. However, like many, you are probably aware that the sticker on your packaging isn’t actually the “use by date” but rather the sell by date.<\/p>\n\n\n

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This is the date that the store has to sell the meat by or get rid of it. This is a way of ensuring that they don’t get blamed for a bout of food poisoning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In reality, the use by date is a little past the sell by date – but when it comes to fresh steak<\/a> or fresh meat, you do not have much wiggle room here. As long as the meat has been stored at an appropriate temperature you may be able to still use it a day or two past its prime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This, however, is only as long as you don’t observe the following signs:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It Has a Slimy Film<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The biggest indication that you have a bad steak is that it has a slippery or sticky feel to it. In short, it feels slimy. This is an indication that bacteria has been growing on it for a while and that there is too much for it to be safe to eat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is a Bad Odor<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You should know that spoiled steak may not necessarily smell. Or, it may not always be noticeable because raw meat doesn’t smell that great to begin with. This is especially true for dry aged steaks. A dry aged steak can smell a little unusual, almost cheesy but that’s just how it needs to smell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still, if the smell is off or rancid – or there is a pungent odor or it just no longer smells like regular meat, it is time to toss it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consider the Color<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another way to tell if steak is bad is to look at the color. It should be a healthy pink or red color. Poor signs are if there are tinges of yellow, green, or anything that looks like mold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, I am often asked:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can you eat a steak if it turns brown<\/a>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a bit of a confusing thing. This is because when<\/a> meat is exposed to oxygen, it turns brown due to a component called metmyoglobin. Therefore, even perfectly good steak may appear brown but be safe to consume.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is why it is a good idea to first consider the expiration date, feel of the steak, and then the odor as well before coming to a conclusion. You should also check that the steak has been stored correctly for the entire time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These symptoms also hold up for other types of steak such as tuna steak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Related Reading<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n