Cooked ground beef is generally safe to eat for about 3 to 4 days when stored properly in the refrigerator at or below 40°F (4°C)
. After this period, the risk of bacterial growth and spoilage increases, which can affect both safety and taste. For best storage:
- Cool the cooked ground beef to room temperature before refrigerating.
- Store it in an airtight container or wrap it tightly to prevent it from absorbing odors from other foods
- Label the container with the date to keep track of its freshness
If you need to keep cooked ground beef longer than 3-4 days, freezing is recommended. Cooked ground beef can be safely frozen for 2 to 4 months without significant loss of quality
. Signs that cooked ground beef has gone bad include:
- Off or sour smell
- Slimy or sticky texture
- Discoloration or unusual appearance
When in doubt, it is safer to discard cooked ground beef that has been stored longer than the recommended time or shows signs of spoilage.
