Have you been debating making tacos for dinner but are holding off because the meat has been in the refrigerator a little longer than you had anticipated? If so, it’s crucial to make sure it’s still safe to eat because taco meat that has gone bad could give someone else stomach problems or even worse.
How long does taco meat last in the fridge? For three to four days, cooked taco meat can be kept in the refrigerator, especially if it is kept in the coldest section. The meat should be discarded after this because it may have become unsafe to eat due to the spread of bacteria. Use up all of the raw taco meat within a few days.
Please continue reading for more information.
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How Long Does Taco Meat Last (Stays Fresh) in the Fridge?
In the fridge, taco meat will keep for three to four days.
Taco meat is, however, a processed food and not a fresh food, so it is significant to remember this. As a result, it’s crucial to handle it carefully and adhere to safe food handling procedures. To be more precise, make sure to always wash your hands before and after handling taco meat, keep it away from other foods, and cook it all the way through.
Can You Store Taco Meat in the Fridge?
Yes, taco meat can be kept in the refrigerator. In fact, taco meat needs to be kept cold in order to be safe to eat. As soon as you return home from the store, you should either put it in your refrigerator or freezer. Never leave it in a hot car or on the counter.
Taco meat should be kept below 40 degrees F because this is the temperature at which bacteria can multiply most rapidly. After only two hours, or even an hour if the room is over 90 degrees F, eating in a warm or hot environment becomes unsafe.
Even if the taco meat is always kept in the refrigerator, it should be consumed within two days if it is still raw. The USDA advises using taco meat, which is typically ground beef, within one to two days of purchase.
After the meat has been cooked, you can store it for up to four more days, but you shouldn’t go beyond that, especially if the meat has already been around for a few days. If you are unable to finish it within this time frame, dispose of it.
Can You Freeze Taco Meat?
Taco meat can indeed be frozen. The degree of spice in the meat will determine how it tastes. The amount of fat in the meat will have an effect on texture. 80% lean or more ground beef will freeze well and thaw out with a similar texture. After freezing and thawing, meat with a higher fat content is more likely to become crumbly and dry. Taco meat that has been frozen will keep for three to four months in the freezer.
How to Thaw Frozen Taco Meat
Refrigeration overnight thawing of frozen taco meat is recommended. It can be frozen for up to three months before it becomes safe to eat.
Place the meat in a bowl of cold water for about 30 minutes to thaw it more quickly if necessary. Make sure to frequently change the water to keep it cold. Cooking or microwaving the meat to thaw it will only encourage the growth of bacteria.
#1 In a sizable container or bag that can be sealed, put the frozen taco meat. In order to prevent the layers of taco meat from freezing together, you might also want to place wax paper in between them.
#2 Embrace the bag or container.
How Long Does Taco Meat Last in the Freezer?
In the freezer, taco meat typically keeps for six to twelve months.
The best option for people who have cooked more taco meat than they could possibly intend to consume over the few days after preparing the taco meat is likely to be freezing the leftover taco meat.
After all, when kept in an airtight container or freezer plastic bag in a consistent freezer environment, taco meat lasts for two to six months.
Taco meat can be cooked in bulk and kept in the refrigerator for months without going bad.
To avoid this issue, make sure to date taco meat containers before putting them in the freezer.
It is simple to forget that taco meat should have been placed in the freezer in the first place, even though it keeps for several months in the freezer.
As a result, estimates of how long taco meat has been in the freezer may be in doubt.
How Should You Prepare Frozen Taco Meat?
Check the package carefully for any indications of leaks or damage to the airtight seal before consuming frozen taco meat.
Because of this, the meat might become unsafe to eat and should be thrown out.
And, to the best of your knowledge, throw away any frozen taco meat that isn’t date-marked and hasn’t been cooked recently.
Frozen taco meat that has been warmed up must be eaten right away. It is best to throw away any leftovers from the reheated taco meat after heating the frozen taco meat.
Even though it might seem safe to reheat the taco meat once more, doing so could cause a lot of invisible bacteria to grow in the meat. The same is true if the meat is refrigerated or even re-frozen before being reheated. It is therefore a risky meal option.
Can You Cool Taco Meat in the Fridge?
You should not use your refrigerator to cool down cooked taco meat before storing it in the fridge or freezer. By doing so, the temperature of your refrigerator will be dangerously elevated, which could compromise any other food you have in there.
As an alternative, spread out the taco meat in a shallow container on your counter so that it can cool. The meat will gradually cool to room temperature as heat rises and dissipates from it. As soon as it is cool enough, cover it with a lid and store it in your refrigerator or freezer.
Can You Cook Meat That Has Spoiled?
Cooking spoiled meat is not recommended. Even though cooking does kill some bacteria, moldy meat still cannot be eaten. Food poisoning is still a possibility even if toxins are still present in the food.
Although cooking meat helps to kill bacteria, it won’t get rid of any toxins the bacteria may have left behind, so even well-cooked moldy meat can cause food poisoning. Instead of attempting to cook bad meat, throw it away.
Differences Between Storing Cooked and Uncooked Taco Meat
Taco meat typically keeps in the fridge for 2-4 days after being cooked. Taco meat that has been cooked with chicken will keep for three to four days while taco meat with beef may keep for five days.
Keeping cooked taco meat leftovers in an airtight container at a constant temperature of or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit is crucial, regardless of the type of meat involved.
Leftover taco meat that has been kept above 40 degrees Fahrenheit is probably not safe to eat, even if it has been sealed in an airtight container for a few days. Inevitably, warmer temperatures will cause bacteria to grow more quickly.
The risk of food poisoning that such a leftover would hold cannot be decreased by cooking it, not even at high temperatures for extended periods of time.
Does Moldy Taco Meat Smell Bad?
Yes, in general, moldy meat will emit an unpleasant odor. It smells bad to us specifically because the meat could make us sick, so the body has developed an internal “do not eat” signal in response to the smell created by bacteria.
Even if the meat appears to still be in date, it is no longer safe to eat if you take it out of the fridge and notice that it smells bad. Mold flecks on the surface, a slimy texture, and discoloration are additional indications that meat has gone bad. Taco meat should be light pink when it is raw and golden brown when it is cooked.
Even though you shouldn’t eat spoiled meat to see if it is safe, it frequently tastes bad. Typically, a bad odor and discoloration should be enough to alert you that the meat is unsafe and unfit for consumption.
Never taste raw meat to see if it’s safe to eat. Even when it’s fresh, raw meat shouldn’t be consumed because it can be dangerously contaminated with mold. Don’t take the chance because food poisoning can, in severe cases, result in hospitalization. When in doubt, discard any meat that may have gone bad and adhere to strict food safety regulations.
Should I Throw Away Moldy Taco Meat?
Those who wish to continue enjoying cooked taco meat should check it for changes in flavor, texture, and color even if it has only been kept for 24 hours.
No matter how long the taco meat has been refrigerated has been, if there are any indications of mold, you should discard the entire container.
The mold spores are still present even if you can’t see mold growing throughout the meat container.
Therefore, it is useless to try to cut out the mold to salvage the “good” parts.
A moldy container of leftovers contains nothing edible and is therefore dangerous to your health if you try to eat it.
It is best to discard and replace any meat that molds before it has reached its expiration date or expected freshness date.
Can I Cook Raw Taco Meat After the Expiration Date?
Typically, chicken taco meat should last until its “best by” date and within a couple of days of its “sell by” date.
The sooner after purchase, however, the fresher the raw chicken meat will always be.
By waiting until the last day of the raw chicken’s “best by” date, consumers risk discovering that their chicken is no longer usable.
When using raw chicken in tacos, be aware of any changes in texture, color, and smell.
Even if the chicken has been stored properly, it may still expire sooner than anticipated. Meat for tacos made from raw chicken should be pink and odorless in general.
Ground chicken keeps well in the freezer for 3–4 months, but whole, raw chicken cuts like chicken breasts can keep for up to a year.
Uncooked beef for tacos, whether ground or cut into steaks, usually keeps well in the refrigerator for two to three days.
However, it is always best to refer to the “best by” or “sell by” date as a guideline for freshness.
The meat should last up to a year in some cases when it is frozen uncooked, according to experts.
The beef cut plays a significant role. As usual, before deciding to use frozen meat to make tacos, check it for changes in smell, feel, and appearance.
FAQs
Is It OK to Eat Cooked Ground Beef After 5 Days?
Following refrigeration (40°F or less), the USDA advises consuming cooked beef within 3 to 4 days. Refrigeration slows but does not halt bacterial growth. The USDA recommends using cooked leftovers within 3 to 4 days. Cold temperatures, like those found in refrigerators, are ideal for the growth of bacteria that cause food to spoil.
Is It OK to Eat Cooked Meat After 7 Days?
For three to four days, leftovers can be kept in the fridge. Make sure you consume them before that time. The risk of food poisoning increases after that. Put leftovers in the freezer as soon as you decide you won’t eat them within four days.
Is It Safe to Consume Chili After 5 Days?
Chili that has been cooked and properly stored will last 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. Chili that has been cooked and thawed in the fridge can be kept for an additional three to four days before being heated; chili that has been thawed in the microwave or in cold water needs to be consumed right away.
Is It OK to Eat Cooked Ground Turkey After 5 Days?
Following chilling (to a temperature of no more than 40°F), the USDA advises using cooked turkey within 3 to 4 days. Never leave leftovers out in the open.
Final Words
In an airtight container, taco meat typically keeps for 2-4 days in the refrigerator and for up to a year in the freezer.
In order to prevent food poisoning, people who consume taco meat after storing it as leftovers should watch out for signs of expiration or hazards in the meat, such as changes in the appearance, feel, or smell of the meat.
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