Maintaining taste and nutritional value, or how many days can meat be stored in the refrigerator

Meat is a nutritious and satisfying product, a source of amino acids and protein. Proper storage on refrigerator shelves will help prolong its freshness and value without spoiling its taste.

The length of stay in the refrigerator directly depends on the temperature in the refrigeration device. Beef, chicken or pork - each of these meat products has a specific shelf life recommended.

We'll tell you later how long meat can be stored in the refrigerator.

Shelf life of raw

It is recommended to place fresh meat on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator, in the vegetable compartment. The appliance shelves should not contain:

• mold,
• leftover spoiled food,
• unpleasant odors.

Meat without bones has a longer shelf life than a similar product with bones. It is recommended to place large pieces on the refrigerator shelves - they stay fresh longer. The shelf life of meat will increase if it is kept separate from other products.

Chilled

Chilled meat is meat that was not subject to quick freezing. This product, unlike frozen, has better taste and greater nutritional value.

Chilled meat is obtained by cutting carcasses and storing them in refrigerators to the required temperatures.

The distinctive features of this product are the elastic muscles of the carcass and a slightly drying crust. Unlike frozen meat, chilled meat is not suitable for long-term storage.

Thawed

After defrosting, store beef, pork or poultry on refrigerator shelves necessary taking into account the type of product and the temperature inside the device. The lower its indicators, the longer the meat can be stored.

Meat should not be stored on refrigerator shelves for longer than the specified time. Over time, it begins to decompose, and pathogenic bacteria multiply in it. Also, a thawed product cannot be re-frozen.

How long defrosted meat can be stored in the refrigerator and without? this article.

How long can it be stored without freezing?

The duration of storage of fresh meat on refrigerator shelves depends on the type of product.

Beef

Can be stored on refrigerator shelves for up to 5 days at temperatures from 0 to + 3 C°. It is very important to pay attention to the packaging of the product. It is better to wrap steak or beef tenderloin in parchment. How long can you store beef in the refrigerator and other places, read here.

Pork

Pork carcass parts or tenderloin should be stored in the refrigerator, wrapped in foil. Such a package additionally needs to be wrapped in film or placed in a plastic bag.

In this package you need to make additional holes for air circulation. Meat product packaged in this way will remain fresh for up to 48 hours if stored no higher than +3 °C.

At temperatures from +4 to +7 °C, the storage duration does not exceed 24 hours. You can find out how long pork can be stored in the refrigerator, frozen and thawed. here.

Chicken

The bird must be gutted before being sent to the refrigerator.. Chicken can be sent to the refrigerator in portioned pieces, half carcasses or whole carcasses.

How long can you store fried chicken in the refrigerator? here, raw - Here.

Other

Other types of meat also require special storage conditions on refrigerator shelves.

Contents and shelf life of the finished product

The maximum storage time for heat-treated meat is 5-7 days.

The exact timing depends on the type meat:

1. Beef dishes can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 2 days at a temperature of 0 to +5 °C.
2. The shelf life of cooked chicken is 2 days at temperatures up to 4 °C. The smoked product can be stored for up to 7 days.
3. Cooked pork can remain on the refrigerator shelves for up to 2-3 days at temperatures up to +4 °C.

The stewed product will remain fresh in the refrigerator for 36 hours. It is recommended to leave boiled meat in the broth in which it was cooked. In this form, the product can remain on the refrigerator shelf for 48-76 hours. The fried dish is best consumed within 24 hours. Baked meat products can be stored for up to 2 days.

Cooked food will stay fresh longer in a closed container.. Plastic containers, as well as enamel or ceramic dishes, are suitable for this purpose.

The fried dish can be stored on the refrigerator shelves in a loosely closed container. This way, moisture will not linger on the product, air will flow freely, but the product will not weather. How long can boiled meat be stored in the refrigerator and without? this article, how long baked, fried, boiled, stewed, smoked meat is stored in the refrigerator and without - this.

Signs of a spoiled product

The most important sign that indicates that meat is starting to spoil is an unpleasant odor. It comes from any product whose expiration date has expired, be it minced meat, chicken carcass or pork pulp.

Also for meat spoilage Other signs also indicate:

1. Slimy, slippery surface. Fresh meat has a slightly moist cut and the hand does not stick to the product when touched.
2. Cloudy juice. When pressing on fresh meat, a pinkish translucent liquid is released from it.
3. Presence of stains. Yellow or gray streaks indicate that the product is spoiling or has already spoiled. A fresh piece has a red or pinkish tint.
4. Suspicious shade of fat. Greenish, gray or yellow color indicates lack of first freshness. If a piece of goat or beef comes from an old animal, the fat will be creamy in color. Ideally, the layers of fat should be milky or white.
5. Pits that remain when touched. If you press fresh meat with your finger, it quickly restores its original shape.

Conclusion

Storing on refrigerator shelves allows the meat to remain fresh for several days. Specific deadlines depend on the type of product:

• cooled,
• defrosted,
• undergone heat treatment.

If all storage conditions are met, meat products in a refrigerator will retain their taste and nutritional value longer.