reassure me, use by today beef...

is76

I bought some whoopsied meat at S today.

Casserole beef, chicken liver, lamb mince and beef mince.

All about 1/2 price.:beer::beer:

Anyway about to make a nice beef, caulifllower and chickpea curry and notice the bottom on the beef is a little bit darker and not red. The use by date is today.

So reassure me, it will be okay? ?

Then I am going to make some chicken liver pate and freeze in ice cube trays...but thats probably another thread.

thriftlady_2

Dark meat is not a sign of deterioration. It'll be fine.

If red meat has been properly hung it shouldn't really be bright red at all but brown.

Supermarkets rarely hang their meat and when they do they trumpet the fact loudly on the package and charge you another few of quid for doing something any butcher does as a matter of course.

worbikeman

Dark meat is not 'off'. If it was bad you would know it as soon as you take the plastic off!! Give it a good old wash under the cold tap first, then chop and cook it straight away. Freeze straight away what you dont cook. I generally sear the meat in hot oil first - it tastes better (to me anyway).

motherhen2234

Its fine its just the blood de-oxygenating i.e. a fresh blood is bright red and as meat ages it goes darker. Meat isn't supposed to be bright red and in some cheaper meats they have been known to put dye in to make it look more "red". If it smells ok then just sealing the meat off in the pot and enjoy your curry!

Sealing the meat will keep the meat more tender and your curry might have a slightly darker apperance.

Jadek

It should definitely be okay, I've had beef like that before and used it fine. First time I found meat like this I asked my mum what she thought and she said it's just where the meat is drying out a bit, probably not the most accurate explanation but it reassured me and I haven't batted an eyelid at dark meat since.

LeeSouthEast

The darker it is, the tastier it is. My ex used to be a butcher and would completely ignore all use by dates on all meat. If it smelt ok, then it was ok. She didn't manage to kill me in 4 years (despite wanting to I'm sure).

is76

thanks all.

beef, cauliflower & bean curry on cooker (looks like 5 portions!)
chicken liver pate made and in freezer
3 portions of turnip/carrot mash made and in freezer
cauliflower soup made for tomorrow lunch
veg crudites! chopped for tomorrow lunch
eggs tomato & green bean spicy lunch made and eaten (yum!)

cook-a-thon over, dishwasher on!