How long?

Rossy2692

Hi all, I bought a load of meat from my butchers on Saturday and cooked the mince and the shin beef yesterday, how long will these be ok in the fridge?

heavenleigh

I go by 3-5 days depending on how reliant and cold your fridge is.
http://www.foodsafety.gov/keep/charts/storagetimes.html

Of course i don't stick to it if it looks and smells ok i'm on day 3 of leftover chinese takeaway including rice for breakfast, made it to 35 without ever having food poisoning, but the above site has the guidelines x

Rossy2692

Awww thanks!

MadelinesMum

Hi, good question Rossy. I was also wondering how long meat purchased from a butchers would keep. I was going to buy on a Monday, hoping the meat would be OK to use for the whole week - does butchers stuff have a use by date on it or is it best to freeze the things I'm not going to use immediately. And also, can I freeze it (I know some SM stuff has been frozen before so they tell you not to refreeze!)? Thanks x

jackyann

I would normally say 3 days. I extend by marinading either in wine (not very MS!) or oil & vinegar.
I would freeze (if you can) what you are not going to use within 3 days.

I invested in a vacuum packer some years ago. Vacuum packing extends the life of food in the fridge and prevents "freezer burn" in the freezer. I use it for cheese and cooked meats / pies as well. I paid just over £100 about 10 years ago for mine and would say it was worth it as I was feeding a large family (just looked on amazon and there is a similar one for £65)
Having said that, I usually find these days that butchers will vacuum pack meat if you ask them, and at our local farmers' markets, it is sold already vacuum packed.

suki1964

MadelinesMum wrote: »

Hi, good question Rossy. I was also wondering how long meat purchased from a butchers would keep. I was going to buy on a Monday, hoping the meat would be OK to use for the whole week - does butchers stuff have a use by date on it or is it best to freeze the things I'm not going to use immediately. And also, can I freeze it (I know some SM stuff has been frozen before so they tell you not to refreeze!)? Thanks x

Animals do not have a use by date stamped on their bums as they leave the abattoir. Use by dates are made up by the supermarkets to make you throw away good meat just to go and buy more.

Ask your butcher for advice, if he is a butcher then he knows how old the meat is. If he's just a meat shop then he can look at the sell by date for you

Other wise, when you get home, remove the meat from the plastic bag on put on a deep plate so no blood drips anywhere else in the fridge. Cover with film or grease proof paper. Change the plate regularly as its the blood escaping which stinks before the meat goes off.

Fresh meat should easily last 5 days, more if the fridge temp is low and consistent. Butchers don't often sell frozen meat, but meat shops do.