Can You Eat Meat 2 Days After The Use-by Date?

Can you eat meat 2 days after the use-by date?

By TheWholePortion

Page last updated: 03/22/2023 | Next review date: 03/22/2025

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In this brief guide, we are going to answer the question “can you eat meat 2 days after the use-by date” with an in-depth analysis of whether or not you can eat meat that is past the use-by date.

Can you eat meat 2 days after the use-by date?

According to USDA, you should consume your meat before the use-by date but whether or not you are going to eat a properly stored meat (stored at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit the whole time) that is 2 days past the use-by date mainly depends upon your decision (you should do a sensory evaluation of meat).

Moreover when in doubt, it is better to just discard the old meat because no one wants to eat some old meat at the expense of their health.

Certain indicators point out bad meat, therefore you should consider the color, texture, and smell of your meat to reach a final verdict whether it is still suitable to consume or if it has gone bad.

Color

If you can notice that the color of the meat has changed to grey-green then it is the indication that your meat is past its prime time.

In the case of the packaged meat, if you notice that the color of the meat has turned brown then it is an indication of bad meat and you should discard it.

On the other hand when it comes to fresh fish, then it is bright in color, so if you notice that your fish fillets are dull in appearance then it is an indication that your fish is past its prime time.

Texture

If you feel something slimy or gooey while touching the meat then it means that your meat has gone bad and it is better to discard it.

But keep one thing in mind that rinsing the meat won’t help you in this scenario as you won’t be able to get rid of the bacteria. Rather rinsing the bacteria-laden meat will put you at risk of cross-contamination as the bacteria will spread in the utensils and other food items that will come in contact with the water from the meat that has gone bad.

It is worth mentioning that you should wash your hands thoroughly after touching the bacteria-laden meat or else the bacteria will transfer from your hands to any other thing that comes in contact with your hands.

Smell

If you smell something acidic or sour while taking a sniff test of your meat then it means that your meat has gone bad and you should discard it.

Thus, you should consider the points discussed above while deciding whether or not you are going to devour meat that is 2 days past the use-by date.

It is worth mentioning that when it comes to beef or lamb, they stay good for more time as compared to the ground meat provided that they are stored properly. On the other hand, when it comes to seafood, then it is better to eat it before the use-by date as the consumption of old seafood is mostly associated with shellfish poisoning.

Moreover, the way you have stored your meat also impacts the shelf life of the meat.

For instance, if your meat was stored for more than 2 hours at room temperature (or more than 1 hour if the temperature is above 90 degrees Fahrenheit) then it is better to discard it as bacteria grow best at 40 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit and there are chances of your meat to be already bacteria-laden in this case.

It is worth mentioning that when it comes to the use-by date then you can use the meat that is past this date provided that it was already stored properly in the freezer (before the use-by date).

The cold temperature of the freezer halts the bacterial growth on the meat, thereby preserving its quality for quite a long time.

Health implications of eating bad meat

The most common case that you can see regarding the consumption of bad meat is the incidence of food poisoning.

Meat is a highly perishable food commodity and can have E.coli, Salmonella, Enterobacteriaceae, Lactobacillus spp., Leuconostoc spp., Pseudomonas spp., Shewanella putrefaciens, or Staphylococcus, etc. present in it which can cause food poisoning which is characterized by abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever. In the case of devouring raw or undercooked fish, you can also suffer from anisakiasis. Moreover, in case of eating bad prawns, shrimps, etc. you can also suffer from shellfish poisoning.

Diarrhea is an indication of the body that a certain obnoxious agent has entered it. So consumption of bad meat or bacteria-laden meat often causes diarrhea.

Food poisoning after consuming bad meat is characterized by abdominal pain. Abdominal pain is also accompanied by vomiting and nausea in most cases.

If you have consumed meat that has microbial growth in it then you will experience nausea and vomiting which is the natural defense of the body to get rid of the unwanted harmful substance that has entered the body.

Consuming meat that has gone bad will also raise your body temperature and you can experience fever which is the natural defense mechanism of your body and is the indicator that something is off with your body.

Therefore you should immediately take medical help and try to drink as much water as possible so that while the body is getting rid of the toxins in form of diarrhea and vomiting, the water that you drink will protect your body against dehydration that vomiting can otherwise result in.

Conclusion

In this brief guide, we answered the question “can you eat meat 2 days after the use-by date” with an in-depth analysis of whether or not you can eat meat that is past the use-by date.