Of course, all foods last for a shorter period of time if they are not stored properly. But remember that hamburger, like a lot of other proteins, usually has a sell by date and not an expiration date. So, you may safely use ground meats to compliment your favorite meals even after the sell by date has lapsed but please enjoy them before their eat by date.

How to tell if Hamburg is bad, rotten or spoiled?

Practicing proper hygiene and food safety techniques will help prevent foodborne illness.

Although not a perfect test, your senses are usually the most reliable instruments to tell if your hamburger has gone bad. A common trait of bad hamburger is a change in color from a bright red to a dull brown (or grey) color. The hamburger will change color from the inside out, so if it is brown inside it is still safe to cook - but should be cooked thoroughly. If it is brown everywhere, it will soon be nasty and begin to also smell sour and be unhealthy to consume. To tell if hamburger in your freezer has been there too long, you will see freezer burn starting to appear on the hamburger. Freezer burn appears in dull white patches (slightly different looking than regular ice) which are in the actual hamburger. If you see a few of these spots, they can be cut off the hamburger plus about an inch of the surrounding area. These usually happen if there was a cut in your plastic wrap. But if you see more than a few spots, it is best to throw out the hamburger.

There are, of course, certain health risks associated with spoiled foods so always remember to practice food safety and enjoy your foods before their shelf life has expired!

How to store Hamburg to extend its shelf life?

You can help hamburger keep fresh longer by storing it in your refrigerator immediately after use. Once prepared, hamburger should be stored in a tightly closed container to keep out moisture and other contaminants. For a long-term option, you can freeze your hamburger while preserving its taste if you use a freezer safe container.

Some benefits of proper food storage include eating healthier, cutting food costs and helping the environment by avoiding waste.

Interesting facts about Hamburg:

How long is Hamburg good for when prepared in a dish?

How long does hamburger last? That depends. How long does bread last? In general, hamburger lasts only as long as the quickest expiring ingredient in the recipe.

What are our shelf life resources?

In determining how long Hamburg lasts, our content incorporates research from multiple resources, including the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Food & Drug Administration. In addition, we scoured the web for informative articles and reports related to food safety, food storage and the shelf life of Hamburg.

*An important note about expiration dates...

Although the Hamburg shelf life information on Eat By Date is generally reliable, please remember that individual cases will vary and that our advice should only be taken as an opinion and not a replacement for your health care professional. Please eat responsibly!