The short answer: Raw ground beef keeps only 1 to 2 days in the fridge, or 3 to 4 months in the freezer. Cooked ground beef keeps 3 to 4 days.
How long ground beef lasts
- Raw, fridge: 1 to 2 days
- Raw, freezer: 3 to 4 months for best quality
- Cooked, fridge: 3 to 4 days
- Cooked, freezer: 2 to 6 months
How to tell ground beef has gone off
- A sour or sulfur smell
- A slimy or tacky surface
- Brown or grey colour all the way through (browning on the surface alone can just be air)
How to make it last longer
- Freeze it flat in a bag so it thaws quickly.
- Buy it last and get it into the fridge within an hour or two.
- Cook burgers and mince to 160°F (71°C).
Common questions
Why is ground beef brown inside?
Oxygen keeps the surface red, so the inside of a packet is often darker. That alone is not spoilage. A bad smell or slimy feel is.
Can you freeze ground beef in its tray?
You can for a short time, but wrap it again for long storage so it does not get freezer burn.
General guidance only. These times are for food bought fresh and kept at 40°F (4°C) in the fridge or 0°F (-18°C) in the freezer. Your own fridge, the packaging and the state of the food always come first, and when in doubt, throw it out. The official US chart is on FoodSafety.gov.
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