Safe Refrigerate Tips for Raw Meat
Thanks to the invention of the refrigerator, food can now be stored for longer without the fear of it getting spoiled. Raw meat, however, needs special care for refrigeration. Your fridge is not as cold as your freezer, so you cannot store meat there for an extended time. At the same time, following certain safety and storage tips for refrigerating food can extend the shelf life of raw meat and ensure that it is fresh and bacteria-free. Here are some tips for storing different kinds of meat in the fridge:
- Beef
Beef is a common delicacy and is available in different cuts in all stores. You can buy these and use them anytime you want to cook them. Irrespective of the type of cut you choose, beef stays fresh in a fridge for 3 to 5 days. Keep it in the lower racks of the fridge to prevent its juices from spilling on to the rest of your stored food, which could lead to the other food getting contaminated. - Pork
Pork shoulder, loins, belly, and chops are some popular cuts of pork that people buy for cooking, and all of them stay fresh for 3 to 5 days in the fridge when packed the right way. An important safety and storage tip for refrigerating food is to ensure the correct storage process. You can store raw meat in a sealed container or wrap it with plastic wrap or cling film to ensure that the meat is well-covered from moisture in the environment. - Poultry
Knowing the safety and storage tips for refrigerating food is also important when it comes to poultry meat. Meats like chicken, turkey, and duck do not last as long as beef and pork do when you refrigerate them. These stay fresh for a maximum of 1 or 2 days. If you are planning to buy a large quantity of chicken, you can cook and store it in the fridge as this extends its shelf life by 3 to 4 days, or you can freeze the raw pieces. - Seafood
Most types of seafood go stale very soon, so ensure that you cook and consume fish and lobsters right away if you want to enjoy them to the fullest. They can be stored in the refrigerator for a maximum of 1 to 2 days when you pack them correctly. Smoked fish, on the other hand, can last for up to 2 weeks if you follow the safety and storage tips for refrigerating seafood and pack it properly to prevent moisture from getting in contact with it. - Canned raw meat
The safety and storage tips for refrigerating food relax considerably when it comes to canned raw meat. Unopened canned meat, when manufactured and packed right, can last for 2 to 4 years in the fridge. After opening the can, however, bacteria quickly start growing, so you will need to treat this as raw meat and consume it within a few days.
Consuming spoiled meat can lead to a variety of health issues, so following the safety and storage tips for refrigerating foods correctly is essential.