What determines the shelf life of meat and how long is it depending on its type?

What is the shelf life?

Reference. Distinctive concepts of expiration dates are prescribed in GOST R-51074-2003. This definition means a set period of time during which a meat product does not lose its consumer qualities and can be used for food while maintaining all its qualities (taste, consistency and aroma).

According to the Resolution No. 720 of June 16, 1997 in force in the Russian Federation, the manufacturer is obliged to indicate the shelf life of the product on the packaging and in the accompanying documentation. The shelf life begins from the time of preparation (slaughter) of livestock. If there are no expiration date markings, the product is considered unfit for use.

Terms, conditions and storage rules

The product must have a uniform color and a pleasant aroma. If the smell is musty or pungent, the meat is not fresh.

How long can fresh meat be stored in the refrigerator?

1. If the product is packaged in polyethylene, at temperatures from 0 to +5°C it remains fresh for 2-4 days.
2. Cooled food is stored at a temperature of 0 to +2°C for 1-3 days. Chicken – up to 5 days.
3. The shelf life of the frozen product is 12 months.

Marking according to GOST

According to current regulations, meat products are allowed to be consumed only with a veterinary stamp. And also with accompanying documentation confirming the veterinary inspection.

It is strictly forbidden to accept meat with only one veterinary certificate and no mark.

The marking represents complete information about this product and may contain signs, inscriptions, drawings, symbols and other designations. Labeling is applied to consumer packaging in accordance with current standards (Article 4, clause 4.1 of the technical regulations TR CU 022/2011). Consumer labeling of meat products must contain:

1. Name of the product type.
2. Product composition.
3. Quantity of goods presented.
4. Date of manufacture of meat products.
5. Best before date.
6. Storage conditions for the semi-finished product (with closed and opened packaging). They are installed in accordance with GOST R-51074-2003 and the rules of the Customs Union.
7. Location, name of the manufacturer and his contacts.
8. Recommendations for use or existing restrictions on preparation.
9. Nutritional value indicators.
10. Information about additional ingredients included in the composition (GMOs, dyes, preservatives).

What determines the suitability of a product by category: tables

Attention! Quality production and safe use are achieved only through careful adherence to all recommended principles of product storage.

The meat industry operates in accordance with established regulatory documents:

1. Technical Regulations of the Customs Union 021/2011 “On the safety of food products” dated December 9, 2011 No. 880.
2. Technical Regulations of the Customs Union “On the safety of meat and meat products” 034/2013 dated 10/09/2013 No. 68.

And how long frozen meat or semi-finished meat products will be stored in the refrigerator after defrosting, in vacuum or regular packaging, will be clearly shown in the tables.

Doubles

Meat is considered fresh for 1.5 hours from the moment of slaughter. The temperature of the depth of the muscle layer of this type of meat product ranges from +25⁰С and differs slightly in different parts of the carcass.

Chilled

Important! Chilled meat is obtained after cutting the meat carcass and bringing it to the temperature of the muscle layer from 0⁰С to +4⁰С in refrigeration units.

The surface of the chilled meat has a dried crust, and the muscle layer is elastic.

Frozen

Frozen meat is a product that has gone through the freezing stage, as a result of which the temperature of the muscle layer does not exceed -8⁰C. This meat has a longer shelf life, since in frozen products the development of pathogenic microflora is maximally inhibited.

Pickled

Attention! The shelf life of marinated meat is greatly influenced by the ingredients used during the marinating process.

For example, the use of onions, spices and garlic extends the shelf life of the product by 2-3 days due to the ability of the components to kill microorganisms.

The use of vacuum packaging increases the shelf life of meat products by 2-3 times.

How long does fried meat last in the refrigerator?

The shelf life of fried food depends on the following important factors:

• original freshness of the product;
• type of meat;
• use of spices and marinade;
• degree of doneness;
• storage conditions.

It is allowed to store meat products in airtight packaging. The shelf life, without harm to health, is from 2 to 4 days. The temperature regime must be observed within the range from +2 to +4 ºС.

Storage in practice differs slightly from the standards recommended by SanPiN. According to the rules, meat fried in large pieces is stored in the cold for only two days, fried liver - for a day, cutlets and other chopped products - for 12 hours, rabbit and poultry are allowed to be stored for 48 hours.

How to store at home?

Many citizens like to stock up on meat for future use. But not everyone knows the timing and proper storage of such products.

How and for how long can you keep pork, beef and semi-finished meat products in the freezer?

Before storing meat for long-term storage, it needs to be prepared. Meat products are placed in places with the lowest temperature (it is recommended to activate the “Freeze” mode 4-5 hours before placing meat products there).

Reference. There is no need to rinse meat before storing it in the freezer - this procedure reduces shelf life.

The only thing that should be done is to sort through the meat product and cut off the fat from the muscle fibers (the fat layer is stored less and can spoil the main part). It is recommended to keep the meat in the refrigerator for 3-5 hours before placing it in the freezer. The colder the product, the better for freezing.

To save freezer space, cut large pieces of meat into several small ones. Before directly storing meat for freezing, it should be wrapped in parchment or cling film. Then the individual pieces are packaged in plastic bags (it is better to use sealed vacuum packaging).

The pieces should be placed tightly - this will help maintain a low temperature. Label each bag with the date it was frozen.

There are general storage periods for semi-finished meat products in a home freezer according to SanPin. This:

• pork and beef: up to a year;
• bird carcasses, game and rabbit meat: up to 7-8 months;
• goulash: up to 4-5 months;
• minced meat: 3-4 months;
• sausages: up to 2-3 months.

In the following video you can see how to properly prepare meat for storage in the freezer:

How long can defrosted food last in the refrigerator?

If, for technical reasons, frozen meat is defrosted in the refrigerator itself, it is recommended to store it for up to 24 hours during subsequent freezing. But remember that the longer such a product is stored, the more juice it loses.

Important! If meat has been defrosted at room temperature (or in the microwave), it can no longer be frozen. It should be prepared without delay, within the next 2 hours.

How long does it last without freezing?

If you decide to cook chilled meat products within the next 2 days, you can do without freezing during storage.

• Meat (beef and lamb) should be kept at a temperature range from 0⁰С to -3⁰С for 2 days.
• Fresh poultry lasts longer – up to 5 days.
• Raw pork also retains its quality longer; it can be stored for up to 4-5 days, and at -3⁰C for up to 3 weeks.
• Minced meat can be stored for 10-12 hours, other offal should be consumed within 6 hours of such storage.

Boneless meat lasts longer in the refrigerator, and the shelf life of whole pieces of meat increases.

To extend the storage period, you should use the following tips:

• store products in a food container with a tightly closed lid on the top shelf of the refrigerator;
• raw meat should be kept separate from other foods;
• It is undesirable to use plastic bags - the meat needs access to air;
• To extend storage time, it is recommended to treat meat pieces with vinegar (soak a natural cloth in vinegar and wrap the meat in it), this method helps to increase shelf life by 2-3 days.

How long does boiled and fried food last?

Reference. Boiled and fried pieces of meat can be stored for no more than 2 days in the refrigerator, in the freezer - up to a month.

But jellied meat can be stored for about a week without losing its taste and usefulness. But, if no salt was used in its production, the jellied meat can only be stored for up to 5 days.

Refrigerated storage conditions

To prevent meat from absorbing foreign odors, it should be kept in an airtight container. If you do not have a tight lid for containers, then it is acceptable to use foil or cling film. After two days, it is recommended to overcook or stew the product.

It is worth remembering that only cooled pieces of meat can be placed in the refrigerator. It is better to place the container in the coldest zone (most often this is the bottom shelf). Be sure to warm the food well before eating. There is no need to re-store the dish. With each heating, all the beneficial and taste qualities are lost.

What happens to the product over time?

Meat is a perishable product. Therefore, at the first sign of spoilage of this product, it is strictly prohibited to eat it. There are many criteria that help determine the freshness of meat products. Three of them are the main and simplest:

1. Appearance. Good meat has a dark brown or bright pink color. There should be no inclusions of other shades. The only exceptions are light fat layers. If the fat has acquired a gray or red color, this piece is already spoiled. The same applies to the color of bones/joints - in fresh meat they are always white, a different shade indicates spoilage of the product.
2. Smell. Know that fresh and excellent quality meat has practically no smell; only a subtle milky smell may be present. If other flavors are present, it is better to avoid consuming meat.
3. Consistency. A good meat product is elastic and dense to the touch. If, when pressing with a finger, a dent forms on the meat surface and does not disappear for a long time, the meat has spoiled. The same is true for the stickiness and slipperiness of a piece of meat.

In the following video you can see how to choose fresh meat:

Optimal temperature

Maintaining temperature conditions allows you to preserve food for a long time. Meat storage temperature can vary within different limits. A whole piece can be left on the shelf at t:

• 4-7 degrees Celsius – for 1-2 days;
• 0-4 degrees Celsius – for 3 days;
• -2-0 degrees – for 4 days.

Goulash in marinade should be stored at a temperature of 0-+3 degrees. Lemon juice, a lot of spices and salt are added to the marinade. All these components help preserve goulash at the right temperature for a long time. The pulp can also be marinated with onions and left in the refrigerator for a couple of days.

A freezer is a device with air circulation. This is the optimal technique for preserving the tenderloin. In the chamber, poultry, beef and pork retain all their vitamins and amino acids and do not lose their taste and properties. The freezer freezes the product very quickly. The product should be divided into portions before putting it in the freezer. For long-term storage in the refrigerator, you can simply freeze the whole piece.

Beef

The variety has a uniform red tint. The shelf life of fresh beef can be long:

• in the freezer – up to 12 months;
• in polyethylene – 4 days;
• in marinade solution – 7 days.

How to store meat in the refrigerator without errors? Following the rules allows you to keep food fit for consumption. You need to know how long beef can be stored in the refrigerator. The tenderloin is placed in plastic and stored on the refrigerator shelf for three days.

Experts recommend pre-soaking the beef in a strong saline solution. This measure will increase shelf life. Afterwards, the tenderloin is placed in a slightly covered bowl on the shelf of the chamber. The tenderloin is also soaked in a weak vinegar solution, lemon juice, and mustard. Beef coated with salt and spices will perfectly retain its taste and acquire an appetizing aroma.

Meat as a product is nutritious and high in calories, rich in proteins and amino acids, which are beneficial for the human body. In order for food to retain its nutritional value, you need to know how long fresh meat can be stored in the refrigerator. Suitability depends on the t indicator and conditions. Knowing how to keep meat fresh, you can please your household with delicious dishes.

Pork

How many days can you store raw pork meat in a refrigerator? This variety can be too fatty. It is distinguished by a pinkish tint of flesh and a pleasant sweetish taste. It is important to know how long pork can be stored in the refrigerator. Food is perishable, so there is no need to make mistakes in storing refrigerated meat.

How long does fresh pork last in the refrigerator? Without freezing, goulash from it is left only for 2-3 days. The tenderloin is generously coated with seasonings and salt. The piece can be left whole on the refrigerator shelf for 2-3 days. You can coat the tenderloin well with garlic, onion, mustard and even red wine.

Shelf life of cooked cooked meat in the refrigerator