What is the shelf life of the product?
Reference. The general definition of the shelf life of food products, including minced meat, is given in paragraph 4 of Art. 5 Federal Law of the Russian Federation “On the Protection of Consumer Rights”.
Thus, in accordance with this standard, this period means the period of time during which the product remains suitable for human consumption. After the allotted period of time, the semi-finished meat product cannot be used for its intended purpose.
In general, the expiration date guarantees that during the allotted period, the consumer can eat minced meat and at the same time it will not harm his health (will not cause poisoning).
It is worth noting that the law obliges manufacturers to set expiration dates for food products. This is written in paragraph 4 of Art. 5 of the law mentioned above.
At the same time, a specific list of products in respect of which this rule must be observed has been approved (Government Decree No. 720 of June 16, 1997). Minced meat is also included in this list and belongs to the line “Semi-finished meat and culinary products” (code – 92 1400).
The shelf life of minced meat begins to count from the moment it is manufactured. In this case, the date of slaughter of the animal from which it was prepared is taken into account.
Extending the shelf life of fresh meat and poultry products
Extending the shelf life of fresh meat and poultry products This website requires certain cookies to function and uses other cookies to improve your experience. When you visit this website, certain cookies are already set, which you can delete or block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to our use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to find out more. This website uses cookies By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Find out more This website requires certain cookies to function and uses other cookies to give you the best experience. When you visit this website, certain cookies are already set, which you can delete or block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to our use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to find out more. .
Marking
The current regulatory and legal system provides for a separate standard containing requirements for the quality, safety, labeling and packaging of minced meat. We are talking about GOST R 55365-2012. So, in accordance with sub. 5.4.1 clause 5.4 “Labelling” of the above GOST, each unit of packaged products (minced meat) must be labeled containing the following information:
- date of production and packaging (if the minced meat is chilled, then the hour of its preparation is also indicated);
- storage conditions;
- best before date;
- other information.
The manufacturer has the right to choose the place where basic information about the production of minced meat will be reflected. The following options are possible:
- applying information to a special place on the marked shell;
- indication of the required data on the label;
- reflection of information on a receipt tape with a hot-melt adhesive layer.
The above options for indicating the expiration dates of minced meat are more suitable for a product in factory packaging.
Attention! If the semi-finished product is weighed, then this information must be printed on the containers in which it is placed (for example, trays, containers, etc.).
Meat and dairy production - our world in data
Environmental footprints, such as those defined as land use requirements or greenhouse gas emissions per unit mass, protein, or energy content of food, are calculated using a process called life cycle analysis (LCA). ) . LCA methods are used to try to fully capture all environmental impacts along the entire value chain, and may include impacts before and after production.
Standard food footprints—and those referenced in this article—often set boundary conditions called “cradle to farm gate,” meaning that all impacts from pre-production and on-farm activities are considered. 3
This includes food chain resources such as fertilizer production and application, seed production, on-farm energy use, feed production, manure production (if used as fertilizer), manure management, farm infrastructure construction.
Life cycle analysis (LCA) attempts to fully account for all such inputs required for food production. For example, an LCA of greenhouse gas emissions for beef could include: emissions from fertilizer production and applications used to produce animal feed; on-farm energy consumption associated with tillage, irrigation (if necessary), transport of feed from field to livestock plot and enteric fermentation emissions produced from cattle, as well as barn/housing energy requirements. Then summing the emissions associated with each stage , and dividing them by the total production (in kilograms of meat, protein units or kilocalories), we can calculate the total emissions per unit mass/protein/kilocalorie.
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How long can semi-finished products be stored frozen or otherwise?
It is worth noting that there is no single expiration date for minced meat. The duration of this period of time is influenced by many factors, namely:
- freezing method (chilled, frozen or frozen);
- type of meat used to prepare minced meat (chicken, beef, pork);
- presence/absence of additives;
- packaging method (vacuum, conventional or modified atmosphere).
Pork and beef in packaging
The shelf life and storage procedure for these varieties of minced meat are prescribed in GOST R 55365-2012. According to this document, semi-finished products made from such meat have the following designations:
- category "A" - minced beef;
- category "B" - pork.
So, in accordance with Table No. 2, clause 8.4 of the above-mentioned GOST, minced meat, including pork and beef, has the following shelf life:
- Chilled (from 0 to 6 degrees) – placed in regular packaging without any additives can be stored for no more than a day (24 hours).
If acidity regulators are added to the minced meat, the shelf life will increase to 7 days. In addition, ground pork and beef can remain edible (without additives) for 7 days if these products are vacuum-packed. - Frozen (up to -18 degrees) – for this option there is a single storage period for minced meat, which is 90 days.
Important! Separately, it should be noted that for semi-finished meat products made for baby food, separate storage rules and expiration dates are provided. All these requirements are specified in GOST 33611-2015.
Thus, according to table No. 2, reflected in clause 7.5 of the above-mentioned regulatory act, slightly different expiration dates have been established for chilled minced meat for children.
This semi-finished product, packaged without the use of a modified atmosphere, can be stored at a temperature of 1.5-4 degrees for no more than 1 day (24 hours). At the same time, if the minced meat is placed in an MGS package, its shelf life will be 5 days.
Chicken in packaging
The shelf life of minced chicken is indicated in GOST 31936-2012. In accordance with Part 2, Clause 5.3.2, poultry meat, including chicken, must be stored for the following periods of time:
- chilled (0-2 degrees) – remains suitable for consumption for 1 day;
- frozen (up to -8 degrees) – the shelf life of such minced meat is no more than two months.
The mentioned GOST does not contain any information regarding the permissible storage time for minced chicken placed in vacuum packaging, as well as mixed with any additives. However, it can be assumed that in this case the shelf life will increase.
Reference. Additionally, it should be noted that minced chicken sold in retail outlets should not be confused with mechanically separated meat (GOST 31490-2012). This version of the semi-finished product is not intended for retail sale.
Meat produced by a trade or catering establishment
In general, for minced meat made from any other types of meat, the same expiration dates apply that are established for pork and beef according to GOST R 55365-2012. When producing minced meat, trade and catering establishments must follow certain rules for its storage, which are as follows:
- The finished semi-finished product in consumer packaging must be placed in special reusable boxes. They must be dry, clean, free from foreign odors and free from traces of mold.
These can be containers made of aluminum, corrugated cardboard and other materials that are officially recognized as safe for transporting and storing food products. - A certain temperature regime must also be observed - chilled minced meat should be stored at a temperature of 0-6 degrees, and frozen minced meat should not exceed -18 degrees.
If the shelf life of a semi-finished meat product has expired, representatives of retail outlets are required to do the following:
- remove expired goods from circulation;
- involve competent government authorities to conduct an examination of expired minced meat;
- Based on the results of this inspection, dispose of or destroy the product that is not intended for consumption.
This procedure is prescribed in the Federal Law of the Russian Federation “On the quality and safety of food products”.
Shelf life of different types of minced meat
Depending on the type of minced meat, the duration of its storage varies.
Chicken mince
Minced chicken can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months, and in the refrigerator for only up to 8 hours.
Ground turkey
Ground turkey can be stored for up to 12 hours when refrigerated and up to 90 days when frozen. Re-freezing is not recommended.
Minced pork
Pork product can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 12 hours, and in the freezer for up to 90 days. At room temperature, 60–120 minutes maximum.
Ground beef
Store at temperatures up to +6 °C for no more than 12 hours, at -18 °C for 3 months, at temperatures above 12 °C for 1–2 hours.
How long to store minced meat with onions
It is not recommended to store minced meat mixed with onions. It is better to add onions after defrosting. But if the products are already mixed, then the mixture can be stored in the refrigerator for 3 to 8 hours, and in the freezer for no more than 48 hours.
Minced fish
This product can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 6 hours. It should not be frozen. But if freezing is still necessary, then for no more than 1.5-2 months.
Shelf life of minced liver
At storage temperatures from -1 °C to +4 °C, minced liver can be stored for 14 days.
Shelf life of minced rabbit
In the refrigerator at a temperature of +5 °C, storage is permissible for up to 12 hours, and in the freezer for a maximum of 4 months.
How long does fried minced meat last?
You can store fried minced meat in the refrigerator for 36 hours, in the room for 6, and in the freezer for up to 60 days.
How should it be stored at home?
Attention! Not only shops and catering establishments must comply with the storage rules and expiration dates of meat products, including minced meat.
These requirements also apply to ordinary citizens, since their violation can lead to not the most pleasant consequences.
How many days to keep in the freezer, under what conditions?
Sometimes, when preparing dishes based on minced meat, situations arise when there is excess leftover. In this case, freezing is a reasonable solution. However, even this simple procedure must be done correctly. You need to listen to the following recommendations:
- It is better to divide a piece that is too large into portions so that, if necessary, you do not have to defrost all the minced meat.
- In order to speed up the defrosting process as much as possible in the future, the product should be placed in a bag and rolled out into a thin layer (up to 2 cm).
- Another option is to place the minced meat in ice cube trays. However, in this case, they must first be lined with cling film.
As mentioned above, you can store minced meat in the freezer for a period not exceeding 90 days. This rule is also relevant for freezing at home.
Below you can look at one of the ways to prepare for storing minced meat in the freezer:
How long should I keep the finished product in the refrigerator after defrosting?
Important! Thawed semi-finished meat products are stored in the refrigerator for the same amount of time as chilled ones, that is, no more than a day.
If necessary, it can be re-frozen, but this action is not recommended. The fact is that meat that has been repeatedly exposed to temperature changes significantly deteriorates in quality (color and taste change, a specific smell appears, and beneficial properties are lost).
How long can I put it in the refrigerator without freezing?
Shredded meat does not have to be frozen. However, in this case, its shelf life will be significantly reduced. Thus, chilled minced meat can be stored in the refrigerator for no longer than 1 day (24 hours) . In this case, you must adhere to the following recommendations:
- the product should be transferred to a clean, dry container (it is highly undesirable to leave it in a tied bag);
- It is better to cover the top with cling film. This will prevent the minced meat from chapping and spreading the smell to other products in the refrigerator;
- If onions were added to the semi-finished product, then it is better to immediately cook something from it or freeze it. Otherwise, minced meat with such an additive may spoil after just a few hours.
...and defrosted
The main rule for defrosting minced meat correctly is to do it as slowly as possible, transferring the package with the semi-finished product from the freezer to the refrigerator shelf, since positive temperatures promote the active growth of bacteria. If you need to “hurry up” the process, use alternative options. Frozen product packaging:
- immerse it in cold water - having previously placed it in a sealed bag;
- put it in the microwave - turn it on to a special defrost mode or to minimum power.
Do not use hot water or too powerful a microwave oven. The time that defrosted minced meat can remain in the refrigerator is identical to the shelf life of chilled minced meat. It should be cooked immediately after complete defrosting.
Chopped mushrooms and vegetables have their own peculiarity. An integral companion to their thawing is water, since these products themselves consist of 80-95% of it. After defrosting, the water is decanted or drained and only then begin to prepare the dish.
When frozen at home, up to half of the nutrients are lost. The remainder is enough to fuel the body during the winter months. But there is no talk of any benefit when re-freezing the product. In addition, this is fraught with the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms in the raw semi-finished product.
What happens to the product over time?
It should be remembered that over time, minced meat loses its main quality indicators, which manifests itself through the following signs:
- change in color (instead of bright red, the semi-finished product begins to acquire a dull brown or grayish tint);
- deterioration in taste (this is especially noticeable when the minced meat has been in the freezer for a long time);
- the appearance of an unpleasant odor;
- spoiled minced meat becomes sticky.
Defrosting the product
Defrosting time depends on the temperature in the freezer and the weight of the product. If the piece is large, then without additional devices in the refrigerator it can melt for up to 24 hours.
It is better to place the mass in a sealed bag or bowl, since after defrosting, water with blood remains. The melted mass should be used within 1-2 days.
Read more ► Shelf life of fish in the refrigerator: fresh, smoked, fried, salted
Some housewives leave the mixture at room temperature, then the time of use is reduced by 2-3 times. The dish must be prepared immediately after defrosting.
Is it possible to use a semi-finished product if the expiration date has expired?
Reference. While some products can be consumed after the expiration date, meat, including minced meat, definitely does not belong to this category.
If a semi-finished meat product has all the signs indicating that it has spoiled, it should under no circumstances be eaten. Otherwise, there is a chance of getting seriously poisoned with all the ensuing consequences in the form of:
- vomiting;
- weaknesses;
- intoxication of the body;
- disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, etc.
Thus, minced meat, like most other food products, has a strictly defined shelf life, during which its taste and quality characteristics are preserved. Not only manufacturers and retail outlets, but also ordinary citizens should adhere to recommendations regarding the storage of such semi-finished products.
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