How Long Is Cooked Ground Beef Safe To Eat?

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Ground beef can be something easy to keep in the fridge or freezer for whenever you're ready to make dinner. There are some ground beef myths (almost) everyone believes — like it's only good for burgers, or you shouldn't season it until it's already cooked. But once you do cook it, whether in burger form or as a sauté for taco fillings, or something similar, just how long is cooked ground beef safe to eat?

The USDA recommends eating cooked beef (of any kind) within three to four days when kept in the fridge at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below. Between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit, bacteria can grow more quickly — although even at a low temperature, bacteria can still infect your beef, so be sure to eat it as soon as possible. Another possibility is to freeze your cooked beef to keep it safe for longer. While it may be totally fine to eat for many months, for ideal flavor, the USDA says frozen cooked beef is best when eaten within two to three months. And you may have been freezing ground beef wrong your whole life. Sure, it will last in an airtight container or freezer bag for a long haul. But you also may want to portion it out in separate bags or containers, so it will thaw faster and be ready to cook more quickly.

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First, you'll want to store your ground beef in the fridge shortly after cooking it. It's best to let it cool to room temperature, so there isn't too much condensation from steam trapped in your airtight bag or container. Don't leave it out for more than two hours, or the excess heat will encourage bacterial growth. To reheat cooked ground beef, if it's from the freezer, let it thaw overnight in the fridge. Otherwise, you can just add a little oil and/or broth to give it some extra moisture and heat it in a pan over medium heat on the stove. Even whole refrigerated hamburgers can be chopped up and turned into nachos or a super delicious grilled cheese. Just make sure the meat is heated through when you cook it.

And to know when your cooked ground beef is perfectly okay to eat, much like unsafe raw ground beef, your nose should be the first check. Does it have a sour smell? Chuck it. That probably means that there is bacteria present. Is it slimy or sticky? Throw it out. Even if it looks okay but is completely dried out, you probably need to throw it in the trash (or compost). But if it's stored properly and you take it out of the fridge within a few days, your cooked ground beef should be perfectly safe to eat. Just check it before you reheat it.