How to tell if raw beef has gone bad or spoiled?

Question

Trying to recreate my mother's quick weeknight stew, but this supermarket steak smells slightly sour. How can I be certan if it has spoiled?

Answer 1

Hello Patrick. When it comes to raw beef, your senses are your best guide, and a sour smell is one of the most definitive signs that meat has begun to spoil. Fresh raw beef typically has a very neutral or faintly metallic scent. If you are picking up an acidic, tangy, vinegar-like, or distinctly sour odor, it means spoilage bacteria have already started breaking down the proteins.

To be certain, you can evaluate two other key characteristics: texture and appearance.

First, check the texture. Fresh beef should feel firm and naturally moist. If the steak feels sticky, unusually tacky, or has a slippery, slimy film on the surface, that is a clear sign of bacterial growth.

Second, inspect the color. While a purplish-red or even slightly brownish-gray interior can simply be the result of oxidation and a lack of oxygen contact, dull grayish-green patches or an overall faded, lackluster hue paired with that sour odor confirm spoilage.

I strongly recommend discarding the steak rather than using it in your stew. Simmering or boiling will kill active bacteria, but it will not eliminate the heat-stable toxins they leave behind. When in doubt, it is always safest to discard it.

Answer 2

a sour smell is a clear sign of spoilage. inspect the meat by checking three things. first, smell it for any tangy or vinegar scent. second, touch the surface to see if it feels slimy or unusually sticky. third, look for dull gray or greenish discoloration. cooking in a stew will not destry the heat resistant toxins produced by bacteria, so you must throw it away.