Raw ground beef lasts 1 to 2 days in the fridge, according to the USDA, counted from the day you bring it home and kept at 40°F (4°C) or below. Once cooked, ground beef keeps 3 to 4 days in the fridge. If you will not use it within those windows, freeze it.
Ground beef has one of the shortest fridge lives of any meat, shorter than steaks or roasts. This guide explains why, what the sell-by date really means, how to store raw and cooked ground beef and how to tell when it has gone bad.
Ground Beef Storage Times
| Ground beef | Refrigerator, 40°F (4°C) | Freezer, 0°F (-18°C) |
|---|---|---|
| Raw ground beef | 1 to 2 days | 3 to 4 months |
| Raw ground beef, thawed in the fridge | 1 to 2 days after thawing | Can be refrozen in this window |
| Raw hamburger patties | 1 to 2 days | 3 to 4 months |
| Cooked ground beef (taco meat, browned beef) | 3 to 4 days | 2 to 3 months |
| Dishes with cooked ground beef (chili, meat sauce, meatloaf) | 3 to 4 days | 2 to 3 months |
Times come from USDA FSIS and the USDA FoodKeeper. Freezer times are for best quality. Ground beef kept frozen at 0°F (-18°C) stays safe indefinitely, but it slowly loses flavor and texture.
Why Ground Beef Spoils Faster Than Steak
A steak or roast keeps 3 to 5 days in the fridge, while ground beef keeps only 1 to 2. The difference is grinding.
On a whole cut, bacteria mostly sit on the surface. Grinding mixes that surface throughout the meat and creates far more surface area exposed to air and handling. It also means bacteria end up inside the meat, not just outside, which is why USDA recommends cooking ground beef to an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C), while whole cuts can be cooked to 145°F (63°C) with a rest time.
The same short window applies to other ground meats, including ground pork, lamb, chicken and turkey.
Ground Beef and the Sell-By Date
The sell-by date is for the store, not your kitchen. USDA FSIS explains that a sell-by date tells the retailer how long to display the product and is not a safety date.
What matters is how long you have had it. USDA's guidance: if ground meat has a sell-by date or no date at all, cook or freeze it within 1 to 2 days of purchase. That means:
- Ground beef bought several days before its sell-by date still only gets 1 to 2 days in your fridge.
- Ground beef bought on its sell-by date also gets 1 to 2 days, as long as it was handled properly and kept cold.
- A "use-by" date should be followed if the package has one.
Many stores mark down ground beef near its sell-by date. It can be a good deal, as long as you cook it or freeze it the day you buy it.
Pro tip: If you buy a family pack, split it the moment you get home. Keep what you will cook tomorrow in the fridge and freeze the rest flat in 1-pound (450 g) bags, pressed thin so they thaw quickly.
How to Store Raw Ground Beef
- Refrigerate it quickly. Get it into the fridge within 2 hours of buying it, or 1 hour if it is above 90°F (32°C). Pick up meat at the end of your shopping trip.
- Keep the fridge at 40°F (4°C) or below. An appliance thermometer is the only way to know. Our guide on what temperature your fridge and freezer should be explains how to check.
- Use the bottom shelf. Set the package on a plate or in a container so juices cannot drip onto other foods.
- Keep it in the store packaging if you will cook it within 2 days.
- Freeze it promptly if your plans change. Freezing stops bacteria from growing but does not kill them, so freeze it early in the window, not on the last day.
For longer storage, take the beef out of the foam tray, pack it in a heavy-duty freezer bag or vacuum-seal it and label the date. Our guide on how to freeze meat covers packaging, and how long meat lasts in the freezer compares ground beef with other cuts.
How Long Cooked Ground Beef Lasts in the Fridge
Cooked ground beef lasts 3 to 4 days in the fridge, according to USDA. That includes browned beef for tacos, meat sauce, chili, meatballs, meatloaf and burgers.
To get the full 3 to 4 days:
- Refrigerate within 2 hours of cooking, or 1 hour on a hot day.
- Divide large batches into shallow containers so they cool quickly. A deep pot of chili can stay warm in the middle for hours.
- Cover it tightly to keep out other odors and bacteria.
- Reheat to 165°F (74°C), the USDA target for leftovers, and bring sauces and chili to a rolling boil.
If you will not eat it within 4 days, freeze it. Cooked ground beef keeps its best quality for 2 to 3 months in the freezer, and it is one of the most useful things to have ready: frozen taco meat or meat sauce turns into dinner in minutes.
Is Gray Ground Beef Bad?
Not necessarily. Color is one of the most common sources of confusion with ground beef.
Fresh ground beef is bright red on the surface because the meat pigment reacts with oxygen in the air. The inside of the package, away from the air, is often grayish brown. According to USDA FSIS, that interior color comes from a lack of oxygen and is normal.
However, FSIS also notes that if all the meat in the package has turned gray or brown, it may be beginning to spoil. Use color as one clue, alongside the others below, and always alongside the 1 to 2 day rule.
Color also says nothing about doneness. Cooked ground beef can turn brown before it reaches a safe temperature, and it can stay pink after it is safe. USDA advises using a food thermometer and cooking to 160°F (71°C).
Signs Ground Beef Has Gone Bad
Throw ground beef out if you notice:
- A sour, rancid or otherwise unpleasant smell
- A sticky or slimy texture on the surface
- Gray or brown color throughout the package, not just inside
- Mold on cooked ground beef or dishes made with it
- A bloated package
Do not rely on these signs alone. Some bacteria that cause food poisoning, such as E. coli, do not change how meat looks or smells. If raw ground beef has been in the fridge longer than 2 days, or cooked beef longer than 4, USDA's advice applies: when in doubt, throw it out.
Thawing Frozen Ground Beef
Thawed ground beef follows the same fridge rules as fresh. If you thaw it in the refrigerator, it keeps another 1 to 2 days and can be refrozen within that window. If you thaw it in cold water or the microwave, cook it right away. The same rules apply to poultry; see our guide on how to thaw chicken fast, and our guide on whether you can refreeze meat for the details.
FAQ
How long does cooked ground beef last in the fridge?
3 to 4 days at 40°F (4°C) or below, according to USDA. Refrigerate it within 2 hours of cooking and reheat it to 165°F (74°C). Freeze it if you will not eat it within 4 days.
How long is ground beef good after the sell-by date?
Cook or freeze ground beef within 1 to 2 days of buying it, regardless of the sell-by date. The sell-by date tells the store how long to display it; it is not a safety date.
Can you eat ground beef after 3 days in the fridge?
For raw ground beef, USDA recommends cooking or freezing it within 1 to 2 days. After that, it is safest to discard it, even if it looks and smells normal. Cooked ground beef, by contrast, keeps 3 to 4 days.
Why is my ground beef brown inside?
The inside of a package gets little oxygen, so it often turns grayish brown. USDA says this is normal. If the whole package has turned gray or brown, or it smells off or feels slimy, throw it out.
Does freezing ground beef kill bacteria?
No. Freezing stops bacteria from growing, but they become active again as the meat thaws. That is why it is important to freeze ground beef early and cook it to 160°F (71°C).
Keep Ground Beef on a Short Leash
Ground beef is cheap, versatile and quick to spoil. Cook or freeze raw beef within 2 days, eat cooked beef within 4 and freeze anything that will not make it. Freezer Inventory Tracker logs ground beef in your fridge or freezer with expiry reminders, so a pack bought on Monday does not turn into a guessing game on Thursday.