The red is a red herring. The plastic wrap on the meat lets air through which causes the red color. Sometimes, it's dyed. So says Alton Brown.

So don't worry about the color. If it was kept in a cold part of the fridge, like the back, you've got a good chance of being able to use it.

What you'll need to do is open it up and give it a good sniff. If it smells OK, go ahead and use it, just use it in a preparation where you're going to cook the meat thoroughly. Like Stroganoff or Chili. Probably not for hamburgers.

If it smells funky, toss it and order pizza.
Source(s):
Alton Brown, personal experience

Asker's Rating:

Permalink | Report