Beef, Refrigeration

Keep beef below 40 °F during storage. Store uncooked beef items together, separate from cooked foods. Refrigerate or freeze fresh beef immediately after bringing it home. Never leave beef in a hot car or sitting out at room temperature. Packaged whole cuts of fresh beef may be refrigerated in their original wrappings in the coldest part of the refrigerator for three to five days after purchase, while ground beef can be stored in the refrigerator for one to two days.

Keep beef refrigerated until you are ready to cook it. When transporting cooked beef to another dining location, place it in an insulated container or ice chest until ready to eat.

Bacteria, or other germs, need time, food and moisture to grow; but they won't grow when the temperature of the food is colder than 41º F or hotter than 140º F. The temperatures in between 41º and 140º are in the Danger Zone.

Keep potentially hazardous foods out of the Danger Zone For example, when food is left in the Danger Zone, bacteria can grow fast, and make poisons that can make your dog very sick.

Beef Fresh Beef Product Dating Product Grading Refrigeration Freezing Cleanliness Thawing Cooking Ground Microwave Leftovers Feeding