How Long Does Ground Beef Last in the Fridge? (Raw and Cooked)

How long does ground beef last in the fridge? Not as long as many people think. You bought a pack for tacos, the week got busy, and now it is still sitting there. Here is the short version: raw ground beef lasts 1 to 2 days in the fridge, and cooked ground beef lasts 3 to 4 days. This guide explains how long ground beef lasts in the fridge and freezer according to USDA and FoodSafety.gov, how to store and thaw it safely, what the dates on the package mean, and when to throw it out.

Quick Answer: How Long Does Ground Beef Last in the Fridge?

• Raw ground beef: 1 to 2 days in a refrigerator at 40°F (4°C) or colder.
• Cooked ground beef (crumbles, meatballs, burgers, chili, taco meat): 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator.
• Raw ground beef in the freezer: 3 to 4 months for best quality.
• Cooked ground beef in the freezer: about 2 to 3 months for the best texture. FoodSafety.gov lists cooked meat leftovers at 2 to 6 months.

Food kept frozen at 0°F (-18°C) stays safe indefinitely. The freezer times above are about quality: after that, ground beef can turn dry and develop freezer burn, but it is not unsafe.

The same 1 to 2 day rule applies to other raw ground meats, including ground turkey, chicken, pork, lamb and veal.

Ground Beef Storage Chart (Fridge and Freezer)

These times come from the FoodSafety.gov cold food storage chart, which is based on USDA guidance. They assume your fridge really is at 40°F (4°C) or below, so a cheap refrigerator thermometer is worth having.

Why Ground Beef Spoils Faster Than Steak

A whole steak or roast keeps for 3 to 5 days in the fridge, but ground beef keeps for only 1 to 2. If you have ever wondered why the answer to “how long does ground beef last in the fridge?” is so much shorter than for steak, the reason is surface area. Bacteria live mostly on the outside of a cut of meat. When beef is ground, that outside surface is mixed all the way through, and the meat is handled more. There are simply more places for bacteria to grow, so ground beef spoils sooner and must be cooked all the way through to a higher temperature than a steak.

That is also why ground beef should be cooked to 160°F (71°C), while whole cuts of beef are safe at 145°F (63°C) with a 3-minute rest.

How to Store Raw Ground Beef (Step by Step)

1. Make it the last stop at the store

Pick up ground beef at the end of your shopping trip, choose a package that feels cold and has no tears, and bag it separately from produce. If your drive home is long or it is a hot day, use an insulated bag or cooler.

2. Refrigerate it within 2 hours

Get it into the fridge or freezer as soon as you get home, and always within 2 hours. On a day above 90°F (32°C), that window drops to 1 hour.

3. Keep it cold and contained

Store it in its original package on the bottom shelf, on a plate or in a container that will catch any drips. This keeps raw juices away from ready-to-eat foods. The back of the bottom shelf is usually the coldest spot; the door is the warmest.

4. Decide within a day: cook it or freeze it

If you will not cook it within 1 to 2 days, freeze it right away. Freezing it on day one gives you the best quality later.

5. Freeze it the smart way

For a few weeks, the store package is fine. For longer storage, overwrap the package in heavy-duty foil or freezer paper, or put it in a freezer bag, to prevent freezer burn. Our favorite trick: divide the beef into 1 lb (450 g) portions, put each in a zip-top freezer bag, and press it flat to about ½ inch (1.3 cm) thick. Flat packs stack neatly, freeze quickly, and thaw much faster. Label each bag with the date.

How Long Does Cooked Ground Beef Last in the Fridge?

Cooked ground beef lasts 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. That includes browned crumbles for meal prep, taco meat, meat sauce, chili, meatballs, meatloaf, burgers and casseroles.

• Cool and refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours of cooking. Divide big batches into shallow containers so they chill quickly.
• Reheat leftovers until they are steaming hot, 165°F (74°C) in the center. Bring sauces, soups and gravies to a rolling boil.
• If you will not eat it within 3 to 4 days, freeze it. Cooked ground beef crumbles freeze very well and can go straight into a hot pan for tacos, pasta sauce or soup.

Count the days from when the beef was cooked, not from when you bought it. If you cooked raw ground beef on its second day in the fridge, the cooked leftovers still get their own 3 to 4 days.

How to Thaw Frozen Ground Beef Safely

Never thaw ground beef on the counter. The outside warms into the temperature range where bacteria multiply quickly while the center is still frozen. Use one of these three safe methods instead.

• In the refrigerator (best): a 1 lb (450 g) package usually thaws in about a day. Once thawed, cook it within 1 to 2 days. Beef thawed this way can also be refrozen without cooking, though it may lose some quality.
• In cold water (faster): seal the beef in a leak-proof bag and submerge it in cold tap water, changing the water every 30 minutes. A flat 1 lb pack can thaw in under an hour. Cook it right away.
• In the microwave (fastest): use the defrost setting and cook the beef immediately afterward, because some parts may start to cook during thawing.

You can also cook ground beef straight from frozen. It will take about 50 percent longer, and you will need to scrape off the browned layer as it cooks and break up the block as it softens.

What Sell-By and Use-By Dates Mean for Ground Beef

Dates on meat packages are mostly about quality, and they mean different things.

• Sell-by date: tells the store how long to display the product. It is not a safety date. USDA advises cooking or freezing ground beef within 1 to 2 days of purchase, so a package bought on its sell-by date is still fine for a day or two.
• Use-by date: the last day the manufacturer recommends for peak quality. Cook or freeze the beef by this date.
• No date at all: follow the 1 to 2 day rule from the day you bought it.

If a package of raw ground beef is several days past its sell-by date and has not been frozen, do not take the risk.

Signs Ground Beef Has Gone Bad

Check raw ground beef before cooking it. Throw it out if you notice any of these:

• A sour, rancid or otherwise unpleasant smell
• A sticky, tacky or slimy feel
• The outside has turned gray or brown all over, or you see any mold

One color change is normal: fresh ground beef is bright red on the surface where it touches the air, but the inside of the package can be grayish brown because it has not been exposed to oxygen. That alone does not mean the meat is spoiled.

Keep in mind that the bacteria that make people sick, such as Salmonella and E. coli, usually do not change how meat looks, smells or feels. Ground beef can seem fine and still be unsafe if it has been stored too long or kept too warm. Follow the storage times, and when in doubt, throw it out.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Relying on the sniff test alone. A bad smell means spoilage, but a good smell does not prove the beef is safe.
• Leaving groceries in a warm car. Time out of the fridge counts toward the 2-hour limit.
• Storing raw beef on a top shelf. Drips can contaminate foods below that will not be cooked.
• Thawing on the counter or in hot water. Use the fridge, cold water or the microwave.
• Judging doneness by color. USDA research has found that ground beef can turn brown in the middle before it reaches a safe temperature. Use a thermometer and cook it to 160°F (71°C).
• Cooling a big pot of chili on the stove overnight. Divide it into shallow containers and refrigerate it within 2 hours.

Food Safety Tips (USDA Guidelines)

• Keep your refrigerator at 40°F (4°C) or below and your freezer at 0°F (-18°C).
• Cook ground beef to an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C). Ground chicken and turkey need 165°F (74°C). See the FoodSafety.gov safe minimum temperature chart.
• Wash your hands, cutting boards and utensils with hot, soapy water after handling raw ground beef.
• Do not let cooked ground beef touch a plate or tray that held raw meat.
• Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours (1 hour above 90°F) and reheat them to 165°F (74°C).

Easy Recipe to Try Next

Have a pound of ground beef that needs cooking today? Our ground beef and rice recipes are quick weeknight skillets that use pantry staples. Cooking a bigger cut this weekend? This chuck roast crock pot recipe makes enough for leftovers, and the same 3 to 4 day rule applies to them. If you also buy ground poultry, these ground chicken recipes follow the same 1 to 2 day storage rule. Browse all of our beef recipes for more ideas.

Ground Beef Storage FAQs

Is ground beef good after 5 days in the fridge?

Raw ground beef is not. USDA recommends cooking or freezing it within 1 to 2 days, so raw ground beef that has been in the fridge for 5 days should be thrown out. Cooked ground beef keeps 3 to 4 days, so 5-day-old leftovers should also be discarded.

Can I eat ground beef 2 days after the sell-by date?

The sell-by date is for the store, not a safety cutoff. What matters is how long it has been in your fridge: cook or freeze it within 1 to 2 days of buying it. If you bought it well before the sell-by date and it has been cold the whole time, it may still be fine. If it has been in your fridge longer than 2 days, throw it out.

How long does cooked ground beef last in the fridge?

Cooked ground beef lasts 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator when it is chilled within 2 hours of cooking. Freeze it if you need to keep it longer.

How long can ground beef stay in the freezer?

Raw ground beef keeps its best quality for 3 to 4 months in the freezer. It stays safe indefinitely at 0°F (-18°C), but the texture and flavor slowly decline.

Can you refreeze ground beef after thawing it?

Yes, if it was thawed in the refrigerator and has not been out of the fridge. Beef thawed in cold water or in the microwave should be cooked before you freeze it again.

Why is my ground beef gray in the middle?

The inside of a package does not get oxygen, so it can look grayish brown while the surface stays red. This is normal. If the beef is gray or brown all over the outside, smells off, or feels slimy, throw it away.