Question 1

How quickly should I eat the meat I buy?

Accepted Answer

If you find that you can't use your meat supply fast enough, you may be able to freeze it to prolong its shelf life. For example, FoodSafety.gov recommends keeping steak in the refrigerator for three to five days or in the freezer for four to 12 months. If you thoroughly wrap steak to protect it from freezer burn, it shouldn't lose its quality during a stay in the freezer, as long as you don't leave it in there for years.

Most meat can be frozen successfully to preserve its taste and quality. However, ground meat and seafood won't last as long as whole cuts of beef, lamb, and pork. Take a look at recommendations for freezing to determine how long you can store each kind of meat. As with steak, all meat should be wrapped properly, with any trapped air squeezed out before you put it in the freezer.

Question 2

What temperature does cooked meat have to be before it's safe to eat?

Accepted Answer

It's important that you cook meat well enough to make it safe for you and your family to eat. Each type of meat has a recommended doneness temperature that it should reach before you put it on a dinner plate. We suggest that you purchase a good meat thermometer to ensure that the meats reach these safe temperatures. Here are the minimum cooking temperatures, according to FoodSafety.gov:

Ground beef, pork, and lamb: 160°F
Poultry: 165°F
Steak, roasts, and chops: 145°F
Fresh pork: 145°F
Fish with fins: 145°F
Shrimp, lobster, crab, and scallops: Until pearly or white, and opaque
Clams, oysters, and mussels: Until shells open during cooking

Some recipes, such as rare steaks, call for lower temperatures. You should prepare these recipes carefully.

Question 3

How do I handle raw meat?

Accepted Answer

Always be careful when you're handling raw meat. You should implement a few tips into your storage and preparation routines to ensure a safe kitchen and dining experience.

Store raw meat on the bottom shelf of your refrigerator. If it isn't thoroughly packaged, gravity may pull bacteria from the meat down to any food sitting under it.
Wash your hands before and after touching raw meat.
Disinfect any counter or other surface that comes into contact with raw meat.
Don't use the same cutting board for raw meat and vegetables.

These are just a few smart meat handing tips. The idea is to reduce opportunities for cross-contamination. A good rule to follow is if that raw meat or its juices touch another object outside of cooking, that object needs to be decontaminated, thoroughly cleaned, or thrown away.

Let Instacart save you valuable time during the day by collecting the items you need for this week's dinners. Simply fill your virtual cart with the meat products and anything else you need for your recipes, hit the checkout button, and let Instacart shoppers take care of everything for you. Depending on the store you choose, you can order your meat and other groceries for pickup or delivery. When you don't have time to explore the store's options in person, Instacart can be a valuable tool for you and your schedule.

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