how do you know if meat has gone off? does it smell smokey?

Question

I bought a large piece of pork belly from the local butchers two days ago, and there was not any particular smell. However the following day the meat had quite a pungent smell when I took it out of the refridgerator, and I did not know if it ws safe to eat it. Can you help?

Answer 1

You posted this question days ago so I suppose you've thrown it out by now.

In future, when you buy meat, wash it it salt water before storing it and again before cooking it.

It could have been blood etc that drained from the meat and went off, rather than the meet itself. Unless you do the rinse test, you can never be sure that you've not thrown perfectly good meat away, just because the juices spelt bad.

Washing it with salt water before storing gives you a better idea of the actual quality of the meat (you'll be able to smell if it's a bit 'iffy' from the get go). It also removes some of the bacteria from shop handling that would speed up deterioration if left on the meat.

Answer 2

If the meat smells i would throw it out or take it back to the shop as it shouldn't go off so quick

Answer 3

It shouldn't have gone off that quickly. I'd bring it back to the butcher and ask him for a fresh one.
One way or another, don't cook it, its not worth it, and pork poisoning is even more dangerous then other forms.

Answer 4

Any brown spots on it?
The old rule of "better safe than sorry" definitely applies to meat, especially pork. You could get very sick from meat that has gone bad.

Answer 5

Take it back to the butcher.....or when in doubt throw it out.....you should be able to sniff any meat and not be grossed out by the smell

Answer 6

Yeah that's off. If meat smells horrible or smokey and it's not naturally smelly or been smoked then chuck it, sometimes it looks a little more browny too.

Answer 7

In my experience, when meat is going bad it develops a sulfer odor much like rotten eggs. I go by the old adage......when in doubt, throw it out. Meat is expensive, but not as much as food poisoning.

Answer 8

Anytime meat smells when you open it beware. I would throw it out or return it to the store if it has not passed it's expiration date.

Answer 9

if in doubt throw it out off pork is not good for you

Answer 10

If in Doubt...... Throw it Out