Why does the hamburger packaged at the grocery store ….

[peteb]

Why does the hamburger packaged at the grocery store have a use or freeze date of only a few days, while the hamburger packaged at some processing plant has a later use or freeze date?

example. Hamburger I bought yesterday, 1-22, has a use or freeze date of 2-1.
i count nine days.

 

[trapdoor2]

Different insurance providers.

 

[boxocrap]

Different insurance providers.

that makes sense

 

[tap4154]

Maybe because the prepackaged hamburger is shipped frozen? In any case, I would use or freeze any hamburger meat within a day or two. I don't eat that much red meat these days, and I usually buy the frozen hamburger patties. Then just put them on the barbecue frozen.

 

[Dan Estock]

Could be a myth but I always thought the stuff packaged at the store was roasts or whatever that had gone past their sell by date

 

[rasr1]

Ground beef packaged at the processing plant is vacuum sealed, whereas store processed ground beef is not. Vacuum packed items are less susceptible to oxidation and bacteria growth, thus giving them a longer shelf life than store wrapped items.

 

[sloppychops]

Watch "Food, Inc." and you won't be buying any more hamburger meat at the grocery store.

 

[Willie Johnson]

I've DIY'ed it a few times and bought a cheap roast or other hunk of megaprotein and used my grinder to make hamburger.

 

[Zoso420]

I worked at a win dixie meat department in highscool. The pre packaged stuff is shipped frozen. The stuff package at the store is trimings from steaks and roasts. Fun fact we used to save the fat only trimmings in a 55 gal barrel and when it filled up it was sold to make makeup and lip stick.

 

[telemnemonics]

Watch "Food, Inc." and you won't be buying any more hamburger meat at the grocery store.

Learn about most industrial food production and one might have a similar response, but industrial meats are particularly...

 

[wangdaning]

I am more concerned with beef that is red instead of purple.

 

[Peegoo]

Save yourself.

Stick to bacon.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

One problem with ground meat is that pieces from many different animals are ground on the same machinery. This presents the risk of cross-contamination of a whole batch by just a single bad piece.

The outer surface is where meat is most most susceptible to contamination. When it's ground the surface area increases exponentially. This is less of a concern when it's flash-frozen immediately, but meat freshly ground at the market normally doesn't get frozen.

One advantage of fresh-ground is, often you can request a coarser "chili grind," with a little more body & texture.
And if you have it custom ground, you know exactly when it was done.

 

[Wound_Up]

Why does the hamburger packaged at the grocery store have a use or freeze date of only a few days, while the hamburger packaged at some processing plant has a later use or freeze date?

example. Hamburger I bought yesterday, 1-22, has a use or freeze date of 2-1.
i count nine days.

One is packed in nitrogen, I'd guess.

 

[Wound_Up]

Could be a myth but I always thought the stuff packaged at the store was roasts or whatever that had gone past their sell by date

Not even close

 

[trev333]

If you ask for hamburger at the butchers over here, he would probably point you to the take away shop over the road....

"you can get a good 'Burger over there, mate"...

we ask for Mince or minced beef/lamb/pork/chicken, etc...

a Hamburger here is the whole thing, not just the patty...

 

[Timbresmith1]

I worked at a win dixie meat department in highscool. The pre packaged stuff is shipped frozen. The stuff package at the store is trimings from steaks and roasts. Fun fact we used to save the fat only trimmings in a 55 gal barrel and when it filled up it was sold to make makeup and lip stick.

Fight Club!

 

[String Tree]

Why does the hamburger packaged at the grocery store have a use or freeze date of only a few days, while the hamburger packaged at some processing plant has a later use or freeze date?

example. Hamburger I bought yesterday, 1-22, has a use or freeze date of 2-1.
i count nine days.

No reason.
They just like to mess with ya.
YEP!!!

 

[String Tree]

Why does the hamburger packaged at the grocery store have a use or freeze date of only a few days, while the hamburger packaged at some processing plant has a later use or freeze date?

example. Hamburger I bought yesterday, 1-22, has a use or freeze date of 2-1.
i count nine days.

Besides, how else are yiu going to know, for sure, that your Ground Beef is really Pre-CBS?

 

[buster poser]

Watch "Food, Inc." and you won't be buying any more hamburger meat at the grocery store.

Should be required viewing for everyone.