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Help - My Brisket stinks

ElCapitan
ElCapitan Posts: 154
in EggHead Forum
I just unpacked my brisket (choice) from the cryovac and it has a pretty strong smell.  The expiration date on the tag said 4/25.  Should I toss this one or take it back to the butcher?  Or is it okay to cook?


XL Owner
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Comments

  • SmokeyPitt
    SmokeyPitt Posts: 10,490
    Rinse it off well, let it dry, and see if it still stinks.   If not, you are good to go.  If still stinky then return it. 

    It could just by cryovac sulfer funk.  

    Which came first the chicken or the egg?  I egged the chicken and then I ate his leg. 

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  • CosmicVoyager
    CosmicVoyager Posts: 81
    I had a similar experience with some meat that I purchased at Costco. I hate to sound crude but it smelled like a bad fart and it didn't go away after washing it. The Costco butcher said it was over aged and no good. Hopefully washing yours will be fine!
    Lg Egg - Asheville, NC
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  • travisstrick
    travisstrick Posts: 5,002
    SmokeyPitt said:
    Rinse it off well, let it dry, and see if it still stinks.   If not, you are good to go.  If still stinky then return it. 

    It could just by cryovac sulfer funk.  
    Agreed. Rinse it off and re smell. Trust your nose. 
    Be careful, man! I've got a beverage here.
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  • The Cen-Tex Smoker
    The Cen-Tex Smoker Posts: 23,179
    If it still smells in 30 min I would worry. It's very common for cryovac meats to smell when first opening them. Sometimes they will clear the room for a bit. If the smell goes away or significantly declines in 20-30 min, you will be fine. Rancid meat smell gets stronger, not weaker. Also, if it's bad in cryo and smells, the cryo has usually been compromised and the meat will be discolored at that spot. You can age meat safely in cryo for months.
    Keepin' It Weird in The ATX FBTX
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  • ElCapitan
    ElCapitan Posts: 154
    Sulfer, that's it.  That's the smell.  I called the meat market they told me to bring it back.  Thanks!
    XL Owner
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  • SenecaTheYounger
    SenecaTheYounger Posts: 368
    edited April 2014
    Sulfur smell is not uncommon from cryovac, especially with pork (I know, yours is beef. Just saying).

    It doesn't indicate bad meat, actually.




    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Copia ciborum subtilitas impeditur

    Seneca Falls, NY

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  • Enders
    Enders Posts: 29
    Our rule of tumb for Dairy and meet is if it stinks, its out.  Regardless of expiration.  I've returned items and got my $$ back when they stink.  It happens.

    XL BGE, Medium Project Egg

    Indianapolis

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  • Enders
    Enders Posts: 29
    Agree on the Cryo smell.  We all have to deal with that, but it should no linger.

    XL BGE, Medium Project Egg

    Indianapolis

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  • nolaegghead
    nolaegghead Posts: 42,109
    edited April 2014
    Almost every cryovac packaged meat I've ever opened smells like sulfur.  Makes my mouth water.  Then I cook it.
    ______________________________________________
    I love lamp..
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  • The Cen-Tex Smoker
    The Cen-Tex Smoker Posts: 23,179
    Enders said:
    Our rule of tumb for Dairy and meet is if it stinks, its out.  Regardless of expiration.  I've returned items and got my $$ back when they stink.  It happens.

    that's ok and certainly the safest bet but not based on what is really safe and what is not. I've eaten plenty of pork and chicken that have cleared the room when the cryo was cracked open. Beef too. If it's bad, you will know it. I give cryo meat the benefit of the doubt since the real bad guy in cryo meats is botulism and it's odorless. If it's rancid, it will look rancid. I'm guessing our good friend Seneca has aged things for many months in cryo bags and I'm sure they did not smell like roses when the bags were cracked open but were wonderful when prepared. As far as dairy goes, I hope you are just talking milk. I love me some stinky, mold-infested cheeses.
    Keepin' It Weird in The ATX FBTX
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  • caliking
    caliking Posts: 19,780
    ElCapitan said:
    Sulfer, that's it.  That's the smell.  I called the meat market they told me to bring it back.  Thanks!
    As others have said, the meat is most likely safe to eat. I speak from personal experience:

    The meat market agreed to take it back, and if you want to play it safe, take them up on their offer. They don't want you going around saying they sold you putrid meat, so that is most probably why they will let you return it.

    #1 LBGE December 2012 • #2 SBGE February  2013 • #3 Mini May 2013
    A happy BGE family in Houston, TX.
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  • ElCapitan
    ElCapitan Posts: 154
    Ya'll are handier than a pocket on a shirt!
    XL Owner
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  • NPHuskerFL
    NPHuskerFL Posts: 17,629
    ElCapitan said:

    Ya'll are handier than a pocket on a shirt!

    Better than teats on a bull ;-)
    The forum always has good solid info considering we all have one common goal..
    Great food. :-)
    LBGE 2013 & MM 2014
    Die Hard HUSKER & BRONCO FAN
    Flying Low & Slow in "Da Burg" FL
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  • The Cen-Tex Smoker
    The Cen-Tex Smoker Posts: 23,179
    edited April 2014
    Funny this just came up today. I've had a belly in my fridge for a month waiting for me to cure for bacon. Just been busy and lazy when I wasn't busy. It was packed a month ago and had a 3/25 sell date on it. I cracked it open and boom! Sulphur city. Stunk the whole kitchen up. 20 minutes later it was gone and smelled like fresh belly. Now I have a delicious 30 day wet aged belly to make some delicious bacon out of. I have a brisket 3 weeks past sell by I'm doing tonight. It would go another 45-60 easy in there.



    image
    Keepin' It Weird in The ATX FBTX
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  • The Cen-Tex Smoker
    The Cen-Tex Smoker Posts: 23,179
    edited April 2014
    oh god- just realized the tag says "raised and harvested in Canada". Oh well, if it does have germs they are probably very, very nice and will just kill me with kindness.


    Keepin' It Weird in The ATX FBTX
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  • caliking
    caliking Posts: 19,780
    The Cen-Tex Smoker said:
    oh god- just realized the tag says "raised and harvested in Canada". Oh well, if it does have germs they are probably very, very nice and will just kill me with kindness.


    If LS is what Canadians are like, that belly will likely head-butt you.

    #1 LBGE December 2012 • #2 SBGE February  2013 • #3 Mini May 2013
    A happy BGE family in Houston, TX.
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  • The Cen-Tex Smoker
    The Cen-Tex Smoker Posts: 23,179
    caliking said:


    The Cen-Tex Smoker said:

    oh god- just realized the tag says "raised and harvested in Canada". Oh well, if it does have germs they are probably very, very nice and will just kill me with kindness.



    If LS is what Canadians are like, that belly will likely head-butt you.
    In the stomach?
    Keepin' It Weird in The ATX FBTX
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  • caliking
    caliking Posts: 19,780
    In the belly. I was trying to be nice.

    #1 LBGE December 2012 • #2 SBGE February  2013 • #3 Mini May 2013
    A happy BGE family in Houston, TX.
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  • Eggcelsior
    Eggcelsior Posts: 14,414
    More like the nuts. He's feisty.
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  • The Cen-Tex Smoker
    The Cen-Tex Smoker Posts: 23,179
    Eggcelsior said:

    More like the nuts. He's feisty.

    And apparently a jumper too.
    Keepin' It Weird in The ATX FBTX
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  • nolaegghead
    nolaegghead Posts: 42,109
    This is sort of awesome, and sad.  But very much like what happens with that cryovac sulfur smell when people don't eat the meat. 

    http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2014/04/17/urine_in_portland_reservoir_how_dangerous_is_pee_in_drinking_water.html
    ______________________________________________
    I love lamp..
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  • ElCapitan
    ElCapitan Posts: 154
    Yeah, I read that Portland story and was definitely shaking my head at the decision making on that one.
    XL Owner
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  • Letz4wheel
    Letz4wheel Posts: 236
    $4.99 a lb for belly? I need to have a sale! I have 42,000 lbs of Iowa belly heading to Wright Brand. :)
    Southern Indiana
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  • The Cen-Tex Smoker
    The Cen-Tex Smoker Posts: 23,179
    We love wright brand. This is the super hipster store in Austin. It's highway robbery but they are the best we can get. Sad.
    Keepin' It Weird in The ATX FBTX
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  • Letz4wheel
    Letz4wheel Posts: 236
    I like delivering to wright brand....it smells good!
    Southern Indiana
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