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Meat freshness question

HungryMan
HungryMan Posts: 3,470
edited November -0001 in EggHead Forum
My friend bought hanger steaks 2 weeks ago from RD. They are in the cryo-vac package and have been in the refrig. He opened it today and says it has a funny smell. I told him it's probably since it's a bloody cut. My opinion is it's ok and no different than a two week wet aged steak. Whats the general consensus?
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Comments

  • gdenby
    gdenby Posts: 6,239
    I've read that cryovac is good for 3 weeks if refrigerated. I suppose that includes the time at the market.

    Cryovac'd meat often smells odd to me when opened. And, yes, any blood will smell.

    If it is really bad, the odor when the bag opens will be awful. I had a pack of 2 spare rib slabs. They had been in the fridge about 10 days. I didn't know that the fridge was not holding a steady low temperature. The package seemed a little loose, and when I opened the bag, the reek made the spoilage obvious. So if there is inflation, beware.
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  • Little Steven
    Little Steven Posts: 28,817
    Al,

    Hangers are very bloody. I have had the same thing happen. Your friend's choice but I would rinse them in cold water and see if they smell ok after that.

    Steve

    Steve 

    Caledon, ON

     

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  • SmokinParrotHead
    SmokinParrotHead Posts: 532
    Rinse it thoroughly and smell it again, bet it smells better then.
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  • Gator Bait
    Gator Bait Posts: 5,244
     
    Hi HungryMan

    I have no personal experience but did find this page on the web, Pork Butt Selection & Preparation. About half way down the page the author states.

    "You may notice a slight odor when opening the Cryovac packaging. This odor is normal and should dissipate after a few minutes. If the odor is a strong, putrid smell that lingers even after rinsing the meat under cold running water, this is a sign that the meat is spoiled, and it should be returned to the store for a refund."

    This is in agreement with what I have seen here on the forum but couldn't find in a search.

    Have a great day,

    Gator

     
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  • JPF
    JPF Posts: 592
    I concur witht he consensus, rinse and smell again.

    :laugh: Made me think of when I was a kid a local news station had this Dr Red Duke on and have laughed for years about him saying "If it stinks don't eat it" Very southern long draw accent! :laugh: :silly:
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  • Humphrey Chimpden Earwicker
    Humphrey Chimpden Earwicker Posts: 3,743
    if the cryovac was tight, and the fridge temps are good, there is no reason to think they would be bad.

    alton brown wet ages in cryo up to 8 weeks.

    no. they aren't fresh. but if the temps and cryo were good, they are BETTER than fresh. they're age (wet aged).

    good lord folks, how many times we gotta go thru this.??!?!/! :blink: :laugh:

    aged meat has a clean, different, maybe "gamey" (not bad) smell. can seem metallic. but it won't smell "bad".
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  • Gator Bait
    Gator Bait Posts: 5,244
    stripsteak wrote:
    good lord folks, how many times we gotta go thru this.??!?!/! :blink: :laugh:

    Hahahaha, Can I tell you about my gasket? :laugh:

    I figure if I hear some of this stuff enough times it might sink in. I might be half smart someday . . . might be. :laugh:

    Gator

     
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  • Humphrey Chimpden Earwicker
    Humphrey Chimpden Earwicker Posts: 3,743
    what's funny is that hungryman will eat a steak that's been aged 28 days, yet is puzzled about a steak that's a couple weeks in cryo! :huh:

    (just rankin' on you, HM)
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  • HungryMan
    HungryMan Posts: 3,470
    Thats what I told him. I said it was just wet aged. He ended up calling RD and they told him the code on the package, and it was fine.
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  • HungryMan
    HungryMan Posts: 3,470
    Funny that you sat that. Here is a 4 week old rib eye I did. 3 of us at work split it and I'm delivering it today.
    010310142852.jpg
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  • Humphrey Chimpden Earwicker
    Humphrey Chimpden Earwicker Posts: 3,743
    coolio.

    truly though, folks wonder if the smell is "bad".

    if they have to ask, it isn't. :laugh:
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  • HungryMan
    HungryMan Posts: 3,470
    He will be cooking them tonight. He'll call me and tell me they were great.
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  • HungryMan
    HungryMan Posts: 3,470
    I know you might get a sulfer smell. I was not there to take a wiff. I told him as long as it does not smell like fish. I just never aged anything small like a hanger. If he gets sick F-em.
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  • Humphrey Chimpden Earwicker
    Humphrey Chimpden Earwicker Posts: 3,743
    in a bag? ithought you were a tuff guy! :laugh:

    just kidding. looks good. i would love to go four weeks side by side with a dry-bag and commando. i'm thinking the dry bags can go 6 weeks or so before drying too much, but it's only a guess
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  • Carolina Q
    Carolina Q Posts: 14,831
    Sure am glad I had just swallowed that sip of wine I was drinking when I read the end of that post. DUDE, post a "spew alert" before you say stuff like that! :lol::lol:

    I hate it when I go to the kitchen for food and all I find are ingredients!                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

    Michael 
    Central Connecticut 

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  • HungryMan
    HungryMan Posts: 3,470
    That was a regular vac bag. I cot the meet in 3 chunks and delivered it sealed. Last weeks I cut the drybag open and cooked mine. I never sealed up the drybag. As strange as it seems, I would guess it is drying at the same rate. It darkens up fast in the bag. Next time I order some bags I'll send you one to try.
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  • HungryMan
    HungryMan Posts: 3,470
    I'm a sensitive guy.
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  • Humphrey Chimpden Earwicker
    Humphrey Chimpden Earwicker Posts: 3,743
    i don't have a sealer... i'm too cheapo.

    someone else posted pics of a dry-bag trial where they didn't have a good seal, and i think they got the impression that it didn't work as well. not sure.

    an interesting thing to note is that some plastic wraps, like "stretch-tite" are vapor permeable. they allow water vapor to pass thru. i wonder if wrapping a subprimal that way would have any effect.
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