Handling Ground Meat
- Choose ground meat packages that are cold and tightly wrapped.
- The meat surface exposed to air will be red; the interior of fresh meat will be dark.
- Put refrigerated and frozen foods in your grocery cart last and make the grocery store your last stop before home.
- Pack perishables in an ice chest if it will take you more than an hour to get home.
- Place ground meat and ground poultry in the refrigerator or freezer immediately.
- Defrost frozen ground meats in the refrigerator — never at room temperature. If microwave defrosting, cook immediately.
Source: FMI
