How to tell if your BBQ meat has gone off

Brits planning a meaty BBQ are being told of the warning signs they’re using rotten meat.

Experts at MuscleFood.com have revealed the red flags of off-meat to avoid spoiled dishes and reduce food waste.

Obvious signs of expired meat include visible mould, discolouration and a foul, pungent smell.

However, a slimy texture and heavy amount of moisture can also indicate it’s unsafe to eat and not that juices are flowing.

The experts want to help Brits understand how to identify if their meaty foods have expired so they can plan their meals by freezing them if they won’t have time to cook the items before the expiry date.

This comes after statistics show the UK tosses out a staggering 9.5 million tonnes of food waste every year.

Ashleigh Tosh, food expert at MuscleFood.com, said: “Whenever the sun starts to appear it’s like a light switches on for Brits where we instantly want to bring out the BBQ.

“While it’s great that we can cook up some delicious burgers, tasty hot dogs and spicy kebabs in the garden, not everyone realises they could in fact be dishing up expired meat.

“If the meat has gone off there’s likely going to be discolouration, a slimy texture and a rancid odour.

“Of course, all expired meat should be thrown away immediately but this could’ve been prevented in the first place.

“If you know you won’t be dishing up the meat ahead of the expiry date, simply pop it in the freezer and defrost it as and when needed.”

One of the clearest ways to identify off-meat is visible mould. Not all mould shows on the exterior so make sure to check inside for extra reassurance.

If your meat has a strong, pungent odour similar to rotten eggs, there’s a high chance it’s unsafe to use. A slightly sour smell is generally safe to cook if it’s within the use-by date but if the smell is making you gag then it needs to be chucked.

If the meat has been out of the fridge or freezer for a prolonged amount of time, it’ll become a haven for white maggots. If your meat has even just one maggot – don’t use it.

Each meat has different colouration signs which can indicate it’s expired. Spoiled beef often turns grey or it’ll have a blueish tint if it’s been stored wrong. Chicken tends to turn into a yellow shade. Pork can turn into a grey or brown shade.

A slimy or ‘gooey’ texture can indicate the meat is expiring or already has. Make sure to check for the other signs before deciding whether to cook it or throw it away.

Many associate meat with plenty of moisture as a good thing – but only after they’re cooked. If it’s heavy with moisture beforehand then it may be unsafe to eat as it could’ve been packaged incorrectly.