just need someone to tell me this meat is ok

[Anonymous]

I bought a 3 lb chuck roast from wegmans about 2 weeks ago. It's in one of those fancy vacuum sealed packs, so even tho it's over 2 weeks old, the use by date is Feb. 1st (tomorrow.) Can I cook it tomorrow (feb 1st) in the crockpot, then refrigerate it and reheat it the next day for our superbowl dinner? It just seems a little skeevy that it has been sitting in my fridge for so long.. but I'm sure it's ok, right?

[Anonymous]

Hm, I would go by smell, open it up and see if it smells okay.

[Anonymous]

I am sure it is absolutely fine.

[Anonymous]

I've read that smell is not the best test (not that I don't use it myself).

Honestly, if I am cooking for a crowd and you have any doubt, I wouldn't use it. Why risk it?? If you all get food poisoning you will wish that you just went out and ordered pizza. That's my test.

[Anonymous]

It could be dicey, but smell it before you use it. PS I am glad I am not coming to your party. Chef Ramsey would not be pleased!

[Anonymous]

I would not serve it to guests.

[Anonymous]

I'm normally the biggest proponent of "toss it" on this board, but we're talking about meat that is not past its use by date and that OP can't detect any other obvious problem with. I would definitely not throw it out.

OP, if your concern is that even though you're cooking it before the use by date, you're serving it one day after the use by date, I don't think that's relevant. How long the food remains safe AFTER you've cooked it is a different question from how long it remains safe BEFORE you've cooked it. That is, if it is something that lasts five days after proper cooking in the fridge, it will last five days after cooking regardless of whether you cooked it minutes after the cow got slaughtered or minutes before the food went bad.

[Anonymous]

If it's been refrigerated, fine. No biggie.

[Anonymous]

That's a long time in the fridge. Maybe too long.

So now, you have to actually test and see if it is bad.

Check the color - is any of it green?

Smell it up close. Does it smell funny?

If not, then go for it.

[Anonymous]

it's not even expired. what the fuck?!?

[Anonymous]

smell it OP, you will know if you can use it

[Anonymous]

I would put it in the freezer and pull it out when you're ready to cook it. I wouldn't hesitate to cook it on the 2nd for dinner that night.

[Anonymous]

I just threw out a Costco ham on its use by date. It was slimy.

[Anonymous]

Why not cook it in the crockpot overnight tomorrow? Don't let it get below the critical temperature. If you cook, refrigerate, and reheat, you're passing through the danger zone two extra times.

[Anonymous]

You all are nuts, of course its fine.

I guess none of you have ever "aged meat" in the fridge.
FWIW, OP, your meat is actually "better" now that its sat for 2 weeks. They charge more for that in the stores, believe it or not. Your guests should thank you, not head out for pizza.