Tacos are a beloved food, but they can get old if you don’t use them in time. If you’ve made too much meat, you’ll have to store them in the fridge. If you do, you’ll want to know how long it will last in the fridge
How Long Does Taco Meat Last In The Fridge?
You can store taco meat in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. When stored in the fridge, make sure that it’s stored in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag. Doing so will help prevent from air from entering and causing the taco meat to become dry.
Does Taco Meat Go Bad In The Fridge?
Like all meat products, taco meat will eventually go bad when it’s stored in the fridge. The shelf life for taco meat is about 4 days in the fridge.
Once this time period has passed, the quality of taco meat will begin to deteriorate significantly. The flavor and texture will start changing.
In addition, there may be signs of mold growing on the meat or around the edges of the container.
How To Tell When Taco Meat Is Bad
If you are unsure how long the taco meat was left in the fridge, you should know what to look for. Here are some signs that indicate your taco meat has gone bad:
1. Discoloration. If your taco meat has changed color, it’s time to throw it out. This could be due to an overabundance of spices or other ingredients in your recipe or because of improper storage conditions. The color should be bright and vibrant; if it looks dull or grayish-green, the meat is no longer fresh enough to eat.
2. A strong odor. Taco meat shouldn’t smell like anything except ground beef (although some spices can add a bit of flavor). If your taco meat smells rotten or sour, toss it immediately!
3. Bad texture. Depending on what ingredients you’ve used to make taco meat, the texture of it will vary. After 4 days or so in the fridge, the meat may become hard. This means the taco meat has lost most of its moisture which means it will not taste good anymore. Since most of the flavors have deteriorated, it’s best to toss the entire content away.
How To Store Taco Meat In The Fridge
After cooking the taco meat, you’ll want to store them right away if you’re not planning on eating them within 2 hours. Bacteria will start to grow on the meat after that time, which could make you sick.
To keep your taco meat from spoiling too quickly, make sure to store it in a sealed plastic bag or airtight container. Before you do so, ensure the taco meat is cooled to room temperature first.
The best way to ensure that your taco meat stays fresh is by keeping it in the refrigerator at a temperature of 32-40 degrees F. If the temperature is higher than that, the taco meat can become bad quickly.
Use within 4 days after it’s stored in the fridge.
How To Keep Taco Meat Fresh Longer In The Fridge
Tip 1: Store it in the coldest part of your fridge, which is usually on the bottom shelf or on top of other items. If you have more than one package of taco meat, try not to stack them on top of one another because this could cause them to sweat (sweating makes food go bad faster).
Tip 2: Use a lid if possible when storing your taco meat so that moisture won’t get inside. Because there are so many different types of containers available, we recommend using an airtight container with a lid that seals tightly around all sides so as not to lose any freshness during storage—or worse yet; damage some other foods in your fridge!
Tip 3: Use taco meat within 4 days for the best taste. While the meat can last for a couple of days more, it won’t taste very good since it will likely be dried and lose most of its flavors.
Can You Freeze Taco Meat?
If you’re a fan of taco night, you’ll want to know the answer to this question.
Taco meat is one of those foods that can be prepared in advance and frozen for later use. There are two methods for freezing taco meat: raw or cooked.
Frozen raw taco meat will keep in the freezer for up to 12 months, but it’s best to consume it within three months for best results. Raw frozen tacos can be thawed overnight in the refrigerator or cooked from frozen in a microwave or oven.
Cooked frozen taco meat will keep in the freezer for up to three months, but it’s best consumed within two months for best results. Cooked frozen tacos can be reheated in a microwave or on the stovetop before serving.
Conclusion
You should be able to enjoy your taco meat for up to 4 days after you make it when it’s stored in the fridge. However, it’s best to use the meat before then so it will taste as fresh as it was made on day one.
Kate has been in the food business for over 20 years. Worked as a cook at several buffets which include Old Country Buffet, Five Star Buffet, and Ichiban Buffet. Now, I’m mostly at home cooking for my family, caring for chickens and ducks, and tending the garden.
