The savory, fatty flavor of pork is an integral part of many dishes around the world. Vietnamese pork fried rice, Filipino pork adobo, and Japanese pork tonkatsu are just a few of the most delicious pork dishes chefs are making every day.
But what if you want to make a delicious pork recipe, but the pork in the fridge doesn’t look so good? Do you know the signs of rotted or expiring pork?
There are several ways to tell if pork is rotted or about to expire. If the pork is raw, the outside will secrete a greasy or slimy film. The color of raw pork changes to white or gray as it rots. If there are green spots around the pork meat or fat, mold has already bloomed. Also, the smell of rotting pork is pungent and similar to ammonia. The raw white fat around the meat will also begin to harden.
What Does Spoiled Pork Smell Like?
When pork starts rotting, the smell will change to a sour tangy smell. Some people say that rotted raw pork smells like ammonia.
The longer pork is allowed to stay in the fridge, the stronger the smell will become. If you open up a package of raw pork that is one week past its official expiration date, you may be hit by a sour ammonia-like smell.
Even if there are no other changes to the color or to the moisture, the horrible smell will indicate to you that the pork has gone bad.
Cooked pork that has gone bad will not have such a strong smell, but it will still smell slightly sour.
The reason why the smell will not be as strong is because there’s less moisture in the cooked pork, which gets cooked off during the frying or roasting process.
What Should Raw Pork Smell Like?
A package of safe and fresh raw pork shouldn’t have a smell at all. Some people with sensitive noses can tell the difference between fresh raw beef, fresh raw pork, raw chicken, but fresh meats don’t really have a smell.
It is only when they begin to rot that the smell will change and become more pungent.
What Happens If You Cook Bad Pork?
If you weren’t able to detect a rotting smell from an old package of pork meat when it was not cooked, you will be able to tell when the rotted meat hits the pan.
If you think cooking rotted pork will kill all the bacteria and mold, think again. Never ever consume rotted pork.
The bacteria and mold will not die in the cooking process, and the meat will not be good anyway.
What Will Happen If I Eat Bad Cooked Pork?
If you ever suspect that the raw or cooked pork in your fridge is not safe to eat, it is better not to eat it.
If you ate a large amount of rotting pork, you could end up in the hospital.
Some people believe it is safe to feed their animals rotted meat because they have stronger stomachs and can handle eating raw meat.
But this isn’t true. You could end up poisoning your dog or cat and then you’ll have to take them to the veterinarian.
How Long Is Pork Good For in the Fridge?
The length of time pork lasts in the refrigerator depends on the cut of the pork. A single pork chop sitting in the fridge will last up to 5 days after its final purchase date.
But a package of minced, ground, or sliced pork must be cooked within 3 days of purchasing it. These time frames assume you have a refrigerator set at 40°F.
All refrigerator manufacturers set their refrigerator at 40F. This is the temperature that slows down or prevents bacteria and mold from growing.
But if pork, or any type of meat, is in the refrigerator for a week or more, it will eventually rot.
If you cannot cook a package of pork within the allotted amount of time, take it out of the fridge and put it in the freezer when you come home from the grocery store.
When ground or pulled pork is in the freezer, it can last up to 2 months.
Can I Put Defrosted Pork Back in the Freezer?
We’ve all planned a delicious dinner and then realized that we have either no time to make the dinner that day or everyone in the house wants to go out instead.
Now there is a defrosted package of pork sitting in the fridge.
If you can make the pork dish the next day or the day after, then you won’t have to put it in the freezer. But if you cannot cook for three or more days, put it back in the freezer.
However, now that the pork has been defrosted, moisture is now gathering inside the package. Remove the pork from the original package, wipe away the moisture, and pat it dry.
Then place it in a freezer safe container and put it in the freezer.
Conclusion to When Pork Goes Bad
If you purchase a whole piece of pork meat, you can wait up to 5 days before throwing it out. But if you purchase ground or sliced pork, then you only have 3 days before it is no longer safe to eat.
Your refrigerator should be set at 40°F to prevent pork from rotting faster than it should. If you cannot cook pork within 3 days or 5 days, put it in the freezer. Pork meat will last up to 2 months in the freezer.
