How to choose high-quality and fresh minced meat in the store: we share useful tips

Ready-made store-bought minced meat can be a great help when you don't have time to make your own minced meat for meat dishes. But it is very important to choose the right one in the store so that the dishes made from it are tasty and healthy.

The FoodOboz editorial team shares simple tips on how to choose high-quality and fresh minced meat in stores.

What to look for:

Expiration date

There should always be a label near the minced meat, which indicates not only the price but also the expiration date, the composition of meat and fat that make up the minced meat. It must also indicate the storage conditions – the temperature regime. If the minced meat is in a package, pay attention to the same information on the package. If you buy minced meat by weight, it can be stored for only 5-6 hours.

Price and classification

Good minced meat cannot be cheap! Also, pay attention to the classification of minced meat. There is ready-made minced meat in a package containing up to 80% muscle tissue and only 20% pure meat. And there are minced meats with the composition indicated almost in half.

Type, color of minced meat, and structure

Fresh, high-quality minced meat has a homogeneous structure, without bones, tendons, skin, or cartilage. The color should be uniform, bright, and shiny. If you see that the minced meat has darkened, it means that this minced meat has started to deteriorate or the seller has mixed it with the remains of yesterday's product.

Flavor

Fresh minced meat should have a characteristic meaty odor. If you smell foreign odors or spices, do not buy such minced meat.

What fresh minced meat from different types of meat looks like

Beef is always a rich dark red color, chicken is usually pale pink, and pork will always be red-pink or dark pink.