How long can pork be stored in the refrigerator?
Since her retirement, Aunt Li has been thinking about how to cook delicious meals for her family every day. That day, she picked a piece of fresh pork from the market and thought about making a braised pork for her family in the evening.
On the way home, I happened to meet my neighbor Aunt Wang, and the two stood directly on the side of the road and chatted.
Aunt Li completely forgot the time, and when she saw that it was getting late, she hurriedly said goodbye to Aunt Wang and rushed home.
As soon as she entered the door, Aunt Li casually threw the pork into the refrigerated layer of the refrigerator, thinking to herself: "Let's make braised pork in two days, let's eat some casually today." ”
In the blink of an eye, a week passed, and when Aunt Li was tidying up the refrigerator, she remembered the forgotten pork, and when she took out the pork, she found that although the color of the pork looked okay, it faintly exuded a peculiar smell.
Aunt Li frowned, muttering in her heart: "Can this pork be eaten?"
She was worried that if she ate spoiled pork, her family's health would be affected, but if such a good piece of pork was thrown away, she felt that it would be a pity.
In fact, it is not uncommon for people like Aunt Li to buy some ingredients in advance and store them in the refrigerator because they are accustomed to thrift and preparation in advance in their daily lives.
However, with the accelerated pace of life, we sometimes forget what other ingredients are in the refrigerator, resulting in the ingredients being stored for too long or even spoiling.
So, how long can pork be stored in the fridge, and after a certain period of time, should we continue to eat it?
01
1. Protein
Pork is a great source of high-quality protein, which is essential for repairing and building body tissues, and the protein in pork contains essential amino acids for the body, which is important for muscle growth and maintenance.
2. B vitamins
Pork is rich in a variety of B vitamins, including vitamins B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B6, and B12, which are all essential for energy production, brain function, nervous system health, and red blood cell formation.
3. Minerals
Pork is a good source of many minerals, especially iron, zinc and selenium, which is an important component in the production of red blood cells and helps prevent anemia.
Zinc is essential for the immune system, cell division, and protein synthesis, and selenium is a powerful antioxidant that helps reduce free radical damage to the body.
4. Fat and cholesterol
Pork contains a higher amount of fat, but it also provides energy and aids in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins.
The fats in pork are mainly saturated and monounsaturated, and moderate consumption of lean pork can also be taken as part of a healthy diet.
5. Meat texture
Pork is popular for its delicate meat quality and rich flavor, and its variety of cooking methods can cater to different dietary preferences and cultural customs.
02
When preserving pork, refrigeration is a common and effective method, and in the refrigeration layer, the pork should be kept in the coldest part of the refrigerator and ensure that the meat is properly wrapped or stored in an airtight container to prevent cross-contamination.
It's best to cut the pork into small pieces or pack them in the amount you need, which not only makes it easier to thaw, but also helps reduce the risk of contamination after opening.
For refrigerated pork (around 4°C), it is recommended to keep it for no more than three days, this is to ensure the freshness and safety of the meat.
Beyond this time, the quality and taste of pork can deteriorate dramatically, and bacteria and other microorganisms are more likely to grow.
If you need to keep pork for a long time, it is recommended to choose the freezing method (below -18°C), frozen pork is relatively safe to eat within six months, but it should be noted that once thawed, do not freeze it again to avoid food safety risks.
Storing pork is more than just simply putting it in the freezer. Proper packaging, correct temperatures, and preventing cross-contamination are all important measures to ensure meat safety.
Before eating pork, checking its color, smell and texture is a good way to determine if it is still fit for consumption.
Fresh pork is usually bright in color, fresh in smell and firm in texture, and if you notice that the meat has an off-flavor, sticky smell, or darkens in color, these are all signs that the meat is starting to spoil.
03
Pork that has been stored for too long can turn into so-called "zombie meat", which becomes unfit for consumption due to excessive microbial growth.
Consuming such meat may cause food poisoning, which includes diarrhea, vomiting, and other digestive problems.
In more severe cases, certain microorganisms such as Listeria monocytogenes can cause severe illness, especially in people with weakened immune systems.
In order to avoid these risks, it is crucial to know and strictly follow the recommended time for food preservation.
In addition, cleaning the refrigerator regularly and making sure that the temperature of the refrigerator is set appropriately is also an effective way to prevent food from spoiling.
After experiencing this incident, Aunt Li began to pay attention to food preservation methods, and after learning the correct way to preserve pork, she began to pay more attention to the freshness and shelf life of the ingredients.
Since then, Aunt Li has never encountered similar problems, and her family's food safety has been effectively guaranteed.
Food safety is no trivial matter, the correct preservation method is related to the health of the family, we should always pay attention to the shelf life of ingredients, to avoid making the refrigerator a hotbed of "zombie meat".