Is there anything quite like the wafting smell of smoked pork? What about the possibilities that come with a slab of bacon? Pork is an easy to cook, versatile protein that makes a delicious addition to any entrée, from salads to tacos. But what happens when you don't get around to cooking it right after picking it up at the grocery store?
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00:00Is there anything quite like the wafting smell of smoked pork?
00:04What about the possibilities that come with a slab of bacon?
00:07If you've been storing it in the freezer, it might just come with more than you bargained
00:12for.
00:13If you're looking for more flavor and less bacteria, keep watching.
00:16One surefire way to know your pork has gone bad would be to wind up sick after eating
00:20it.
00:21But a better option is learning to identify the signs of hazardous pork before you require
00:26the aid of a professional health care provider.
00:28We can help you do exactly that.
00:30Fortunately for meat lovers everywhere, there are some easy-to-spot, telltale signs of spoilage
00:35that could save you a lot of discomfort and medical bills.
00:39And that's incredibly important.
00:41According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, the consumption of pork leads
00:45to 525,000 foodborne infections, 2,900 hospitalizations, and 82 deaths each year.
00:54While this number may seem quite off-putting, don't swear off pork chops or bacon just yet.
00:59One must remember that when compared to the amount of pork consumed by Americans each
01:03year, 67 pounds per capita in 2019, it remains a safe protein to eat.
01:08But as with any food product, there are rules that home cooks should follow to ensure their
01:13family's safety.
01:14Everyone has that one friend who treats expiration dates like mere suggestions, transforming
01:20every meal into a game of culinary roulette.
01:23Contrary to what they may believe, no one has an actual cast-iron stomach, and eventually,
01:28hazardous eating habits might catch up with them.
01:30A wise home cook pays attention to best before dates.
01:34Here's how those expiration dates are actually determined.
01:37The U.S. Department of Agriculture has provided science-based, easy-to-follow rules regarding
01:42sell-by dates and pork.
01:44First, any pork product with a sell-by date should be cooked or frozen within three to
01:48five days of purchase.
01:50Remember, refrigeration merely slows down the spoiling process.
01:54It doesn't completely prevent bacteria from growing.
01:57Second, if you have thawed frozen pork in your fridge, it should remain viable for three
02:01to five days as well.
02:03A sell-by date, however, is not the same as an expiry date, so be sure to read the label
02:08carefully.
02:09When it comes to raw meat, it's always better to err on the side of caution, with many chefs
02:13recommending never eating pork that's past its expiration date.
02:16If you really want to know whether your packaged pork has gone bad, smell it.
02:20A healthy piece of pork should be relatively odorless.
02:24When pork is going bad, it emits a sour odor, or a smell similar to ammonia, that gets worse
02:29over time.
02:30And, you may come to find out, cooking it will intensify the stench, spreading it around
02:35your kitchen and firmly planting it within the depths of your nostrils.
02:39It's worth noting that certain packaging may make your meat smell odd.
02:43How, then, do you determine if the wrapping is the source of the strange scent?
02:47Rinse the pork and dry it off before checking out its aroma.
02:50If the weird smell is still there after washing, the packaging wasn't the culprit.
02:54A bevy of gut-twisting bacteria is likely the cause, so toss those chops in the trash
03:00immediately.
03:01In addition to smell, sight is another way to tell if that package of fresh pork sitting
03:05in your fridge could potentially make you sick.
03:08If your pork is starting to lose its pinkish hue and is developing spots of gray, it's
03:12time to file it under G for garbage.
03:15And if the fat looks yellowish, that's another good indicator that it's off.
03:19Pork shouldn't be slimy, either.
03:21The biggest tip-off pork has gone bad is when there's a slime-like film.
03:25And if it stinks or smells sour, or feels mushy or dry, don't eat it.
03:29And if you've left your frozen pork chops thawing on the countertop all day, or have
03:33tried using a quick-thaw method of sitting them in hot water, you'll need to toss them
03:37in the trash.
03:38Yes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture says that neither of these thawing options are
03:42considered safe.
03:44If your frozen pork has a few freezer burns, you can cut them out by taking an extra inch
03:48off the surrounding area.
03:50If it's more than just a few burn spots, it's best to toss it.
03:53No one wants to be responsible for cooking a dish that makes family and friends sick.
03:57By following these tips, you'll be better able to keep your loved ones safe.