Saturday 27 September 2014

Why is pre-packaged ground beef red on the outside and sometimes dull, grayish-brown inside?

I'll quote the full-explanation from the USDA, just for reference:

Oxygen from the air reacts with meat pigments to form a bright red color which is usually seen on the surface of meat purchased in the supermarket. The pigment responsible for the red color in meat is oxymyoglobin, a substance found in all warm-blooded animals. Fresh cut meat is purplish in color. The interior of the meat may be grayish brown due to lack of oxygen; however, if all the meat in the package has turned gray or brown, it may be beginning to spoil.

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