sulphur smell from raw corned beef

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March 19, 2023, 10:24 AM

4x5

sulphur smell from raw corned beef

I bought a packaged corned beef last week, with a use-by date of sometime next month. I opened it this morning and put it in the crock pot, and it had a sulphur smell. Is this normal for corned beef? Or has the meat gone bad?

March 19, 2023, 10:42 AM

egregore

quote:
Is this normal for corned beef?

It sure isn't usual for corned beef. To my knowledge, no sulfur, or any compounds containing it, is used in the making of it.

March 19, 2023, 10:50 AM

maladat

It’s not because it’s corned beef, it’s because of the Cryovac vacuum-pack shrink wrap process. They do something to eliminate oxygen inside the packaging to extend the shelf life, but there’s something that happens when there’s no oxygen that makes the meat develop a rotten egg smell.

It happens with basically all meat (seen it with many different cuts of raw beef, pork, lamb, and chicken) packed that way. If you let the meat sit for 15-30 minutes it goes away.

I guess it’s always possible it is spoiled, but the rotten egg smell thing is VERY common with Cryovac packaged meat.

March 19, 2023, 11:01 AM

4x5

quote:
Originally posted by maladat:
It’s not because it’s corned beef, it’s because of the Cryovac vacuum-pack shrink wrap process. They do something to eliminate oxygen inside the packaging to extend the shelf life, but there’s something that happens when there’s no oxygen that makes the meat develop a rotten egg smell.

It happens with basically all meat (seen it with many different cuts of raw beef, pork, lamb, and chicken) packed that way. If you let the meat sit for 15-30 minutes it goes away.

I guess it’s always possible it is spoiled, but the rotten egg smell thing is VERY common with Cryovac packaged meat.

Thanks!

March 19, 2023, 11:43 AM

trapper189

maladat nailed it.

I panicked a little when I opened the first whole packer brisket I had purchased. It was no where near the sell by date, but did have that smell. The internet said it was normal, I rinsed it, and the smell disappeared as I was trimming it. That was three years ago and we’re still alive.

March 19, 2023, 12:22 PM

corsair

Soak it in water and rinse for 1/2-day or, whole day before cooking.

The meat is injected with the brining solution (corned) which is loaded with nitrates. Combine that with the packaging process that maladat pointed out, and it's not a mystery why certain people find corned beef repulsive.

March 19, 2023, 12:59 PM

parabellum

I threw away a pound of ground beef not too long ago, for the same reason. I would describe it as more of a methane smell, something like flatulence, but perhaps describing it as sulfurous or "rotten egg" would have been more accurate. It was ground beef that they pack in those tubes. The meat looked perfectly fine, pink as could be, but the wife and I decided on even bothering to cook it. I hate to waste food but the other tubes I'd bought didn't have this smell.

March 19, 2023, 01:51 PM

patw

I knew they do that with beef for packaging purposes but your nose knows best. If it is questionable, I am likely to toss it.

March 19, 2023, 02:30 PM

V-Tail

quote:
Originally posted by trapper189:

three years ago and we’re still alive.

You're living on borrowed time.

March 19, 2023, 03:33 PM

trapper189

It’s true, but I’m not holding my breath waiting for it either.

If the smell goes away after 10-15 minutes, then the meat is fine. If the smell gets worse, then throw it away.

March 19, 2023, 04:28 PM

Fredward

When in doubt, throw it out.

March 19, 2023, 04:34 PM

TBH

quote:
Originally posted by Fredward:
When in doubt, throw it out.

I agree! Your nose is your first line of defense. However I’ve heaved my share of sandwich meat because it felt slimy.

March 19, 2023, 04:43 PM

Genorogers

I always notice the smell in vacuum packed ribs and pork butts as it's part of the packaging process. Just rinse and let sit for a few minutes. I've never heard of packaged burger that Para described to have that odor and I would pitch it the same.

March 19, 2023, 05:42 PM

reflex/deflex 64

If the package bloats up like a roadkill deer plus smell, it’s too far gone.

March 19, 2023, 05:49 PM

ridewv

What a timely thread as I just bought a package of corned beef at Kroger for 40% off, on after St Patrick sale! First time ever trying packaged corned beef. I'll rinse it well and maybe let it air but if it smells odd it'll still get cooked, but it'll be for my dog.