The hamburgers are the perfect snacks for people who like meat. The hamburgers are prepared with ground meat and are placed in the bread roll or bun.
The hamburger patties are readily available in the supermarkets and can be simply fried at home to prepare hamburgers within a few minutes.
These hamburger patties are made from ground meat and are perfect for people who don’t have time to prepare dinner from scratch.
On the other hand, if the hamburger patties are turning brown even if you have placed them in the freezer, we are sharing the reason as well as the correct storage tip!
Why Does Hamburger Turn Brown In The Freezer?
Brown Hamburger’s Meat – What Does It Mean?
The hamburger patties are meant to be stored in the freezer because the ground beef has to be frozen to keep it healthy for a longer period.
When the meat isn’t exposed to oxygen, it will retain a purple or burgundy color. However, when it’s exposed to air for a few minutes, the meat receives oxygen and the meat turns bright red.
After refrigeration or freezing of hamburgers for five to ten days, the meat will turn brown. The browning process is caused by oxidation – myoglobin’s chemical process leads to browning.
Truth be told, browning is a normal change when you store it in the refrigerator or freezer. However, if you have stored the hamburger patties for a long time and has turned brown, it indicates spoilage.
Signs Of Spoiled Hamburger Meat Or Patties
The raw hamburger patties have a clean and irony aroma, so if your patties smell fishy or like sulfur and ammonia, it’s recommended that you toss them. Some other signs of spoilage include;
- Color
First of all, you have to check the color of hamburger meat and it can change color when it’s exposed to oxygen, temperature, microbial growth, and light.
Fresh hamburger meat or patties has a red color because of the presence of oxymyoglobin, which is a pigment that produces whenever protein reacts with oxygen.
The interior tends to be brown and greyish because it doesn’t have enough exposure to oxygen but it doesn’t mean that the meat is spoiled.
However, if the exterior of hamburger meat seems brown, you should discard it as it indicates the initiation of the rotting process. In addition, it should be discarded whenever there are green or blue spots.
- Texture
A touch test is another method of checking the freshness of hamburger meat. The fresh and safe-to-eat meat should have a firm consistency it should tear apart when squeezed.
On the other hand, if the hamburger meat seems slimy and sticky, it’s likely that there are bacteria, causing spoilage – such meat should be discarded immediately.
The easiest way of preventing bacteria infestation is to wash your hands while storing frozen hamburger meat or patties.
- Smell
The smell test is the fastest and easiest way of identifying if the hamburger meat is fresh or not. In particular, the putrid and tangy odor indicates spoiled meat.
The pungent smell is the result of bacteria infestation – pseudomonas spp leads to spoilage of meat, which not only impacts the flavor but texture as well.
So, if there is a weird smell coming out of hamburger meat or patties, you should discard it as soon as possible.
- Expiration Date
Last but not least, you’ve to check the expiration date on the hamburger meat’s packaging. So, if the expiration date has passed, you should discard the meat, even if there are no other signs of spoilage.
Storing The Hamburger Meat In Freezer
In most cases, hamburger meat is spoiled when there is a loss of moisture. For this reason, it’s recommended that you freeze them at 0 degrees Fahrenheit.
On the other hand, the cooked hamburger can be stored in the freezer for three months while the raw hamburger meat can be frozen for over four to five months.
If you have to use the original packaging, you can freeze it for two weeks. However, if you want to freeze it for a longer period, you can wrap the original packaging in a freezer bag or aluminum foil.
The aluminum foil or freezer bag will prevent exposure to air, promising better storage. In addition to the original packaging, it’s recommended that you use an airtight container.
The experts recommend freezing the hamburger meat as soon as possible, preferably as soon as you get home from the market – it will ensure that the thawed meat is fresh as well.
However, the freshness of hamburger meat depends on how you freeze the meat. So, in the section below, we are sharing how you can freeze the hamburger meat!
- Wrapping The Meat
First of all, we recommend that you wrap the hamburger meat tightly as it helps avoid the freezer burn – freezer burn incurs when the meat is exposed to cold air in the freezer.
If you want to store the hamburger meat for a longer time, you must use an airtight container and plastic wrap to prevent exposure to air. In addition, you can use vacuum-packed bags.
- Putting It In Freezer
Once the hamburger meat has been wrapped, we recommend that you put it in the freezer. It will ensure that the meat will be protected from microorganisms in the air, especially if you put it on the countertop.
You have to ensure that the freezer’s temperature is maintained at 0 degrees Fahrenheit. In addition, you shouldn’t open the freezer too much to prevent temperature fluctuations.
- Add The Date & Label
Before you put the meat in the freezer, we recommend that you add the label on the meat packaging and write the date you put it in the freezer. Also, it shouldn’t be frozen for more than five months.
Thawing The Hamburger Meat
Last but not least, if you have to thaw the hamburger meat, we recommend that you put it in the refrigerator overnight to ensure gradual thawing.
Another option is to put the meat in a sealed plastic bag and soak it in cold water for two to three hours – it’s a faster way of thawing the frozen hamburger meat.