# Can I do anything with an old joint of beef? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 9, 2010, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-do-anything-with-an-old-joint-of-beef/524298 "2010-01-09T18:16:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2010, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-do-anything-with-an-old-joint-of-beef/524298/1 "2010-01-09T18:16:04Z")
I was sorting out the fridge and behind some other food was a joint of beef for roasting. Uncooked, vacuum-packed. Its use-by date is 16 Dec 09. It’s been sitting at the back bottom of the fridge for over 3 weeks :smack: But I’m wondering, is it still safe to eat? I know beef can be left to mature for good while. If it’s not safe to roast, are there ways of cooking it safely? ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2010, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-do-anything-with-an-old-joint-of-beef/524298/2 "2010-01-09T19:44:46Z")
It may still be good. Open it and smell it. If it smells okay, it’s okay to eat. If it smells at all rancid, even just for a whiff, then throw it away; you can’t fix it. The “use-by” date is a recommendation based on the earliest date it could start to spoil, but there’s a range. Like you said, aged beef is okay, but it’s aged at colder temps than a normal fridge; however, many areas of the fridge are colder than others. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2010, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-do-anything-with-an-old-joint-of-beef/524298/3 "2010-01-09T20:05:28Z")
Is any of it looking a bit green? Does any part of it smell even a bit off? If not you’re fine. I’d recommend some sort of stew so you can cut it up and have a good sniff around the meat. Best before dates for a load of products are more to do with stock rotation than actual edibility. ---
**Author:** ![Rrose\_Selavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bcef8e/32.png) [@Rrose\_Selavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rrose_Selavy)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2010, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-do-anything-with-an-old-joint-of-beef/524298/4 "2010-01-09T20:09:18Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > Best before dates for a load of products are more to do with stock rotation than actual edibility. It’s a “use by” date the OP has which is NOT the same thing as a “Best Before”. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2010, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-do-anything-with-an-old-joint-of-beef/524298/5 "2010-01-09T20:11:50Z")
Can I do anything with an old joint of beef? Sure, what’s it gonna do, write it’s Congressman? ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2010, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-do-anything-with-an-old-joint-of-beef/524298/6 "2010-01-09T20:21:40Z")
> [@Rrose\_Selavy](#): > > It’s a “use by” date the OP has which is NOT the same thing as a “Best Before”. _adjusts glasses_ Good Lord, you ARE correct! But loads of food lasts well beyond even the use by date. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2010, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-do-anything-with-an-old-joint-of-beef/524298/7 "2010-01-10T01:09:09Z")
The Use By date on the beef is the same as the Display Until date, so I’m not sure what’s up there. I haven’t opened the packaging - it’s vacuum packed and I’m less than half way through another joint of beef, so it will be another few days yet. If it seems okay when I open it, is there a stew that will withstand being reheated several days running?