# What is raw meat supposed to smell like?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-raw-meat-supposed-to-smell-like/346187>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 26, 2006, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-raw-meat-supposed-to-smell-like/346187 "2006-02-26T16:42:59Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mrrealtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e8c25b/32.png) [@mrrealtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrrealtime)\
**Post date:** [February 26, 2006, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-raw-meat-supposed-to-smell-like/346187/1 "2006-02-26T16:42:59Z")

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The other day, I bought a fairly pricey piece of tenderloin. I tend to eat steak less and less these days because of health concerns, usually 5 ounces per week.

At any rate, perhaps because Ive not had it around as much, when I unwrapped it I noticed a vague smell that reminded me of (PLEASE DO NOT READ IF YOU LOVE STEAK AND DO NOT WANT TO BE GROSSED OUT)

Urine.

Hmm. I didnt remember steak smelling like that, but since I made the connection, smelling raw meat that wasnt frozen and was just about to be cooked (so it was around room temperature or a bit cooler) seems to consistently have that smell.

Of course, once I cook the steak with butter and salt, it tastes wonderful and is very tender etc…but… 😕

Is that right? Should I switch grocers? Should I be worried about my health?

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**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\
**Post date:** [February 26, 2006, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-raw-meat-supposed-to-smell-like/346187/2 "2006-02-26T18:31:27Z")

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Some bacon I’ve eaten smelled stongly of urine while cooking. I assume this is some musk/hormone issue if a male hog is butchered. Don’t know if cattle have the same issues.