I just bought this pack of ground beef from the store yesterday and put it in the fridge. I went to cook dinner and noticed the plastic film is puffed up like a balloon, but the date is still good. Wh

But this rarely creates dramatic swelling.

How to Tell If Ground Beef Is Spoiled
If you’re unsure whether to discard it, check these signs:

1. Smell
Spoiled beef has a:

Sour odor

Rotten egg smell

Ammonia-like scent

Fresh ground beef should have a mild, neutral smell.

If it smells bad, discard it immediately.

2. Texture
Spoiled beef may feel:

Slimy

Sticky

Excessively wet

Fresh beef should feel moist but not slimy.

3. Color
Color alone is not reliable.

Bright red outside, brown inside = often normal

Grayish or greenish tones + bad smell = unsafe

But remember: bacteria that cause illness don’t always change appearance.

The Important Safety Rule
When in doubt, throw it out.

Food poisoning is not worth the risk.

Ground beef can harbor harmful bacteria such as:

E. coli

Salmonella

Listeria

Even cooking does not always eliminate toxins that some bacteria produce during spoilage.

If gas buildup has occurred due to bacterial growth, cooking may kill bacteria but may not reverse toxin production.