The U.S. Department of Agriculture says ground beef can be kept in the coldest part of the refrigerator for up to two days before being cooked. If you’re waiting any longer than that to use it, then it should be frozen for long-term storage. For longer freezer storage, wrap the ground beef in heavy duty plastic wrap, aluminum foil, freezer paper or plastic bags made for freezing. Ground beef is safe indefinitely if kept frozen, but like most foods stored in the freezer, will lose quality over time. It will taste best if used within four months.
Whether you need meal ideas for a crowd or a quick weeknight dinner, we’ve got even more beef recipes for you to choose from.