How to determine whether pork is fresh or not

Judging whether pork is fresh can be comprehensively evaluated by observing color, smelling odor, touching elasticity, checking fat status, checking packaging date, and other methods.

1. Observe the color

Fresh pork appears light red or pink with a glossy surface, and the fat part is milky white or light yellow. The color of spoiled pork appears dark, dark red or gray green, and the fat part may turn yellow or gray. If there are abnormal spots or large areas of discoloration on the surface of pork, it usually indicates that it is no longer fresh.

2. Smell

Fresh pork has only a slight bloody smell or no obvious odor. Rotten pork will emit a sour, putrid, or pungent ammonia odor. If there is an abnormal odor after thawing refrigerated pork, even if the color is normal, it should be avoided from consumption.

3. Touch Elasticity

Gently press the surface of the pork with your fingers. Fresh pork has a tight and elastic texture, and can quickly rebound after pressing. The texture of spoiled pork is sticky or sticky, and the depression is difficult to recover after pressing, which may be accompanied by exudation of liquid.

4. Check the fat status

Fresh pork has uniform fat distribution, fine and dry texture. The fat of spoiled pork may become soft, sticky, or oxidized yellow, and in severe cases, the fat layer may appear as transparent oil stains.

5. Check packaging date

For pre packaged pork, please check the production date and shelf life. For unpackaged pork, please inquire about the sales time. It is recommended to consume refrigerated pork within 2-3 days after purchase, as the quality of frozen pork will gradually decline after more than 3 months. If there is a large amount of blood or ice crystals inside the packaging bag, it may be caused by repeated freezing and thawing.

When purchasing pork, it is recommended to choose regular supermarkets or stalls with quarantine marks to avoid buying meat from unknown sources. Fresh pork should be refrigerated promptly after purchase, and the refrigeration temperature should be maintained at 0-4 degrees Celsius. Thoroughly thaw before cooking to avoid repeated freezing and thawing affecting the meat quality. After processing raw meat, thoroughly clean your hands and kitchen utensils to ensure separate storage of raw and cooked meat. If abnormal discoloration, odor, or slippery texture is found in pork, it should be discarded even before the expiration date. Pork can be paired with fresh vegetables in daily diet to ensure protein intake and balanced nutrition.