Is this ground beef still good?

[NYEmomma]

I got a gigantic family-sized pack of ground beef to make sloppy joe's for DD's birthday party tomorrow.

When I got home and started opening, I realized there was a small tear in the packaging... meaning it had been exposed to air. I'm not sure how long the tear was there. I didn't notice it in the store, but then again, I didn't pay attention. So it could've been like that on the shelf or I could've made the tear myself when I was taking it out of the fridge to cook.

It doesn't smell bad & I'll be cooking it to well done, but I'm not too confident or experienced around beef (I hate eating it, so I don't prepare it very often). Is it safe to eat or have I wasted almost $15 since I already opened it??

 

[DisneyLoverUSA]

You more than most likely made the tear yourself because if it had been torn like that for awhile the meat around the hole would be brown and discolored. I think it should be fine.

 

[Avonlady1001]

Is the meat hard & discolored where the tear is? That happened to me once & the meat that was exposed was pretty nasty. The rest was fine but I threw it all out...I think I ripped it in the bag on the way home & put it in the fridge without realizing. Didn't go to use it for days.

If your meat isn't hard & discolored, it probably just happened when you took it out to cook & is fine. That's my opinion, anyway.

 

[NYEmomma]

Nope, it isn't discolored around the hole -- though the whole package is a slightly different color than a second package that I bought. But it says right on the package that color isn't indicative of freshness so...

It's the same texture as the other package of meat too.

So sounds like it should be ok?? Thanks so much for the help!! I wasn't sure what the heck I was going to do because DD is sleeping & DH is at a party tonight so I can't run out & I wouldn't have time in the morning before the party either.