Spoiled Ribs?

Burbs · BBQ Fan Joined: 31 Oct 2008 Posts: 363

I picked up a couple racks of ribs back on 12/6 from my butcher and they were vacuum sealed direct from the company he buys them through. He said as long as they are refrigerated, they should be good.

This morning, I took them out, so I could cut them in half and cut the membranes off. I was overwhelmed with a smell, that I've never smelled on ribs before. My wife said that it was just the meat smell and that it wasn't a rotting smell. I'm thinking that since they were sealed, that the smell of meat, bone, blood is just emitting from them normally. I never smelled this when I bought them from the case, which is making me wonder. Then again, they were probably sitting there for a couple hours.

Could these be spoiled or am I right about the smells first emitting because they just came out of the sealed packaging?

Thanks,

Chris
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k.a.m. · Posted: Dec 18 2008 Post subject:

Chris, I am sure some others will be along in a bit but this is my thinking as a general rule pork does not have a smell. My rule is if I smell an off smell it goes back to the store I bought it from. Chicken ok I know the smells Beef also. I thawed out some spares that had been partially thawed then refroze when Mrs. K.A.M. opened the pack it had an off smell they went in the trash, this just my take on pork others may have some more input.

Rojellio Es Caliente · Posted: Dec 18 2008 Post subject:

It should take 4-6 hours for Ribs to have an overwhelming smell.... and that smell should be on the opposite end of the spectrum. Overwhelmingly good.

When in doubt, throw it out. Its going to nag you for the entire burn. You are going to be a nervous wreck only a couple hours into it, with 4 more to go.
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StarsandStripes · BBQ Fan Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 385

I will not tell you your ribs are still good. There's no way I could ever tell. But I've never enjoyed the smell of ribs during prep. I think they always smell badly...like the flesh of an animal that's still sitting in its own blood is supposed to smell, I reckon.

I cooked 35 racks of spares last week. About midnight I had a ~120 lbs mountain lion watching me and my ribs. I guess she liked the smell as well.

marvsbbq · BBQ All Star Joined: 15 May 2005 Posts: 6186

If you get a pack of ribs, butts or anything else that has an "off odor", try rinsing with cool running water and kind of wipeing them as you do then pat dry. This will usually take care of any "off odor".

If rinsing does not take the odor away, THEN I would not use.

mutha chicken bbq · Posted: Dec 18 2008 Post subject:

somegeek · BBQ Fan Joined: 23 Dec 2006 Posts: 166

That's good to know that the fluid in the bag can hold an odor while the meat can still be good.

I've had great luck with pork so far. I have purchased chicken wings that were not right. Opened a pack and they smelled like rotten eggs. Talk about a buzz kill after looking forward to some hot wings.
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davejschultz · Posted: Dec 19 2008 Post subject:

Your ribs are rancid. Seal in 3 layers of poly and toss. I ran into this last year buying a rack of BB's at Wally World that were marked down because they were expiring on the day I purchased. When I opened the vac pack at home to rince and rub, the smell filled my 2 story home top to bottow. It was the worst smell ever. Took 2 days of major candle burning to get rid of the smell.

Called the store, and the manager refunded and made sure to pull all the racks with the same date on them.

I agree with the above poster - your pork should have very little, if any smell when fresh.
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Toga · Posted: Dec 19 2008 Post subject:

As a general rule if it smells bad I don't chance it. Fresh pork should have very little smell to no smell at all. If it smells bad chances are it is bad. Fresh pork will also get a bit slimy as well when it goes bad. I wuld pitch it and grab yourself something fresh to cook. Food poisoning is not fun.

tinovr · Posted: Dec 19 2008 Post subject:

Chris, care to name names? always good to know where to go and where to avoid?
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NCBBQFAN · Posted: Dec 19 2008 Post subject:

If in doughty through it out. Better eat the price of the ribs, than eat bad meat that gives you more that you bargained for.

Burbs · BBQ Fan Joined: 31 Oct 2008 Posts: 363

pacanis · BBQ Fan Joined: 13 Oct 2008 Posts: 330

I run into this all the time at my small town grocery, with all kinds of meats. Chuck 'em. Right back where you gottem. They were not stored correctly somewhere in the chain. IMO, properly refrigerated blood doesn't have a smell either.
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Shaymus · BBQ Pro Joined: 04 Apr 2006 Posts: 869 Location: Boone NC

tinovr · Posted: Dec 19 2008 Post subject:

I don't know that place.. where in N.A?

I like Chartley Store and Fresh Catch, but they can't beat BJ's prices.. $5 vs $3.50/lb for BBs.. and $2 vs $1.19 for bone-in butts.
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Harry Nutczak · Posted: Dec 19 2008 Post subject:

they were purchased on the 6th, and 12 days of sitting in a fridge I would also agree that the meat is bad.

At first I was thinking the blood was just getting a funky smell which is common with vac-packed meats. Until you mentioned the purchase date.

What is it with pork getting funky so quick when beef doesn't even start to become edible until it has at least 21 days of age from slaughter.

I do nt accept anything less than 21 days of age at the restaurant, and I like to keep it for at least another week or two before serving it.

But pork & chicken enter the funk zone in a hurry.

I am glad the butcher honored the return, it was kinda goofy for him to tell you they would be fine for extended periods.

I am surprised the packaging didn't start to swell from the funk.
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BBQMAN · Posted: Dec 19 2008 Post subject:

I totally agree with Harry (and the others that reccomended tossing).

I have gotten ribs with a slight off odor from blood etc, but funky out of date ribs go in the trash.

Next time freeze after you purchase if they need to sit that long until cooking.

Cryovac meats freeze well.
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Burbs · BBQ Fan Joined: 31 Oct 2008 Posts: 363

Well I learned my lesson, and again, I'm not pissed at this guy either. Common sense, which I lack on certain things, says to freeze everything.

I just picked up a 4lb pork butt for tomorrow from him. This should be interesting with the snow! Rolling Eyes

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