Mince meat colour

Tips for buying & handling minced meat

When shopping, select and buy meat last to ensure it stays cold as long as possible.

Choose packages that are cold, tightly wrapped and have no tears or punctures.

Make sure the package does not contain excessive amounts of liquid. Liquid may indicate it has not been kept cold enough or has been stored for too long.

Cooking mince safely

The same type of colour change occurs when mince meat is cooked. It changes colour from red to brown.

If the meat is already brown before cooking, it may be difficult to tell when it is cooked as it will not go through this colour change during cooking.

Minced meat must be cooked to a minimum of 71^oC all the way through and the temperature at the centre should be checked with a thermometer.