My Butt went BAD!!

[smokeusum]

Ok, I know a few of you are totally up on frig/freezer stuff so here's what happened...

Monday afternoon I bought the prettiest butt is ever laid eyes on. Brought it straight home and stuck it in the fridge. My fridge is fairly new, has a great seal and is on it's coolest setting. The "date" on the butt was 11/21. I planned to prep it tonight and smoke it tomorrow. Yesterday morning I noticed an "eggy" smell in the fridge. Ok, I had boiled eggs Wednesday night and made deviled eggs Thursday (they were eaten immediately) so I thought it was a lingering smell... Nope, it was the Butt.

Meanwhile, the fat cap from last Sunday's smoke (uncooked) is still in the fridge and is fine, and so is everything else in the fridge, which tells me my fridge was cool enough... Should that butt gone that bad that quick? It was from a new source, a local meat market that supplies American raised, processed meats (pork is from the Midwest). The owner said they get the shoulders whole (cryopacked, which they sell, as is) and split into the butt and picnic. It is wrapped in heavy grade Saran type wrap, which is still tight with no (visable) holes. I just don't feel it should gone to hell in a handbag between Monday 6pm to being stinky in the fridge by Friday morning and totally bad by Saturday morning... Am I wrong?

 

[bdskelly]

No way your butt could have gone stank that soon if the date was correct on the label. 

Are you sure one of those deviled eggs didn't slip behind the crisper drawer?????

Brian

 

[eman]

Also ,Could have been removed from the meat cooler and set on a shelf for a few hours at the store and then put back in the cooler. I would definitely return it

 

[dward51]

That is why I like the cryovac butts.  Even with them you don't know for sure how long it set out during processing, but at least it is in a factory setting and was under USDA supervision.  Once the local shop gets them in and splits stuff up, you have no idea how long it sat before they put it back under refrigeration.  I prefer to cut open the cryovac myself.

I would take it back and talk to them.  They should make it right. 

 

[smokeusum]

That is why I like the cryovac butts.  Even with them you don't know for sure how long it set out during processing, but at least it is in a factory setting and was under USDA supervision.  Once the local shop gets them in and splits stuff up, you have no idea how long it sat before they put it back under refrigeration.  I prefer to cut open the cryovac myself.

I would take it back and talk to them.  They should make it right. 

I AGREE COMPLETELY!!! Hugely disappointed with my first venture in trusting a local source for an American product that completely benefits American farmers, wholesalers and retailers... I'll give them an opportunity to make it right.

 

[dburne]

I have had that happen twice now, both times with a rack of spare ribs.

One was from Publix, the other from Kroger. On both the sell by date had not been reached. Both times took back and they made it right, but a pain to have to deal with.

 

[mbogo]

Most definitely take it back. Any joint worth their salt will not question it.  I just bought a big corned beef brisket the other day at my favorite store, (Whom I trust) It was marked down to damn near free as it was due to expire the next day. I planned on cooking it that day, and it turned out just fine, but, as I was opening the package, I noticed on the original label from the packing house that it had expired about a week before.

So, I suppose they build in a "fudge factor" in these dates, looks like it's up to us to hold them to an acceptable time period.

Just my 2 cents!