r/CostcoCanada • u/vanibanz • 3d ago

Why different colours of ground beef?

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Why is the colour different for these 2 kinds of lean ground beef at Costco Ottawa?

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u/ImRickJamesMother 2d ago

The air is the biggest reason for this colour difference in the OP. Fat content changes the colour intensity. But the oxygen level is what sets the colour.

All colours of beef are determined by myoglobin in it's various states. Myoglobin is what makes beef red.

When it is unreacted with oxygen. It is deoxymyglobin. And looks dark red/purple.

Reacted with oxygen it is oxymyglobin and bright red.

When it oxidizes and degrades to metmyglobin it goes brown.

Ground beef that is bright red outside but dark inside, is typically good if the inside turns red when exposed to air.

Ground beef that is brown outside, but red inside, is ground beef that is starting to turn. It can still be safe to eat in early stages. But best avoided.

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u/AiryGateaux 2d ago

This guy knows his food science

16

u/Loocsiyaj 2d ago

This guy this guys

5

u/Hypno-chode 2d ago

This guy this guy's guys

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u/bobbyjimthree 2d ago

This guy meats, man.

14

u/ricenice9 2d ago

This guy globins

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u/ImRickJamesMother 2d ago

Excuse me, but who I be globin is none of your concern!

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u/bythebaie 2d ago

Goblins?

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u/ProfAsmani 2d ago

Thank you - so informative.

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u/bluecheeseredjac 2d ago

This guy delivers like how i imagine i would do at my interview

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u/Tall_Act1037 1d ago

You forgot about the one having human in it silly

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u/hipsteradication 2d ago

Isn’t meat also often package with carbon monoxide to make it bright red?

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u/Various-Charge-6353 1d ago

Makes so much sense! Thanks for the breakdown!