Question about cooking meat.

[Dangerously Amused]

I have been a vegetarian/vegan for most of my adult life, so I have virtually no clue about cooking meat. Last Monday when my dog wasn't eating her regular dog food, her vet recommended cooking some lean meat and rice for her. So I bought some good quality lean, organic ground hamburger and prepared it (fried/drained/rinsed) according to his instructions. She still wouldn't eat. Now there is some leftover hamburger in the fridge. The kitties showed an interest in it when I made it for the dog, and I would rather not waste it.

The meat has been refrigerated this whole time, and today is the "sell by" date. When I first bought the meat, it was bright red. But now it has faded to a pale brown color. I can't tell you if it smells bad, because I don't know what bad meat smells like. How can I tell if it is still safe to cook it and give it to the kitties?

Thanks.

[KitchenWitch]

1. It is more than likely okay.

Oxidation browns the meat a day or so after packaging it.

[Dangerously Amused]

4. Thank you.

The kitties will be very happy.

[Breeze54]

2. Boil the ground hamburger. It should be fine.

Ground burger always turns brown after a day or two.

They'll be fine. ;)

After you boil it, add some cooked rice, scrambled eggs and cheese and garlic! They love it! ;)

[Dangerously Amused]

5. Thank you. I already cooked up some organic Sweet Brown Rice to add.

They would probably like the egg and cheese flavors, too.

Not sure I want to find out what garlic kitty farts are like, though.


:)

[Breeze54]

13. Well, my pups and cats liked a little garlic...emphasis on 'little'.

;)

[Dangerously Amused]

32. I know it's good for them.

I buy the highest quality dry kibble I can find (and supplement with canned food), and the best ones always have garlic in the ingredients list.

[China_cat]

53. Scrap the rice.

Cats are obligate carnivores. They get absolutely no nutrition from anything other than meat.

[CreekDog]

54. is garlic safe for cats?

[haele]

56. Garlic isn't very good for kitties and dogs -

Keep the amount you use to the level that you can't really "smell" garlic when you cook, no more than around 1/2 teaspoon powder per 1/2 lb. Don't over boil or over-brown the meat, either, and your kitties will loooove the treat. My kitties love a little diced asparagus in their browned meat.

Haele

[flvegan]

3. Just cook it really thoroughly.

Odd...veg*n advice to veg*n question in regards to meat.

Cook the hell outta it, and it'll be fine for the kitties. As true carnivores, they'll be fine.

Again, I'm sorry. You and I have walked the very same path here.

[Dangerously Amused]

6. Yeah, it's an odd conversation for sure.

I figured they'd be fine with it raw or cooked... just not like, spoiled.

Thanks for the advice. I'm going to cook it up tonight. The kitties will be ecstatic.

And, thanks for the empathy. It's powerful medicine right now.

[flvegan]

14. You and I are both missing somebody tonight.

And it's a powerful missing.

[Dangerously Amused]

31. Very much so.

I only hope I gave her enough joy in life that somewhere, she is still smiling.




:cry:

[flvegan]

34. Come on...of course you did.

And yes she is.

Good looking smiling dawg there....

[Dangerously Amused]

46. Yeah. She had the greatest smile.

Thanks.

[Ptah]

38. I hope this isn't inappropriate.

:hug:

[Dangerously Amused]

44. Thank you, that made me smile.

What a wonderful photo.

:hug:

[SOteric]

7. The brownish colour just means

that the meat has been in contact with air. I won't get any more specific as it would offend your vegetarian sensibilites and I don't mean to do that.

As long as it's been properly stored since the purchase date, it should be fine to cook and serve to the kitties. One caveat: Ground meats are especially susceptible to various foodborne bacteria inasmuch as there is so much 'surface area' involved. Be sure and cook it to a very high temperature, - at least 165ºF throughout.

[Dangerously Amused]

9. Thank you.

And you are so thoughtful to avoid offending my veg sensibilities with TMMI (Too Much Meat Information). :hug:

I will be sure to follow your advice, and cook the meat thoroughly at high heat. That is probably very basic to knowledge most people, but honestly I wouldn't have known any better, so thank you!

[Akoto]

57. Just wanted to say ...

Every time I read that picture in your sig, I get a laugh. Thank you. :D

[Madrone]

8. Oh you'll KNOW if it's spoiled.

:puke:
Nasty!!!

Nice of you to do that for the critters. The only meat that comes into my house is for the same reason - sugar gliders, cats, and dogs get it - some more often than others.

[Dangerously Amused]

10. Ha ha, thanks.

I'm impressed that you cook for your critters. I know that more and more people are doing that, especially with all the pet food contamination issues lately. I've been thinking about jumping on that bandwagon. Maybe this is a good time to start.

[Madrone]

19. Don't be too impressed -

They eat regular store-bought kibble - but only the best quality stuff I can find. The gliders and the diabetic cat are the only ones that get meat cooked for them nightly. The dogs get special surprise treats of steak. ;)

Full-on cooking for animals is a lofty goal, but one that's out of my immediate reach. Maybe if I didn't have a million other things I HAVE to do - I'd LOVE to do it, it's just not practical for me.

[Dangerously Amused]

27. Okay, fine. You favorably impress me in other, non-debatable ways, too.

So there.

[triguy46]

11. Knowing dogs, if its a little gamey, they REALLL::YYY like it. Might even roll in it.

[Dangerously Amused]

21. I've seen some of the stuff dogs like to roll in.

No thanks. I'll toss it before it gets to that state.

[triguy46]

30. Not adventurous? My labs, over the period of one winter...

most of a dead holstein cow, piece at a time, just as happy as they could be. The joys of country living and happy dogs.

[TK421]

12. Try feeding the kitties to the dog and see how she adjusts....

you're probably feeding her the wrong kind of meat :shrug:

[flvegan]

15. "Try feeding the kitties to the dog..."

Is that your final statement in these regards?

Be real damn careful as to your response.

[TK421]

17. If my response is that was meant as a joke, what would your response be?

Which, it was a joke...but why should I be real damn careful? Is my monitor going to blow up in my face or something? :(

[DS1]

18. I would also like to know this

[TK421]

22. Didn't catch that...did you forget to type something?

All I see is some pie chart ( which I don't understand what that's about...maybe an inside joke in the lounge that nobody has let me in on ) for shame

damn me

[DS1]

23. that's my sig

and not relevant to this diversion

[TK421]

24. Sorry...but you've had many of those before and I didn't catch that

:D

[DS1]

35. Yes

I bore of my sigs easily. I like to keep them fresh.

[flvegan]

37. My response would be that you made a mistake,

as did DS1.

Your being "real damn careful" is what it is.

No biggie.

[DS1]

40. I made a mistake, too?

Wow, mistakes all over the place tonight. Now what?

[flvegan]

43. Post #18.

[DS1]

49. I'm sorry for your hurt

SOteric clued me in offline.

[petronius]

58. Didn't you know? When people reach 10,000 posts in the Lounge,

they gain access to a special function that enables them to reach through the monitor and slap you with a rolled up magazine. That's what you should be careful of. :)

Honestly, I've never really understood why posters tell other posters to "be careful." I assume they mean that you're in danger of (or actually are) sounding like an asshole and you should phrase carefully to avoid giving an undesired impression, but it's such a melodramatic way of saying that... :shrug:

[yewberry]

59. I took it to mean

be really damned careful because you're talking with people who've very recently had beloved animals die in their arms, people who are hurt and angry right now and might not handle jokes about dead animals and eating them very well.

There are some people hurting here, melodrama aside.

[Dangerously Amused]

28. My dog died. In my arms. Yesterday.

She wouldn't eat because her system was shutting down, not because it was the wrong kind of meat.

[TK421]

29. Alright...it was a "bad" joke...sorry

sheesh

[flvegan]

39. No, it was a douchebag move

TK421 (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Fri Feb-29-08 09:15 PM
Response to Original message
12. Try feeding the kitties to the dog and see how she adjusts....

you're probably feeding her the wrong kind of meat :shrug:

Shitbrick style.

[Madrone]

36. omg

:cry:

I am so, SO incredibly sorry. I can't imagine.

:(

[Dangerously Amused]

47. Thanks, sweetie.

Give your furkids and extra hug from Auntie DA tonight.

:hug:

[flvegan]

42. I'm sorry.

I tried to not buy in.

I tried really, really hard.

I have no words for our best friends passing in our arms.

[Dangerously Amused]

48. Thanks. I know you were pulling for her, and I know you understand completely..

[elleng]

16. LAST monday, that is,

Feb. 25?

Wrapped how? largely air-proof?

OK, feed 'em.

[Dangerously Amused]

26. Yes on both counts.

The consensus seems to be that the meat is still safe.

Thanks.

[yewberry]

20. Re: the dog

When I've had very ill animal friends, I've gone with rice and lamb baby food. It stinks to high heaven, but it's a huge hit, and you don't have to cook it or worry about much in the way of leftovers.

Bleah.

[Dangerously Amused]

25. That's a good idea, I hadn't even thought of it.

I don't mind cooking for them, but it might be a good idea to keep some of the baby food on hand for the convenience. Thanks for the suggestion.

Also, I love the quote in your sig line.

[yewberry]

33. Thanks.

I once loved a rottie named Grace who had occasional bouts of hemorraghic diarrhea.:(

She'd feel so low, the baby food and rice was all she could muster any interest in.

(And thanks re: the quote, too. I was toying with changing it, but I've had the same quote for 6 years now!)

[Mezzo]

41. Your nose knows, vegan or not...

you'll be able to tell. It's an animal instinct.

[Dangerously Amused]

45. I'll have to take your word for it.

I took a whiff of it when I first unwrapped it, when it was perfectly "fresh" (so to speak), and it didn't smell okay to me then, either. But I'm guessing that I would still be able to tell that smell apart from a "spoiled" smell. I was more wondering if the change in color meant anything, but it sounds like that's normal and it's still okay to cook and serve.

Thanks, though.

[Redstone]

50. It's fine. Let the cats have a treat. Just do it tonight or tomorrow.

Redstone

[Dangerously Amused]

51. Thanks, I did.

I gave it to them last night. They were delighted.

[China_cat]

52. Even if you don't know what bad meat smells like

you'd KNOW if it was bad enough to smell. Cook it. Or don't. A little raw in their diet won't hurt them.

[mondo joe]

55. Sorry about your pup. That must have been very sad. NT