Is sticky pepperoni a sign of spoilage?
My child ate some pepperoni that was sticky, but didn't smell or taste bad, and was before the expiration date. Is that a sign that it might've spoiled early, or was it likely still safe?
Best Answer
Pepperoni has quite a bit of fat in it, and it's going to break down over time as it ages in the fridge (just like the meat that went into it). That can result in a sort of tacky feeling to it. You get this in things like beef summer sausage, too. It's always rather dry by the time it spoils, which takes quite a while.
Sticking an uncovered sausage in the back of the ref for a day or so is something many folks do to bring out the spices it contains a bit more prior to cooking. It also tends to come out a little tacky, depending on fat and preservative content. I do this with store-bought Italian sausage to get the fennel and anise a bit more pronounced.
If it doesn't smell acrid or rancid, and feels like pepperoni despite being a little tacky, it's probably fine. When preserved meats go bad a few parts of it start to have an acrid sort of odor, quickly followed by the rest. It's harder to spot initially in chorizo and similar, but bad pepperoni really gives itself away pretty quickly.
Also, taste a small piece. If it's rather sour, you probably don't want to use it.
Source: Me always being given the job of cleaning out and rotating stuff in the walk-in in at a place I used to work that made a lot of pizza.
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Quick Answer about "Is sticky pepperoni a sign of spoilage?"
The most potent indicator of spoilage is an off odor. A spoiled product also can be sticky or tacky to the touch, or it may be slimy. If meat has developed these characteristics, it should be discarded.Why is my pepperoni sticky?
Pepperoni has quite a bit of fat in it, and it's going to break down over time as it ages in the fridge (just like the meat that went into it). That can result in a sort of tacky feeling to it. You get this in things like beef summer sausage, too. It's always rather dry by the time it spoils, which takes quite a while.How can you tell if a pepperoni stick is bad?
If it smells putrid or rancid (rotten), then it's time for you to chuck your pepperoni away. The rancid smell means the fats in your pepperoni have been oxidized by the air. Slimy or Sticky: If your sausage feels sticky or slimy, then you will be wise to get rid of it.What does spoiled pepperoni smell like?
Cured meat sausage contains natural mold so that a pungent smell can be quite normal. However, if it begins to smell somewhat like sewage or rotten eggs, that's a different matter. The same goes for if it develops a rancid odor, It means it's time to dispose of it.How long does pepperoni take to spoil?
Information. Hard or dry sausage (such as pepperoni and Genoa salami), whole and unopened, can be stored indefinitely in the refrigerator or up to 6 weeks in the pantry. After opening, refrigerate for up to 3 weeks. Hard or dry sausages will not have the phrase "Keep refrigerated" printed on the package.Why Do We Eat Spoiled Food?
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Answer 2
The stickiness was, regrettably, probably sodium nitrite or a similar preservative. When applied in amounts that don't result in liquid "run-off," it tends to be sticky. I always rinse it off with cold water for aesthetic purposes, but no real precautions are needed.
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