Probably the sell by date is not correct. the steak is older than the sell by date indicates. The store where you purchased it an incorrect date on the meat either knowingly or unknowingly
It's possible that the meat was not kept at the required temperature before or after it was packaged or was refrigerated for a while and then re-frozen. Also, keeping food out at less than the required temperature than is required causes it to turn brown.
An uncooked steak turns brown turns brown when exposed to oxygen. Possibly you did this, or possibly the butcher/store did. It is also possible that the sell by date could be off by a few days.
Meat turns brown when it is exposed to oxygen - it is still perfectly safe to eat. The brown does NOT mean that the meat has anything wrong with it or that you should throw it away.
posted by Anonymous
Fresh, not frozen box meat that is properly handled and is held at the required temperature should not turn brown before sell by date, The browning indicates oxidation and will effect flavor giving an off taste add a comment
