How long will a pork tenderloin last in fridge?

[Teddy J.]

Thawed a whole pork tenderloin in its original vacuum sealed packaging last weekend.

Forgot to cook it this week, and it still sitting in the fridge.

What do you guys think the shelf life is for this thing? Still safe to cook in the next couple days, or already unsafe?

 

[K Kruger]

With raw meat it isn't really a question of safety in most cases, it's a question of quality. There is little in the way of pathogens that are likely to pose a problem and cooking will pasteurize the meat anyway. But spoilage bacteria (most of which are not really a health risk at this stage of the game) can cause rather unpleasant odors and flavors.

If the meat is cryo'd it's quite likely it will be okay still. (If not, it depends on the packaging used.) Since it is, remove it from the package and let it air for at least 20 minutes. Then see how it seems to you: smell it and feel it for sliminess.