FOOD NEWS
Why You Might See Random Rainbow Colors On Your Deli Meat
By C.A. Pinkham
Deli meat is a cheap and convenient lunch staple, but sometimes you may start making a sandwich and discover your deli meat practically glowing with iridescence.
Although it may look like it has gone bad, rainbow meat is still completely healthy and shouldn’t be thrown out. This change in color simply has to do with how we perceive light.
When meat is cut, the fibers are cut “against the grain.” White light hits the severed ends, and its reflection creates a rainbow in a process called “diffraction grating.”
The natural oils present on the surface of any meat also aid in creating a rainbow. While it’s easy to spot this phenomenon in red meat, it doesn’t just happen with beef and pork.
It’s also present in poultry like chicken and turkey, but it’s harder to see because they’re so pale-colored. Cured meats show it clearly since they are brighter and smoother.
The best way to tell whether or not meat has gone bad is with the smell test, as well as checking to see if the surface looks slimy. Mold is another indication that it’s no good.