Very lamby lamb

[monkeymamma]

Cooking lamb bolognaise, noticed while browning the lamb that it has a very very lamby, slightly goaty aroma.

Sell by date is this coming Thursday, I bought the meat today. It looked good and pink when I added it to the pan. No noticeable smell when raw. When cooking though... it was overpowering.

Am I right in thinking it would smell bad, not lamby, if it was actually off? Quick answers would be very very much appreciated 😁 if it was for me and DH I wouldn’t give it a second thought, but it’s for kids as well 🤨
Thanks lovely mumsnetters in advance...

I have no idea but I absolutely love your description

Should be fine. Would know if it's rotten. Maybe you're pregnant?

Maybe its a goat. Remember the horse flesh scandal a few years ago

It would smell appalling if it was gone off. The reason it smells lamby is likely to be that it came from a slightly older animal, possibly a ram lamb not castrated. It will be fine though possibly not to all tastes. Extra tomato, cream, crumbled feta could all distract....

Thanks for the quick answers! I am definitely not pregnant (just had my period) but my sense of smell is off the charts right now🙃 I swear I could smell my neighbours eating donuts while I unloaded the car today. They live a few doors down from us!

Oooh I hate lamby lamb. I once bought a massive leg of lamb and realised when cooking it it was goat.

Stunk the kitchen out.

Not in the uk though.

It might be hogget rather than lamb and certain breeds have stronger flavour than others.

If it was off the colour would be different (zombie grey rather than pink) and it would smell bad, not goaty.

KC 😂 it could be!

Thanks villainous. That’s what I thought too. We had sheep/ate our own when I was growing up, the boys always tasted a bit gamier.

I’m just so anxious when it comes to my kids. Hence hardly ever giving them meat and letting them live mainly on pizza... which cannot be good for them.

Thanks again for helping, I really appreciate it!

It’s smelling much nicer now the tomatoes and herbs (and fifteen different veg) have been added 😂 I usually do 1.5hours cooking so the gameyness/lambyness should get cooked out hopefully...

Most lamb in the UK is killed at less than a year old, like other posters said, it's probably from a slightly older animal. Anybody remember when you get mutton easily? I miss it in stews. Hard to get around here.

Yes, maybe simmer with lid off for a while. If in doubt, all ragus are enormously better imo after a night in the fridge, for flavours to mellow. Making it into a lasagne would also ameliorate the sheepiness.

Lamb should smell lamby. Would you rather it smelled seagully?

I clicked on this hoping for a cute animal photo. Never mind.

Sounds yummy what are you making

It is probably an older male lamb and that is why it is stronger in both smell and flavour or at least that is what my butcher told when trying to get me to buy new season spring lamb.

Cooking lamb always smells a bit shitty to me, like it shouldn't be edible. Obviously I don't eat it for this reason, but my neighbours seem to love roast lamb on a Sunday

I came just to say that if lamb is off, you would REALLY know about it!

Like a PP said it'll most likely be slightly older lamb, most likely a little ram lamb.

lamb often smells very lamby

it's why my folks don't buy it.

Perhaps its mutton. The older the sheep the stronger the smell and taste

I also have nothing to add but wanted to say I love your description of very lamby lamb

Extra tomato, cream, crumbled feta could all distract

tomato sure but why would cream or feta be anywhere near a bolognaise? They would distract, but not in a good way!

Lamb going off has a slightly vinegary smell - I concur with others who think what you have Is older and male.

I thought when reading the headline it was going to be something cutesy baby talk !

I find New Zealand lamb to be much more pungent and gamey than British.

I think all lamb/mutton stinks when it's cooking helpful