Pulled my beef roast out of the slow cooker and saw these weird white stringy things poking out of the meat. They look like little worms or parasites. Is the meat infested?

The appearance of these fibers ‘popping out’ can be alarming, but it’s a natural part of the cooking process. The heat causes the muscle fibers to tighten, and as they do, the softer, gelatinized collagen may be pushed to the surface or become more prominent within the meat.

While it’s easy to mistake these white strings for something more sinister, there are distinct differences between normal connective tissue and parasites. Connective tissue is usually soft, gelatinous, and can be easily pulled apart with a fork. It often appears in clusters or bands.