Fresh ground beef was mixed with ascorbic acid, basil essential oil, majoram essential oil, or each essential oil combined with ascorbic acid and stored at 1 $pm$ 1$^{circ}C$ for 7 days. Color, lipid oxidation (TBARS formation), aerobic bacterial counts and pH were determined. Basil and majoram essential oils were effective in inhibiting color deterioration, lipid oxidation and bacterial growth. The combined addition of basil and ascorbic acid showed the highest protection against color fading, followed by majoram + ascorbic acid, and ascorbic acid alone. Basil and majoram essential oils were most effective in delaying TBARS formation (p < ().01). Ascorbic acid did not exert an antioxidative effect and even exhibited a pro-oxidant effect. The pH values of all samples increased slightly, but no significant differences were observed, either among treatments or throughout the storage time (p > 0.05).