How To Tell If Chicken Is Bad

If you have been storing chicken for some days and don't know if it's in the right condition or not. Then, here you have some ways to tell if the chicken is bad. 

The fresh chicken has a soft pink color on the skin. Besides that, there will be no bruises or dark spots on the skin. The chicken flesh will look juicy in its appearance. However, if the chicken is gray or green, there are frequent dark spots on the skin, flesh looks dry, then consider that your chicken has gone bad.

If you're refrigerating your chicken, then slight changes in the color are obvious. When frozen, its skin and flesh color will darken or fade out due to exposure to oxygen. But it doesn't fade out into a gray or green or brown hue; instead, the soft pink color takes on a bit of a lighter tone.

Normally, fresh raw chicken has a soft and shiny look. Even the skin feels plumped. For example, if you touch the skin, the flesh is pushed in and gets back to its original shape in a few seconds. Besides that, the chicken does not feel sticky at all. All those are indications of a good chicken.

On the other hand, if your chicken is sticky and, if it is touched, it retains the shape of your finger on the skin for a longer time, then the chicken has gone bad. In that case, it is wise to get rid of your chicken because you won't like your stomach getting upset.

One of the important things is not to overlook the expiry date of the product. The expiry date has two categories. The first date indicates the time when a particular product can be sold to consumers. The second date shows the time till which the product can be consumed after opening the package. 

Here, you will need to look for the second date on the packaging. If it shows consumed within 4 days of the purchase and it's been more than 4 days, then your chicken is not good for consumption. Whereas, if a few more days have left before the expiration, you can continue to cook the chicken. 

The reason behind this date is that there will be growth of harmful bacteria in the packed chicken and this may lead you to stomach or food poisoning if consumed.

Besides the chicken, these ways can be used to test the quality of any other meat. It is very wise not to depend on one method for testing the condition of the chicken, as a single way can be deceiving in many aspects. So, all these ways can be kept in consideration to detect spoilage in the chicken.

The smell tells everything about the health of the chicken. Here, fresh chicken will have some sort of mild fleshy smell. Having this kind of smell is normal as other kinds of meat also smell a bit fleshy such as fish. In some cases, you may not smell anything from the chicken. 

If your chicken has an unpleasant smell like sour, rotten eggs, or some contaminated smell that makes us feel uneasy, then the chicken has got spoiled.

One must look for other signs before throwing out the chicken: a huge change in appearance and texture. Sometimes smell can be misleading so considering other signs will help you decide the spoilage of the chicken.

We just covered how raw chicken can be detected if it's gone bad. Here we'll discuss how we know if cooked chicken is bad. Since finding cooked chicken can be a bit tricky than that of raw chicken. If cooked chicken is filled with spices and other ingredients, then it is difficult to find if it's good just by looking at it.

Here are some ways to tell if cooked chicken is bad:

Appearance and color

Cooked chicken is purely white and having any sort of pink or changes in color indicates that your chicken is bad. It's advised to not leave cooked chicken open for more than one hour because it may cause the development of bacteria in the meat. 

Texture

Texture plays an important role. Cooked chicken has a dry and firm texture. If your chicken is sticky, slimy, or has become too soft than usual, then the chicken has gone bad. Throwing out the chicken in the dustbin is the only thing you can do here. 

Smell

Unlike raw chicken, cooked chicken normally smells delicious and mouthwatering. If you sense that the chicken you're about to eat has some off smell similar to a spoiled egg, then know that the chicken is bad.

Raw chicken can be stored in the refrigerator for 1-2 days for freshness. After that, there may start the formation of harmful bacteria in the chicken. It should be stored in the fridge as soon as you buy chicken from the store. Keeping it out for more than 1-2 hours may cause the growth of bacteria in the chicken. 

While keeping it in the fridge, remember to set the temperature below 40°F (4°C). It's because the cooler temperature will prevent the development of bacteria for 1-2 days. Besides that, always put the raw chicken in a tightly sealed container with no possibility of leakage to avoid any contamination. 

Frozen Chicken

The whole fresh chicken can be frozen for up to 1 year, but it may only last 9 months for individual parts. This also applies to the rest of the poultry products.

Herein, several things should be done before freezing the chicken. First, the chicken must be kept in a well-sealed container where access to air is completely excluded. Second, don't forget to set the temperature at 0°F (-18°C) or lower. In this way, you'll be able to freeze the chicken safely without danger and can cook and enjoy it anytime.

Also, besides that, it's good to write a date on the package so you will not miss the expiry date.

Cooked Chicken

Cooked chicken can be kept in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. For that, one should keep the chicken in an air-tight container to avoid cross-contamination and mold. The temperature should be fixed at 40°F (4°C); it will help to keep the meat fresh.

Moreover, it could also be frozen for almost a year if the chicken is cooked. Of course, it must be in an airtight container so there must not be even one hole in it, and at 0°F or -18°C. In that way, you can enjoy the cooked chicken anytime with your favorite drink.

Food poisoning is the main issue that you get after eating spoiled chicken. Delicious while fresh, if you consumed spoiled chicken by mistake then there are high chances you might get diarrhea, feel like vomiting, or most likely mild to severe food poisoning. 

This is because spoiled chicken has bacteria like campylobacter, salmonella, and more. Although reheating and cooking can kill bacteria on the surface, it cannot rid you of some of the toxins produced by bacteria, which can give you food poisoning upon consumption.

Foodborne illness is described as uncomfortable and potentially dangerous symptoms such as high fever over 101.5°F or 38.6°C, chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bloody stools, and dehydration. 

In severe cases, you might need to be hospitalized for a few days to keep you under supervision for better recovery. Medications should be followed as per the doctor's advice. In addition to that, you might lose your appetite for some days.

Choosing the right chicken is an effortless job unlike preparing it for dinner. The overall appearance and color say everything about the quality of the chicken. If you're going to buy a fresh chicken, it should have a soft pale pink color along with no dark or brown spots on the skin.

Along with that, the chicken skin should feel plump when touched. If you see chickens with dull color, brown spots, or some scratches or bruises, it's advised not to buy that chicken. In the case of frozen chicken, the packaging should be tightly sealed, with no holes in it. Similarly, the chicken should be hard as a rock with no ice crystals. 

Along with all these signs of spoilage, you will want to pay attention to the dates. Always check the "use-by" date before buying chicken. It's the last date by which the manufacturer recommends you use the food to get the best quality. 

The "pack date" is intended more for the manufacturer and retailer rather than for consumers. After keeping every little detail in mind while purchasing you can enjoy a delicious and healthy chicken at your table.