Chicken is a popular protein for many home cooks, but if it has been sitting in the fridge for a couple of days, you may start wondering if the chicken is still safe to eat. How can you tell if chicken has gone bad? To learn more, we spoke with Foodie Jerry, a foodiejerry.com contributor, cookbook author.
How to Tell If Chicken Is Bad
If you’re unsure whether the raw chicken you bought has gone bad, there are four things you should check. White warns that some signs of bacterial growth cannot be seen or smelled, so it is important to cook chicken to a proper internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
1. Check the Sell-By Date
Check the package for the sell-by date. If you are past the date, it is safer to throw the chicken away instead of risking illness. While the sell-by date is only a general guideline, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidelines recommend keeping raw chicken in the fridge for no more than 1 to 2 days.
2. What Does Bad Chicken Smell Like?
Bad chicken does not have one specific smell, but spoiled chicken may have a sour, strong or unusual odor. “I have heard some describe it as a sulfur-y, rotten egg type smell,” White says.
3. What Does Bad Chicken Look Like?
Fresh, raw chicken should have a pink, fleshy color. If the chicken has gone bad, it may become discolored and develop a dull, grayish appearance. “Signs of food spoilage are pretty universal,” White says. “Any foul odor, discoloration or foreign substances on your chicken would be grounds for tossing.”
4. What Does Bad Chicken Feel Like?
If the chicken feels slimy, sticky or has a filmy layer over the surface, it has likely gone bad. Fresh, raw chicken should have a smooth, slightly shiny texture.
How Long Is Chicken Good In the Fridge?
According to FDA guidelines, fresh poultry should be stored in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days. White recommends keeping your refrigerator below 40 degrees F and storing raw chicken on or near the bottom of the fridge. This can help prevent leaks or drips from getting onto other foods. “When you bring raw chicken home from the store, be sure to honor the “2-hour rule” which means not to leave food out in the “danger zone,” which is between 40- and 140-degrees F for more than 2 hours,” White says. “This temperature range favors bacterial growth.”
How Long Is Chicken Good After Sell By Date?
“Believe it or not, there is no federal mandate for dating raw chicken. Many manufacturers will include a sell-by date for the store to help manage inventory,” White says. “The FDA and USDA indicate that no matter what the date on the package says, use or freeze it within 1 or 2 days of purchase.” At home, White says that she often stretches that to 3 to 4 days, as long as the chicken is stored and handled properly, there are no clear signs of spoilage, and it is cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees. However, she recommends following a simple rule: “When in doubt, throw it out!”
How Long Does Chicken Last In the Freezer?
Raw chicken parts can be frozen for up to 9 months, while a whole chicken can be frozen for up to 1 year. “The FDA recommends extra wrapping (in addition to original packaging) if the chicken will be frozen for more than 2 months,” White says. “This can also help prevent leakage when thawing.”
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