How to Tell If the Raw Chicken in Your Fridge Is Bad

Not sure if that chicken yous bought is still skilful to eat? Here's what wellness experts and a chef say to practice.

January v, 2021

How many times have you lot bought chicken breasts, thighs, or cutlets from the grocery store for a recipe you planned on making that night but instead, you ended up ordering have-out and stowed the raw meat into the depths of your fridge? We've all done information technology and we're not here to approximate yous. However, there'southward something you should be mindful of afterwards y'all determine to salvage that pre-cut chicken for a later engagement—whether it's all the same fresh. That brings upwardly the real question: do you know how to tell if craven is bad?

This is important to learn, seeing as some 48 million people, or about one in 6 Americans, are sickened from a foodborne illness every year with one 1000000 of those cases having to exercise with chicken, co-ordinate to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Salmonella, the pathogen that'due south found in uncooked eggs and poultry, is the 2nd leading pathogen to cause domestically acquired (food made in your dwelling) foodborne affliction. Nosotros consulted caput chef at HelloFresh, Claudia Sidoti, for the lowdown on how to bank check if your chicken is however good to eat or if information technology's time to toss it out, only first, nosotros're going to recap why it can be dangerous.

Why is raw craven bad for you?

Several types of leaner can live on chicken before it'south cooked. Campylobacter, Salmonella, and Clostridium perfringens can cause symptoms like fever, diarrhea, bloody stools, vomiting, and dehydration. These unsafe bacteria can exist transmitted if chicken is undercooked, merely also if raw chicken is out and comes into contact with cutting boards, countertops, utensils, or other foods, the CDC says. Storing raw chicken on its own is a expert thought. This way juices don't come into contact with annihilation else in your kitchen.

And after treatment refrigerated or frozen raw chicken, you should ever wash your hands for at to the lowest degree 20 seconds with soap and warm water to prevent the spread of germs.

What are the tell-tale signs that raw chicken has gone bad?

At that place are three like shooting fish in a barrel means you can immediately check to see if your chicken has peaked far by it's prime in one case it's stored properly.

  • Beginning, Sidoti advises looking for a change in color. "Fresh, raw chicken should have a pink, fleshy color. As it starts to go bad, the color fades to a shade of grey. If the color starts to look duller, you should use information technology immediately," she says. Still, once the meat begins to look grey, and so information technology's time to toss out that chicken.
  • 2d, Sidoti says to trust your nose. "Raw craven that has gone bad has a very potent aroma. Sometimes it can exist described every bit a sour olfactory property. If the craven has taken on an odor of whatsoever sort, information technology'south safest to toss information technology," she explains.
  • Thirdly, the chef instructs to experience the meat. That's correct, simply become right in there and touch information technology to decide if information technology's unsafe to eat. "Raw craven naturally has a glossy, slimy texture," she says. Notwithstanding, if the meat is extra slimy that'south another indication that could have gone bad.

Is at that place any way to relieve raw chicken that may accept already spoiled?

Basically, if it'south gone bad, your best bet is to just throw information technology out.

"It'due south normally safe to simply toss information technology," says Sidoti. "You put yourself at serious risk of getting sick."

Notation: The expiration date may also be labeled as the "sell past" date. Make sure to just buy craven before that projected date to ensure the almost safe.

What nigh cooked chicken—almost how long does it last in the refrigerator?

"According to the USDA, cooked chicken stored in the refrigerator is safe to eat for three to 4 days if it is properly stored," says Sidoti. "If you want to further extend shelf life, y'all can store it in the freezer where it will last for about 3 months. Once stored in the freezer, have it out the night before and let it thaw in the fridge."

The big takeaway: Don't allow that cooked meat hang out in the fridge for a week! You tin can tell if cooked craven has gone bad if it gives off a rancid aroma or is beginning to look grey. One time again, trust your senses.

Related: The Best and Worst Fast-Food Craven Sandwiches, According to a Dietitian

Whatever tips on how to further prevent raw craven from going bad?

There is ane elementary play tricks to ensuring your chicken does not quickly spoil: Fresh chicken must be kept cold, and so don't ever let information technology sit out on the counter, tabular array, or anywhere that isn't refrigerated beneath 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

"This will extend its shelf life and foreclose the growth of bacteria. Co-ordinate to the USDA, raw chicken volition just go along in the refrigerator for virtually one to 2 days," says Sidoti. "If kept in the freezer, it should stay rubber to thaw and swallow for up to ix to 12 months."

And she's right. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services says a raw, whole chicken can concluding that long, simply if it'southward in pieces, it can last for one to 2 days in the fridge just only ix months in the freezer.

Anything else to know well-nigh how to tell if the chicken in your refrigerator is bad?

Sidoti says, "When in doubt, throw it out!"

Y'all heard the chef; information technology's better to be safe than sorry.

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