How can you tell if chicken is spoiled?

Chicken is one of the most versatile ingredients in the kitchen. From simple chicken recipes to more decadent dishes like Million Dollar Chicken, there are countless delicious ways to enjoy the tender meat. So it makes sense to always have a package of chicken on hand, but when it comes to shelf life, you may be wondering: how do you tell if chicken has gone bad? We spoke to Texas-based private chef Aly Romero to get an expert’s opinion.

“When cooking chicken, use your senses. If it looks discolored, smells bad, or feels like the texture isn’t quite right, err on the side of caution and throw it away. If you cook it within the best-before date, you can safely store it in the refrigerator and eat it within three to four days.”

How do you know if chicken is spoiled?

Use your eyesight and smell to determine if the chicken is spoiled.

“You can tell raw chicken is bad if it has a funny smell or looks discolored – yellow, gray or any color other than pink,” says Romero.

“When cooking chicken, use your senses. If it looks discolored, smells bad, or feels like the texture isn’t quite right, err on the side of caution and throw it away. If you cook it within the best-before date, you can safely store it in the fridge and eat it within three to four days.” If chicken is spoiled, you will definitely be able to smell or see the difference.

“In this case, it’s not worth cooking the chicken and taking a risk. It’s much safer to throw it away and buy new chicken,” says Romero.

“Always check the expiration date at the grocery store, sometimes expired dates are overlooked,” adds Romero.

According to the USDA, the presence of bacteria is the cause of food spoilage, and meat with questionable qualities should not be consumed.

“Given enough time and the right temperature, spoilage bacteria can multiply rapidly and reach very high numbers, resulting in unpleasant changes in smell, taste and texture. Spoilage bacteria can cause meat or poultry to turn dark in color, develop an unpleasant odor and become slimy due to the high bacterial count,” the website states.

Best way to store chicken

To avoid spoilage, meat should be stored at safe temperatures.

“For meat and poultry, this means that they should be kept in the refrigerator at 40 degrees Fahrenheit,“, says the U.S. Department of Agriculture website. “Food will last indefinitely in the freezer, but if left in the refrigerator for more than a few days, it will spoil.”

Does spoiled chicken have an unpleasant smell?

Almost always, says Romero.

“You can definitely tell when raw chicken is bad by the smell,” she says. “Raw chicken doesn’t have a strong smell, so when it’s bad, it smells ‘funny’ or like rotten eggs.”

Can cooked chicken go bad?

Yes. Just because it’s cooked doesn’t mean it can’t go bad.

How can you tell if cooked chicken is bad?

“If you’re served cooked chicken and it smells funny or has a slimy texture and the color doesn’t look right – or is spotty – then it may be bad,” says Romero. “It’s much better to return it and start over.”

What does the best before date on chicken mean?

“In general, this means that within 1 to 2 days the best-before date,” she explains. “If the best-before date has already passed by two days, it’s best to throw it away to be on the safe side.”

According to Romero, checking the expiration date on a package of meat is a good indicator of how quickly the meat should be prepared and consumed.