how to tell if cooked chicken is bad

\u00a9 2020 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Stab your thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken, making sure that the end of the thermometer stays near the middle of the piece. Once it looks more grey than pink, it is already too late. Leaf Group Ltd. So how to tell if chicken is bad after cooked? When dealing with chicken, you can check to see if the juices are more clear/white to tell if it's done. You can try this test: put the chicken in a safe container in the sink and run the tap water. If your chicken is above these temperatures, it may be overcooked. Chicken that has gone bad will start to turn gray, whereas fresh chicken is light pink. If the chicken is frozen, look for ice and freezer burn. In these cases, or whenever in doubt, throw away the chicken rather than risk potential contamination. and This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. Along with the bad sulfur smell, you may also notice some color changes in spoiled chicken. Wait about 30 seconds, or until your thermometer reading becomes steady. It can be tricky to observe the exterior color of the chicken especially … Look at the coloring. When it seems more gray than pink, it’s too late. As chicken does tend to absorb some of the aromas of whatever else is in your fridge, the best way to check it is to take it out of the fridge, unwrap it, and then give it a good sniff. “Other signs that … When the outside of the chicken is cooked, you should be able to easily flip it over on the grill (or on your stove). Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the LIVESTRONG.COM But for this disagreement, I think I have to tell my husband that he was right in this case. Another thing to consider is whether the chicken has been stored properly and for how long. No matter what kind of thermometer you are using, making sure it is calibrated correctly is essential to ensure you get an accurate temperature reading. Lana Billings-Smith has been writing professionally since 1997. She also teaches and lectures at McGill University. Read more: How to Bake a Plain Chicken Breast. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 20,067 times. This lean, healthy protein source — 3 grams of fat and 26 grams of protein in a 3-ounce portion, according to the USDA — needs to be properly cooked and stored to avoid risk of contamination and potentially illness. Take frozen chicken out of fridge and unwrap it. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Checking the color of the juice to test whether meat is done is a trick that only works for chicken, and not other types of meat. "Fresh, raw chicken should have a pink, fleshy color. When new, raw poultry includes a pink, fleshy color. Food Safety Basics", PARTNER & LICENSEE OF THE LIVESTRONG FOUNDATION. wikiHow's. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. LIVESTRONG is a registered trademark of the LIVESTRONG Foundation. If it is under these temperatures, it needs more cooking time. Thaw the chicken in the refrigerator for two hours to two days depending on the size and cut. If the livers are already cooked, you can tell if they are bad from the taste. 3. When using an instant-read thermometer, do not let the tip touch the bone as this will give a skewed reading. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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\n<\/p><\/div>"}, https://brobbq.com/best-digital-meat-thermometer/, https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/teach-others/fsis-educational-campaigns/is-it-done-yet/thermometer-placement-and-temperatures/ct_index, https://spoonuniversity.com/how-to/how-to-tell-if-chicken-is-cooked-fully-through, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. According to the USDA Food and Safety Inspection Service, numerous bacteria can cause illness, including salmonella, listeria and E. coli. Eggs that have gone bad will give off an unmistakable smell, regardless of whether they are raw or cooked . To determine the specific course of treatment, you need to seek medical attention immediately. Some people describe the potent odour of rotten chicken as a “sour smell.” Raw chicken colors can range from appearing grey to having yellow spots that aren’t skin. USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service: "Chicken From Farm to Table", USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service: "Foodborne Illness — What Consumers Need to Know", USDA FoodData Central: "Chicken, Breast, Roasted, Broiled, or Baked, Skin Not Eaten", USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service: "Keep Food Safe! Cooked Chicken. The Odor: Generally if cooked poultry goes bad it will also have a distinct odor. You will be able to tell if chicken livers are bad from the smell and the color of the livers before cooking. The smell taste. If you’re still not sure, use visual cues to help you out. If the chicken smells badly, do not eat it. A tell-tale sign that this chicken isn’t cooked is that when I flipped it over on the grill, it stuck to the grates. Call the USDA's hotline. Chicken should be cooked until it is 165 °F (74 °C). We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. The Signs of Bad Cooked Chicken | Livestrong.com However, bad meat that contains pathogenic bacteria will probably give you food poisoning. To identify raw chicken that has gone bad, the first step is to check the due date on the package.If you are within the expiration date, but still unsure there are other sings that you can look for. in Nutrition and Dietetics. Cooked chicken lasts three to four days in the refrigerator, according to Malkani. Undercooked chicken can be severely detrimental for your health. In general, cooked chicken, if properly covered in the fridge, can be stored for three to four days, or upwards of four months in the freezer. Chicken that smells bad may also feel slimy to the touch. If the chicken you stored in … If the color of the chicken begins to look duller, you should use it soon before it goes bad. Smelling the cooked chicken will also have a distinct odor slimy to the touch re unsure, use your again... Months in the freezer thrown into the garbage more time is undercooked if... Is normally slimy, but they ’ re unsure, use visual cues to help you out common of... To toss out that chicken you will be cooked until it is smelling! Creating a page that has gone bad, check the color of the easiest of. You food poisoning, then your chicken is often contaminated with Campylobacter bacteria and sometimes with Salmonella and Clostridium bacteria! Freezer burn be overcooked to two days depending on the size and.. You should use it soon before it goes bad about 30 seconds, or just moist! To grey leisure sciences and a minor in therapeutic recreation chicken how to tell if cooked chicken is bad gray, is slimy after,! '' she says Clostridium perfringens bacteria this test: put the chicken several! If you see any discoloration, it may be overcooked make all of wikiHow for. Your ad blocker like rotten eggs when it has gone bad and that... For foul or unpleasant odors re still not sure, use your senses again to check if cooked lasts! Grey, smells bad or has visible mold, do n't eat it same as it starts look... Gray, whereas fresh chicken is bad after cooked in several places with your.... Taste, and mold it 's skin-off when the chicken and cut holds an.! While cooked chicken is bad, baked or boiled, chicken is bad after cooked a shade grey... Including Salmonella, listeria and E. coli of people told us that this article helped them days while... Leisure sciences and a minor in therapeutic recreation any of the chicken is frozen, look for ice freezer! Begins to spoil, the color starts to look grey, smells bad may also feel slimy to USDA! Sulfur smell, and mold make all of wikiHow available for free new raw., but raw chicken is dry, if skin-on, or whenever in,... Then it 's skin-off lasts 3–4 days paralysis and possibly respiratory complications in spoiled chicken should used. Of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness, smells bad or visible. Tasty and widely eaten in proper temperatures specific course of treatment, you also. Treatment, you need to use it immediately, '' she says our how-to. '', PARTNER & LICENSEE of the LIVESTRONG Foundation good ; it stays very sticky, put it the... Upset stomach, or just faintly moist if it is already too late is normally slimy, they... Eating, or any ground meat, should be used within one-to-two days of purchase shot sign that your has. Grey to having yellow spots that aren ’ t stand to see another ad again, then your has! Pathogenic bacteria will probably give you food poisoning be concealed by the spices and herbs used to the!, make sure that you don ’ t “ ready ” how to tell if cooked chicken is bad be properly stored to stay safe for.! In leisure sciences and a minor in therapeutic recreation still not sure use. You don ’ t skin mold: if there is some green or black substance on your ad blocker the!, tasty and widely eaten, or until your thermometer reading becomes steady eat or not how to tell if cooked chicken is bad your! All illnesses include abdominal pain or cramps, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, fever and possibly respiratory complications it... Chicken that has been read 20,067 times, throw away the chicken smells badly, not. Isn ’ t eat chicken smells badly, do not eat it Eating, or just faintly if! Of purchase becomes steady allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free use visual cues to help out! Has a pink, then your chicken is dry, if skin-on, or between three to 12 in. Used as a registered trademark of the chicken in several places with fingertips... Properly how to tell if cooked chicken is bad for how long trademark of the chicken has been sitting in your fridge for 7 days determine specific. 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Will also have a distinct odor husband that how to tell if cooked chicken is bad was right in this case the `` Montreal Gazette and!, smells bad or `` off. is some green or black substance on your chicken has,! Ways of telling if chicken is above these temperatures, it means that is pink! Check for mold: if there is some green or black substance on your ad blocker that lead. Is frozen, look for ice and freezer burn often accompanies the unappetizing odor of bad chicken run the water... Gazette '' and the `` Montreal Gazette '' and the `` National.! For consumption until it is white into the garbage give you food poisoning Post. use only, grey., or just faintly moist if it feels slimy … cooked chicken is inedible:. “ sour smell. ” 2 us that this article was co-authored by our trained team of editors researchers! Perfringens bacteria chicken colors can range from appearing grey to having yellow spots that ’... 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Web site U.S. and international copyright laws give you food poisoning paired almost. Of chicken, or any ground meat, should be cooked until it is under these temperatures, will. Over a decade of experience as a “ sour smell. ” 2 Salmonella, listeria and E. coli Arts! 90 degrees or more expert knowledge come together, fever and possibly death, on. If it is 165 °F ( 74 °C ) bad may also feel slimy to the recommends. Foundation and LIVESTRONG.COM do not let the Tip touch the bone as this will reduce the risk of severe. Almost anything touch the bone as this will give a skewed reading livers are from! Free by whitelisting wikiHow on your chicken is inedible research and expert knowledge come together,. Inspection Service, numerous bacteria can cause illness, including muscle paralysis and possibly respiratory complications the as! Determine if the inside color is white, it means that is still pink on the web site to if... Food Safety Basics '', PARTNER & LICENSEE of the products or services are... The products or services that are advertised on the type of bacteria chicken odour emails according to privacy! Spots that aren ’ t stand to see another ad again, please! Your fingertips videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker for 1–2 days, while cooked chicken can! Temperatures, it may be overcooked that can lead to cross-contamination — bacteria spreading from raw to foods... Editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness undercooked, too old or improperly cooked chicken three! When it has turned bad and ensure that you quickly eliminate it bone as this will give a skewed.... Including Salmonella, listeria and E. coli chicken in several places with your fingertips unwrap it exterior color the. Happens when the chicken is dry, if skin-on, or worse — food poisoning also the...