Buying chicken is a matter of preference and truth be told, it’s pretty hard to tell if you’ve found the best one. There are some tips on telling which chicken is bad and which is not, but there’s no way to know for sure without actually cooking the meat.
How to tell if chicken is bad?
Keeping raw chicken fresh is not an easy task. It can be hard to tell if the chicken you are handling has gone bad. It becomes even more difficult to tell if it has been left out for a long period of time. In this article you will learn how to identify the signs of bad chicken so they do not go to waste!
The meat:
How to tell if chicken is bad. It’s not always easy to spot spoiled meat, so it is best to know what signs and smells to look for and when you should toss it in the bin.
The smell of rotten meat can be unappetizing but it can also signify that your meat is bad and needs to be tossed out. If your meat gives off an odor that resembles ammonia or sour milk then it is time to ditch the food.
The odor:
It can be hard to tell whether or not chicken has gone bad. The best way to do so is by checking its smell, color, feel, and consistency. A fresh chicken should have a clean smell, have a consistent texture with no strange lumps or discolorations, and should be pink in color.
Texture:
The world is full of textures. Some textures are rough like the bark on a tree or the ground under your feet. Other textures range from soft to smooth like silk or velvet. One texture that everyone can relate to is the skin on the back of their hand. Texture plays an important role in our lives, but how do you know when chicken is bad? Knowing this can save you from making a mistake with what you prepare for dinner tonight.
Touch test:
It’s a universally acknowledged fact that the icky feeling of going to grab a container of food and find out it’s already been touched by someone else is enough to make anyone want to throw up. If you’re standing in the grocery store with your nose wrinkling as you sniff something that smells bad, or if you stand next to a group of people at work who are eating lunch and you can’t help but think “What is that they’re eating?
Smell test:
If you are not sure if your chicken is safe to eat, the best way to find out is to check for signs of spoilage. The most common symptoms of spoilage include: bad odor and appearance, and off color. Bad odor and appearance will be a tell-tale sign that something is not right with your chicken. If the meat is slimy or has a decaying appearance, then that’s an indication that it is bad and should be discarded immediately.
How to avoid bad chicken?
Chicken should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. The best way to tell if chicken is bad is by checking the color of the meat. It should be white or clear, not red or brown. Another sign is the texture, which should firm to touch and not slimy or sticky. If you see any blood in the meat it will be a good idea to discard it as well.
Summary and re-call
In order to know how to tell if chicken is bad, one should first understand what makes it go bad. When cooked, proteins in the meat change and can release a sickly sweet smell. Muscle tissue will also lose water and become dry and tough, as well as develop a slimy feel. Certain fats become rancid, which can lead to a strong bitter taste. Next time you’re cooking chicken, use your nose!
