Consider these four criteria to make the safest decision: Date, color, texture, smell.
How to Tell If Chicken Is Bad
Check the date
Here’s a possibly little-known fact: Did you know storing fresh chicken in the fridge isn’t recommended for longer than a day or two, according to foodsafety.gov? So, if that tray of thighs has been hanging out all week, it’s probably best to toss it. Better yet, when plans change, try to remember to move it to the freezer, where it will keep for up to nine months. We know, we know: Easier said than done sometimes.
Color
Fresh raw chicken is at its best when it is pink and fleshy. As chicken turns from good to bad, it can take on a pale or grayish hue. If that’s what you see, it’s best not to take the risk.
Texture
Chicken should have a damp, plump look and feel; but if it’s slimy, sticky, or looks to be coated in a layer of something (eww), it has to go.
Smell
This is the clincher for most of us. If you’ve smelled spoiled chicken, you typically just know it’s not suitable for consumption. But if you ever find yourself on the fence (we’ve probably all wondered if our noses were deceiving us), just remember that if it smells sour, like rotten eggs or even like ammonia, it is no longer safe to enjoy. It’s true that chicken that’s gone bad can make you sick, so taking the right precautions with it is important if you want to make sure that you’re eating great chicken that won’t make you sick. Next up, we’ve found the Perfect Slow Cooker Recipes for Those Too-Hot-to-Cook Nights
