How To Know If The Chicken You Are About To Eat Has Gone Bad

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• How to know if the chicken you are about to eat has gone bad

How to know if the chicken you are about to eat has gone badTIMESOFINDIA.COM / Feb 23, 2022, 20:00 ISTShareAA+Text Size

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Has the chicken gone bad? Here are the signs you must know

Chicken is one of the most popular meats consumed across the world. It’s a nutritious meat which is quite versatile, as you can use it to make any kind of dish. Be it grilled chicken with veggies on the side or Tandoori chicken, this meat is a staple food across the world. But do you know that this nutritious meat can get spoilt very quickly? When the chicken is spoilt, there might be a change in its texture and taste which can also make you sick. In this article, we’ll talk about the signs that help in finding out if the chicken is good for eating or not. (Images courtesy: iStock)

Also Read: Is it healthy to eat chicken daily? Here's the answer

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The colour of chicken

Before cooking the raw chicken lying in your pantry, always notice its colour. If the raw chicken is pink in colour with white fatty pieces, it means the meat is fresh. However, if the colour of the chicken meat is grey/green and if the fatty pieces are yellow, it means stale meat which is not good for eating and you must discard it as soon as possible. Also, if there is any mould growth on the chicken, you must throw it away.

In the case of cooked chicken, it should always be white in colour. Also, on being cut, the chicken juices should also run clear and free of red juices, which means blood or impurity in the meat. It also signifies that the meat has not been washed well. Also, make sure that the cooked chicken is not pink in colour, as it means the meat has not been cooked well and which can lead to Salmonella infection.

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The texture

The second step is to identify the texture of the chicken and it can tell you a lot about whether it is consumable or not! In case of raw chicken, if it feels icky, slimy or tacky, it means the meat is not fresh and must be thrown in the dustbin right away. Fresh chicken should feel (and look) soft, glossy, and slippery—not slimy. The slimy texture will also tend to stick to your hands. So if it remained, this is a sure sign that it’s gone bad.

In the case of cooked chicken, the meat is always firm and dense in texture. When you cut through it, it should look compact, yet tender and juicy without the slimy and sticky texture. If you noticed a slight change, then it’s probably not safe to eat anymore.

Also Read: What is the best way to cook chicken breast to perfection?

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The smell

Sometimes, it becomes really difficult to know if the chicken has gone bad or not and especially when it’s frozen. For that reason, you have to look for other signs like their smell. One of the first sure signs of spoilage you’ll notice is its foul smell. Fresh raw chicken has a very mild smell. Sometimes, others wouldn’t even notice it in the first place. But that doesn’t mean it’s gone bad. So, how do you tell if the chicken is bad? It will smell foul and funky and will be similar to the stench of rotten eggs.

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The mould formation

Apart from the discolouration, when the chicken is spoilt, you’ll also notice mould formation on its surface. It is mostly considered for cooked chicken only as there is no mould formation on raw meat. If you’re thinking about removing the mould or cutting the infected part to avoid food waste, forget about it. The mould can permeate the meat that might not be visible to your eyes. Also, as the bacteria is all around the mould, consuming it is dangerous and might cause food poisoning.

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Check the date for usage

When you buy the fresh chicken meat from the store, it comes with an expiration date which is the easiest way to check if the chicken has gone bad or not. Some stores also add the beyond-use date, which means that the meat can be used beyond a particular date. So, it's best to check this date before cooking your favourite dish.

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