How To Tell If Chicken Is Bad

How To Tell If Raw Chicken Has Gone Bad

When it comes to raw chicken, freshness is crucial. Chicken that is unsafe to eat may not look bad. Use these guidelines for storing fresh or frozen chicken to ensure your chicken is safe to cook.

Refrigerator Storage: Uncooked chicken can be stored in the refrigerator at 40°F or below 1 to 2 days before cooking.

Freezer Storage: Uncooked whole chickens can be store in the freezer at 0°F or below up to 1 year, chicken pieces can be stored up to 9 months.

There are a few unmistakable signs that indicate when raw chicken may have turned.

• Smell it: Trust your nose! One of the most reliable indicators of spoiled food is its odor. If you detect an off odor, your chicken is likely no longer safe to eat.
• Texture matters: If the raw chicken feels slimy or sticky to the touch, these are surefire indicators that bacteria have started to grow. Fresh chicken should feel slightly moist, but never slippery. Do not wash chicken in water before cooking, as it easily get spread around your kitchen and contaminate other foods. Always wash your hands with soap and hot water for at least 20 seconds after handling raw chicken to prevent cross-contamination (CDC).
• Check the color: Fresh raw chicken skin can range from yellow to white. Over time, bad chicken will appear grayish or have dark spots. If your chicken looks discolored, it’s best to discard it.

Handling Raw Chicken Safely

To minimize the risk of foodborne illnesses like Salmonella or Campylobacter, always store raw chicken in the refrigerator at 40°F or below and cook it to a safe internal temperature of 165°F as measured by a food thermometer (USDA).

Avoiding Cross-Contamination

It's crucial to follow safe food handling practices to prevent cross-contamination:

• Use separate cutting boards and utensils for raw chicken and other foods (CDC).
• Thoroughly wash hands, cutting boards, and utensils with hot, soapy water after handling raw chicken (USDA).
• Store raw chicken on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator to prevent it from dripping onto other foods.

Pro Tip: For a meal that saves you from handling raw chicken, check out Pillsbury’s Chicken Enchilada Crescent Ring Recipe using pre-cooked chicken!

How To Tell If Cooked Chicken Is Bad

Even after cooking, chicken can still spoil if not properly stored or consumed within the right timeframe. The best guideline for knowing your cooked chicken is safe to eat is its storage time. Use the guidelines below for how long you can store cooked chicken safely before consuming it. Here are also some essential clues for identifying if cooked chicken has gone bad.

• Changes in smell: Cooked chicken may develop a sour, unpleasant odor when it’s no longer safe. Always trust your senses. If it smells “off,” it’s time to discard it.
• Visible mold or discoloration: This is an absolute indicator. If you spot any green, black, or gray mold spots on your cooked chicken, it's unsafe to eat.
• Texture and taste: If the cooked chicken feels dry, rubbery, or mushy when you bite into it, or if it has an unusual taste, it is no longer good. Never taste test when in doubt, as consuming spoiled food can lead to foodborne illness.

How Long Does Cooked Chicken Stay Fresh in the Refrigerator?

Proper storage of leftovers is critical. Generally, cooked chicken remains safe to eat for 3 to 4 days when properly stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator at 40°F or lower (USDA). Always mark the container with the date it was cooked to keep track.

If you're unsure about those leftovers from Monday night, it’s best to err on the side of caution and discard them after four days. Remember, perishable foods should be refrigerated within two hours of cooking (or within one hour if kept in an environment over 90°F) to prevent bacterial growth (CDC).

Pro Tip: Find new ways to repurpose that chicken before it’s too late with easy and delicious recipes on Pillsbury.com.

How Can You Tell If Frozen Chicken Is Bad?

Freezing chicken helps preserve it, but freezer burn, and prolonged storage times can still affect its quality. Here’s how you can tell if frozen chicken is bad:

• Crystal formation: A light frost is normal; however, if you notice excessive ice crystals or freezer burn, the chicken’s quality has likely decreased, which may affect texture and flavor—but it’s still generally safe to eat if frozen at 0°F or below (USDA).
• Color alterations: If your frozen chicken develops grayish-white patches or fades in color, this is usually a sign of freezer burn. While it’s not a food safety concern, it can lead to an unpleasant taste and texture.
• Smell after thawing: Always smell thawed chicken before cooking. If it smells sour or rancid once defrosted, discard it immediately.

Safe Defrosting Practices

The USDA recommends thawing chicken in the refrigerator, in cold water (with the chicken placed in a leak-proof plastic bag and submerged), or using the microwave if you’re cooking it immediately. Never thaw chicken on the counter—this can allow bacteria to multiply rapidly at room temperatures, increasing the risk of foodborne illness.

Pro Tip: Running out of ideas for what to do with your chicken? Try this popular Easy Chicken Pot Pie Recipe for a family-friendly winner!

Keep Chicken Fresh and Safe

Knowing how to tell if chicken is bad is essential for any home cook looking to keep family meals delicious and, more importantly, safe. By following these straightforward tips, including checking appearance, odor, and texture, you’ll ensure your chicken dishes stay fresh and risk-free.

Storing Uncooked and Cooked Chicken

To ensure your fresh or frozen chicken will be safe to eat, always use the rule of one when storing it: You can store chicken in its current state (fresh or frozen; uncooked or cooked) only once. This means you can store uncooked chicken either in the refrigerator or freezer once—but don’t thaw frozen uncooked chicken and refreeze it uncooked. Once the chicken is cooked, you can store it either in the refrigerator or freezer, but don’t freeze it, thaw it and then refreeze it.

Remember, food safety always starts with careful preparation and storage practices. At Pillsbury, we’re here to make your meal planning easy and delicious with our no-fuss chicken recipes and products.