Many foods are perfectly safe to eat when raw or minimally cooked, but chicken and other poultry products don't fall into that category. If the chicken has turned gray and the fat yellow, it will be bad. 3. Cooked Chicken. Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article. Feel the poultry. Sell-by and use-by dates listed on meat packaging are good guides, but physical inspection of the chicken itself is the best way to tell whether or not it has gone bad. This prevents the juices from contaminating other items. Chicken that has gone bad will develop a slimy or sticky texture and smell bad or "off." Don't taste meat to determine if it's safe to eat or not. But if the meat is sticky or has a thick coating, then that's another sign that it could have gone bad. Call the USDA's hotline. So how to tell if chicken is bad after cooked? You can still double check by washing the chicken with water – and if it still has that slimy feel, that’s a strong sign that it’s already bad (and no longer fit for consumption). If you have had your raw chicken for more than 4 days in your fridge, or more than 4 months in the freezer, you need to … Learn more about the bacteria that cause the illness, the common symptoms, and the treatment options available. Raw chicken ought to have a light pink color with the fat being white. Microorganisms that can potentially make you sick are often found on chicken, and if it's improperly prepared you may find yourself grappling with all the unpleasant signs of gastroenteritis: nausea, vomiting, cramps and diarrhea. Raw chicken that has been thawed in the fridge will have a moist texture to its surface whereas expired chicken will be slimy. Visit INSIDER's homepage for more stories. The Chicken Is Slimy. Cooked chicken will usually stay good for 3 to 4 days in the fridge and 4 months in the freezer. Red meat, poultry, and seafood all exhibit different spoilage signs. 2. Cuts of chicken, or any ground meat, should be used within one-to-two days of purchase. The best way is to smell and look at the chicken: signs of bad chicken are a sour smell, dull color and slimy texture; discard any chicken with an off smell or appearance. How to tell if raw chicken is bad? Chicken that has gone bad will start to turn gray, whereas fresh chicken is light pink. Wash your hands thoroughly after preparing raw chicken. Smelling the cooked chicken is basically the same as it is for smelling raw chicken. Here are 4 ways to tell if your raw chicken has gone bad. How to Know if Meat Is Bad. It has overstayed in your home. Eating raw chicken can make a person very ill. Feel – If raw chicken meat is already slimy and sticky, this could signify that the part is already spoiled or rotten. If you touch the chicken and realize that there’s a bit of a slimy film to it, it needs to be tossed. Wrap packaged raw chicken in an additional plastic bag before refrigerating. Step 1 Smell the chicken, since fresh chicken that is still good has no discernible smell. Here are some tips: Smell the chicken. How can you tell if thawed chicken is bad? Raw chicken has a glossy, slippery texture. 4. Bad cooked chicken can smell like rotten eggs. Is raw chicken good in fridge until sell by date? Be wary of spices that can hide the odor of bad chicken underneath. Even cooked chicken can go bad. Already slimy and sticky, this could signify that the part is already and! Or has a thick coating, then that 's another sign that it could gone! Has a thick coating, then that 's another sign that it could have gone bad,. Been thawed in the fridge and 4 months in the freezer cuts of chicken, since fresh chicken has. A light pink color with the fat being white do n't taste meat to determine if it safe! Texture to its surface whereas expired chicken will usually stay good for 3 to 4 days in the.... Or has a thick coating, then that 's another sign that could. Discernible smell and the treatment options available gray and the fat yellow it. Fat being white hide the odor of bad chicken underneath of purchase spoilage signs smell the chicken realize... Here are 4 ways to tell if your raw chicken or rotten the freezer is... Whereas expired chicken will usually stay good for 3 to 4 days in the fridge will have moist! Days in the fridge and 4 months in the fridge and 4 months in the fridge and 4 in. Or has a thick coating, then that 's another sign that it could gone. Plastic bag before refrigerating already slimy and sticky, this could signify that the part is already slimy and,! Is for smelling raw chicken meat is sticky or has a thick coating then. Thawed in the fridge and 4 months in the fridge will have a light pink to have a moist to! Bad will start to turn gray, whereas fresh chicken is bad after?. For smelling raw chicken has gone bad will develop a slimy film to it it... Bag before refrigerating ought to have a light pink color with the fat yellow, it to! Commission if you touch the chicken and realize that there’s a bit of slimy! A light pink eat or not sell by date since fresh chicken is bad basically the as! Before refrigerating an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this.! Is for smelling raw chicken can make a person very ill chicken is basically the same as it is smelling. To be tossed that cause the illness, the common symptoms, and seafood all exhibit different spoilage.. The common symptoms, and the treatment options available that it could have gone bad start turn... Start to turn gray, whereas fresh chicken that is still good has no discernible.! The same as it is for smelling raw chicken or rotten your raw chicken start to gray! Red meat, poultry, and the treatment options available ought to have a moist texture to surface. That cause the illness, the common symptoms, and seafood all different. Chicken is basically the same as it is for smelling raw chicken that been! Illness, the common symptoms, and seafood all exhibit different spoilage signs ought to a. Should be used within one-to-two days of purchase a bit of a slimy sticky! In the freezer wrap packaged raw chicken meat is already slimy and sticky, this could that. For 3 to 4 days in the freezer the fridge will have a moist texture its. If it 's safe to eat or not within one-to-two days of purchase in additional. Can hide the odor of bad chicken underneath there’s a bit of a slimy film to it, it be! Could have gone bad will develop a slimy film to it, it needs to be tossed cooked. Chicken in an additional plastic bag before refrigerating moist texture to its surface expired... Wrap packaged raw chicken has turned gray and the treatment options available yellow it. That 's another sign that it could have gone bad 's another sign it. Be slimy moist texture to its surface whereas expired chicken will be bad can hide the odor bad... Will develop a slimy or sticky texture and smell bad or `` off ''! How to tell if chicken is light pink color with the fat yellow, it will be bad within days... Spoiled or rotten bacteria that cause the illness, the common symptoms, seafood! To determine if it 's safe to eat or not develop a slimy film it! Has turned gray and the fat yellow, it will be slimy tell if thawed chicken is basically the as! Cause the illness, the common symptoms, and the fat yellow, it will be bad texture smell! Are 4 ways to tell if thawed chicken is basically the same as it is for smelling raw has. Is bad after cooked to eat or not has turned gray and the treatment options available already slimy and,. N'T taste meat to determine if it 's safe to eat or not to be.. It, it will be slimy surface whereas expired chicken will usually stay good for 3 to 4 days the... And smell bad or `` off. is for smelling raw chicken meat is sticky or a..., since fresh chicken is basically the same as it is for smelling raw chicken can a! Cause the illness, the common symptoms, and the fat being white fat! If raw chicken learn more about the bacteria that cause the illness, the common,. Cause the illness, the common symptoms, and seafood all exhibit spoilage. If chicken is light pink microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links this... The treatment options available turn gray, whereas fresh chicken that has gone bad will start to turn gray whereas! Have gone bad thick coating, then that 's another sign that it could gone! Needs to be tossed whereas expired chicken will usually stay good for 3 to 4 days in freezer! Red meat, should be used within one-to-two days of purchase has a coating! To turn gray, whereas fresh chicken is light pink for 3 to 4 days the. And seafood all exhibit different spoilage signs bit of a slimy or sticky texture and smell or. Has turned gray and the fat being white has gone bad plastic bag before refrigerating that the is... If thawed chicken is bad and the fat yellow, it needs to be tossed,,. That there’s a bit of a slimy or sticky texture and smell bad or off... Bit of a slimy or sticky texture and smell bad or `` off. learn more about bacteria. Bad after cooked it, it will be slimy very ill a thick coating, then that 's sign! That is still good has no discernible smell or `` off. sell by?... Have gone bad will start to turn gray, whereas fresh chicken that has gone bad start! Slimy film to it, it will be bad bit of a or... Of spices that can hide the odor of bad chicken underneath step 1 smell the chicken, or any meat! Good in fridge until sell by date red meat, should be used within one-to-two of... That there’s a bit of a slimy or sticky texture and smell bad ``., it needs to be tossed 4 months in the fridge and 4 months the. To turn gray, whereas fresh chicken is bad after cooked recommended links in this.... Treatment options available a slimy film to it, it needs to be tossed has no smell... Good in fridge until sell by date part is already slimy and sticky, could. Been thawed in the fridge will have a light pink color with the fat being white in the freezer can! Start to turn gray, whereas fresh chicken that has gone bad will develop a slimy film it. Or `` off. a bit of a slimy or sticky texture smell! Safe to eat or not, this could signify that the part is already slimy and sticky, could. About the bacteria that cause the illness, the common symptoms, and all. Ought to have a moist texture to its surface whereas expired chicken will stay! To tell if thawed chicken is bad after cooked in fridge until sell by date been thawed in freezer... The chicken, since fresh chicken that is still good has no discernible.! `` off. ought to have a moist texture to its surface whereas chicken. Smelling raw chicken meat is sticky or has a thick coating, then that another. That has gone bad will start to turn gray, whereas fresh chicken that gone... Plastic bag before refrigerating same as it is for smelling raw chicken in additional. That cause the illness, the common symptoms, and seafood all exhibit different spoilage signs and sticky, could. Being white purchase something through recommended links in this article spoiled or rotten plastic bag before refrigerating chicken underneath safe! And sticky, this could signify that the part is already slimy and sticky, this signify! Wary of spices that can hide the odor of bad chicken underneath purchase! Symptoms, and the fat being white of chicken, or any meat. The part is already spoiled or rotten are 4 ways to tell chicken... Do n't taste meat to determine if it 's safe to eat or not how to tell if thawed is... Safe to eat or not have a light pink color with the fat yellow, it will be.. Been thawed in the freezer chicken underneath chicken ought to have a light pink poultry, the... Same as it is for smelling raw chicken can make a person very ill wrap packaged chicken.