ereks mom Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 I bought chicken this past Saturday, put it in the spare refrigerator, and forgot it was in there. The sticker on it says "sell by April 29", which is today. I've always heard that you should use or freeze fresh chicken within 2-3 days after purchase. It looks okay and smells okay (as raw chicken goes, lol), so is it safe, or should I toss it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 No. Chicken spoils faster than any other meat. I've had food poisoning from chicken and it was one of the worst experiences of my life, and I've had some doozies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheCoffeeChick Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 I always go by the smell test -- if it smells okay, then I cook it. It only says "SELL" by today - not use by today. I'd just throw it in the crockpot overnight and chop it up to freeze for other dishes (and make a soup from the carcas). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Amanda~ Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 It depends on how it smells... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momling Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 I always go by the smell test -- if it smells okay, then I cook it. It only says "SELL" by today - not use by today. I'd just throw it in the crockpot overnight and chop it up to freeze for other dishes (and make a soup from the carcas). :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gratia271 Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 It depends on how it smells... :iagree: I have done this with chicken with no problems whatsoever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 (edited) Food poisoning happens when meat is undercooked, not spoiled. At least, that's what I've always heard. Old meat just tastes bad, but shouldn't kill you if it's cooked right.That has not been my experience. The chicken I was poisoned by (and it was ugly) smelled fine and was cooked quite thoroughly. But it was too old. My husband's parents were butchers, and each came from families of butchers. Out of necessity they raised their family that included seven children on the meat that was no longer legal to sell to the public, called "green meat". ("I soaked it overnight in a brine, crossed my fingers, and hoped for the best", said my dmil.) But even they will say the same things I've said about chicken. Edited April 29, 2011 by Geek Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingersmom Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 Its not worth risking food poisoning for a $4 package of chicken (in my world). I have had serious food poisoning and I take zero chances. It would cost me more in doctors visit than than the cost of the chicken I just threw out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 Absolutely not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 Its not worth risking food poisoning for a $4 package of chicken (in my world). I have had serious food poisoning and I take zero chances. It would cost me more in doctors visit than than the cost of the chicken I just threw out. I was starting to think I was crazy with all of these other posters saying they'd eat it. Once you've had serious food poisoning you never, ever take chances again. It's not something you can forget. More garden variety food poisoning that leads to cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea doesn't leave you as sick as the serious poisoning does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKS Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 It's fine as long as you cook it thoroughly, though if it smells bad, I'd toss it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laundrycrisis Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 No. If I didn't get sick from the chicken, I would get sick from worry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NanceXToo Posted April 30, 2011 Share Posted April 30, 2011 Yes. It says sell by today, not use by today- it's not past its expiration date AND you said it smells and looks fine. So why not? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted April 30, 2011 Share Posted April 30, 2011 Hell no. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Satori Posted April 30, 2011 Share Posted April 30, 2011 I'd throw it out. Bacteria and parasites will have had a long time to breed and multiply on that raw chicken. (My family is currently in a bacteria/parasite/virus learning craze.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LidiyaDawn Posted April 30, 2011 Share Posted April 30, 2011 Yes. It says sell by today, not use by today- it's not past its expiration date AND you said it smells and looks fine. So why not? Yeah I'm a little confused… the chicken is NOT expired, NOT past its date, NOT been stored in bad conditions (left overnight on the counter/etc) … what's the problem with it? It might as well have come from the store today… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
domestic_engineer Posted April 30, 2011 Share Posted April 30, 2011 I'd throw it out. Bacteria and parasites will have had a long time to breed and multiply on that raw chicken. (My family is currently in a bacteria/parasite/virus learning craze.) How is it different, though, than the store being unable to sell it and letting it sit in their meat case until today, April 29th? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted April 30, 2011 Share Posted April 30, 2011 (edited) If it didn't stink, it must have been bought the same day it arrived at the store. I raise my own chickens; we bag and freeze them the same day they are...processed. I cannot imagine them sitting in the fridge for 7 days. I have a stomach of steel, but this is pushing it for me. Edited April 30, 2011 by LibraryLover Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audrey Posted April 30, 2011 Share Posted April 30, 2011 I bought chicken this past Saturday, put it in the spare refrigerator, and forgot it was in there. The sticker on it says "sell byApril 29", which is today. I've always heard that you should use or freeze fresh chicken within 2-3 days after purchase. It looks okay and smells okay (as raw chicken goes, lol), so is it safe, or should I toss it? NO NO NO NO NO I would toss it. Like some other posters, I've had a wicked bad case of food poisoning before. It's just not worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nd293 Posted April 30, 2011 Share Posted April 30, 2011 I always go by the smell test -- if it smells okay, then I cook it. It only says "SELL" by today - not use by today. I'd just throw it in the crockpot overnight and chop it up to freeze for other dishes (and make a soup from the carcas). :iagree: Done that plenty of times and still alive and kicking! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NanceXToo Posted April 30, 2011 Share Posted April 30, 2011 How is it different, though, than the store being unable to sell it and letting it sit in their meat case until today, April 29th? Yep, that's what I'm saying. When you buy it at the store, you have no idea how long it's been sitting in their refrigerated cases, you just know what the date is on it. This one's not past its date. It hasn't been left sitting unrefrigerated. It doesn't smell or look funny in any way to the OP. So I'm pretty confused by how many people would throw it out. And usually I'm the first to say "NO" to most of the "would you eat this" threads on this board lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pegasus Posted April 30, 2011 Share Posted April 30, 2011 I don't understand why folks are saying that they would toss it. It's within it's sell-by date. The store could have sold it today and a person would STILL have a few days to cook or freeze it. I wouldn't hesitate to use it and feed it to my family. I consider myself very cautious with food and throw things out routinely that my DH would consider fine. Pegasus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LidiyaDawn Posted April 30, 2011 Share Posted April 30, 2011 Yep, that's what I'm saying. When you buy it at the store, you have no idea how long it's been sitting in their refrigerated cases, you just know what the date is on it. This one's not past its date. It hasn't been left sitting unrefrigerated. It doesn't smell or look funny in any way to the OP. So I'm pretty confused by how many people would throw it out. And usually I'm the first to say "NO" to most of the "would you eat this" threads on this board lol. Exactly! :iagree: I'm puzzled. and I'm pretty careful with meat - especially as I don't eat it myself and therefore wouldn't know if something tasted 'off' about a meat-meal that I've made for dh & the kids. [although NOW we're past the date and my paranoia would kick in and toss it LOL] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LidiyaDawn Posted April 30, 2011 Share Posted April 30, 2011 It's within it's sell-by date. The store could have sold it today and a person would STILL have a few days to cook or freeze it. Here, the store would mark it down by 30-50% and people would buy it, freeze it, and use it sometime later. I buy reduced meat all the time (that isn't PAST the date) and freeze it.. lasts pretty much forever that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Upward Journey Posted April 30, 2011 Share Posted April 30, 2011 No way. But I'm hyper sensitive that way. I won't even buy raw chicken at the store :\ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laundrycrisis Posted April 30, 2011 Share Posted April 30, 2011 When I buy chicken at the store, I only do it when the case is full, and then I paw through it to get the chicken with the sell date that is the furthest out, and then I use it within two days. I won't buy chicken from the store that is within a few days of its sell by date. I realize most people probably do without a problem. But I have had C-Dif. I cannot bring myself to eat week-old meat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMDRAD Posted April 30, 2011 Share Posted April 30, 2011 I always go by the smell test too. We've eaten chicken that's been in the fridge for a few days after purchase. As long as there is NO smell, we eat it. On the other hand, I'm not "crazy" with meat safety and I usually thaw my meat on the counter overnight. But none of us has ever had food poisoning... that might change my attitude. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BellaMama Posted April 30, 2011 Share Posted April 30, 2011 I would toss it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted April 30, 2011 Share Posted April 30, 2011 I've never had food poisoning from meat that I know of and have used meat close to its sell-by date many times. I would use it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.