Seasider Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 A while back I purchased a two pack of whole chickens at Costco. Cooked one, forgot the second in my spare fridge. It's marked "sell by February 8." What's the verdict? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 If it smells fine I'd cook it and eat it. Raw chicken that has gone off has a smell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bambam Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 If just in fridge, I'd definitely toss it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lara in Colo Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 smell it-- I keep my spare fridge at a really low temp (I like coke almost frozen) so it would probably be fine. Except for Costco hamburger-- that stuff goes bad almost overnight! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caroline Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 If I have to think about asking, I toss it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbel Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 I would toss it. I'm not sure you can always tell chicken has gone off by smell. I sometimes buy the freezer packs of chicken from Costco and even if I open one the same day I bring it home, well before sell-by date, they always stink. I can barely stand to use them. There has never been a problem with sickness from using them, so I guess it's just chicken smell. Maybe it would smell different/worse if it was really bad. Hard to imagine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamaraby Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 I hate to throw out food, but I'd probably just throw it out. I usually use 7 days after the sell by date as my general rule. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pegasus Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 Well, that didn't work! I tried to find some information on an offical website to reassure you. However, "Foodsafety.gov" says to keep raw poulty in the fridge only 1 to 2 days. Wow. We violate that all the time. I guess you should throw it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seasider Posted February 17, 2014 Author Share Posted February 17, 2014 I let it come closer to room temp and it did not pass the smell test. Marbel, I agree, I don't think it smells icky even when fresh, but this one is definitely off. Thank goodness tomorrow is trash day! [ETA - I meant to say I DO agree, I think even fresh chicken DOES smell icky. ] I know they last longer than a day or two, but I wasn't sure how long. I guess I've been reading too many articles on bone broth recipes in which the stuff is left brewing for a solid week. Ah, well, I was hoping to avoid a grocery run since my list for the week isn't organized yet. Guess I better tie up my tennies and get going. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 If I have to think about asking, I toss it. :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 I let it come closer to room temp and it did not pass the smell test. Marbel, I agree, I don't think it smells icky even when fresh, but this one is definitely off. Thank goodness tomorrow is trash day! I know they last longer than a day or two, but I wasn't sure how long. I guess I've been reading too many articles on bone broth recipes in which the stuff is left brewing for a solid week. Ah, well, I was hoping to avoid a grocery run since my list for the week isn't organized yet. Guess I better tie up my tennies and get going. Sorry you had to toss it. I hate it when I don't remember I have something until it has already expired!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lil' maids in a row Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 I would boil it with some rice and make they dogs very happy :-) But, no I wouldn't eat it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 I would toss it. I'm not sure you can always tell chicken has gone off by smell. I sometimes buy the freezer packs of chicken from Costco and even if I open one the same day I bring it home, well before sell-by date, they always stink. I can barely stand to use them. There has never been a problem with sickness from using them, so I guess it's just chicken smell. Maybe it would smell different/worse if it was really bad. Hard to imagine. There is a distinct difference between raw chicken smell and rotting chicken smell. Probably because I grew up eating out of discount bins and food banks I am very familiar with the difference. ;). Fresh raw chicken has an odor but when it starts to go the odor is distinctly stronger and more sour. I usually throw all raw chicken in the freezer unless it's on the menu in the next day, maybe 2. I'd rather freeze it for a day or two or three than let it sit in the fridge. Another option is to roast two chickens at the same time and immediately use the second one for salad and soup meat and start making broth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forget-Me-Not Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 No I'd toss that for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seasider Posted February 18, 2014 Author Share Posted February 18, 2014 I usually throw all raw chicken in the freezer unless it's on the menu in the next day, maybe 2. I'd rather freeze it for a day or two or three than let it sit in the fridge. I have been cooking for decades, I should have had this wise practice figured out by now. I am just not disciplined to take stock of my fridge regularly enough. Gotta change my ways, groceries are too expensive these days to waste anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 I'd toss it after kicking myself. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 Yeah, whole chickens used to be pretty cheap. Now, it's getting on towards $10 for a conventionally raised, factory farmed bird. I did a triple take the last time I saw the price on the twin packs of chickens at Costco. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 I am pretty ok with going a day or so past the date, but never on thawed chicken. Not worth the risk of getting sick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbel Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 There is a distinct difference between raw chicken smell and rotting chicken smell. Probably because I grew up eating out of discount bins and food banks I am very familiar with the difference. ;). Fresh raw chicken has an odor but when it starts to go the odor is distinctly stronger and more sour. I usually throw all raw chicken in the freezer unless it's on the menu in the next day, maybe 2. I'd rather freeze it for a day or two or three than let it sit in the fridge. Another option is to roast two chickens at the same time and immediately use the second one for salad and soup meat and start making broth. Good to know. I'll try to pay attention and see if I can train my nose to tell the difference. I'm trying to get into the habit of freezing chicken in typical recipe-sized "bundles" when I get home from the store. When I do that, my cooking life is so much easier. I often roast a chicken or put one in the crockpot to cook for meat and broth for a future meal. Having a freezer stock of cooked chicken is nice too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoJosMom Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 Yeah, whole chickens used to be pretty cheap. Now, it's getting on towards $10 for a conventionally raised, factory farmed bird. I did a triple take the last time I saw the price on the twin packs of chickens at Costco. Seriously??? I paid about that for farm-raised, free range birds. Yay, Hutterites! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LMV Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 A while back I purchased a two pack of whole chickens at Costco. Cooked one, forgot the second in my spare fridge. It's marked "sell by February 8." What's the verdict? I would not eat that or feed it to anyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ILiveInFlipFlops Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 You can't always tell by smell that food has gone bad. I got salmonella poisoning from a seafood dip that tasted and smelled just fine. Plenty of nasty bacteria can be found on chickens right from the grocery store. I generally push the limits, but particularly since I got food poisoning, I've been more careful. Nine days would be past my limit too. Sorry you had to throw the chicken away :( I really hate having to do that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IsabelC Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 No. It can be full of bacteria and still look/smell OK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 Seafood dip is a lot different than a chicken that will be cooked to a very high temp and consumed hot. Most of the the fish that I see for sale doesn't pass my sniff test, forget about the dates. The fridge temps and those ice cases at the grocery stores are too warm for seafood. I only buy it super fresh from a fish market or frozen solid on the boat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umsami Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 It's been a little more than a week. Still could be OK depending on your fridge. I would smell it. Any doubt, throw it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ILiveInFlipFlops Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 Seafood dip is a lot different than a chicken that will be cooked to a very high temp and consumed hot. Most of the the fish that I see for sale doesn't pass my sniff test, forget about the dates. The fridge temps and those ice cases at the grocery stores are too warm for seafood. I only buy it super fresh from a fish market or frozen solid on the boat. OK, but my point is that the bacteria that can cause food poisoning can be present in food that still looks and smells just fine. And many bacteria, while killed by cooking to the right temps, leave behind waste products that can also give you food poisoning. Those waste products are not destroyed by heat. http://www.foodsafety.gov/keep/basics/mistakes/ http://www.caes.uga.edu/departments/fst/extension/documents/FoodPoisoning-FoodInfection.pdf "True food poisoning or food intoxication is caused by eating food that contains a toxin or poison due to bacterial growth in food. The bacteria which produced and excreted the toxic waste products into the food may be killed, but the toxin they produced causes the illness or digestive upset to occur. Staphylococcus aureus and Clostridium botulinum are two species of bacteria that cause food poisoning." Nine days is plenty of time for that extra bacterial growth and consequent production of waste materials to occur. It's worth $10 for me to not take the chance on making my kids sick. ETA: And just for extra-fun bedtime reading: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2014/02/the-high-cost-of-cheap-chicken/index.htm I am not a germophobe at all, and I don't generally worry about my food (or my world in general) this way, but like I mentioned above, even I am only willing to push the envelope so far before I'm beyond my comfort level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 I've never had food poisoning from anything that I have prepared at home. My nose has never led me wrong on what to eat or not, regardless of all of the cautionary tales otherwise. I am not saying to be reckless just that people can usually trust their eyes and noses when cooking at home. Eating stuff that has been siting in the danger zone is more of a concern for me than deciding what (and how) to cook. I don't like to let raw chicken or fish sit in my fridge at all. It's just a contamination issue and my menu might change. Easier to defrost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IsabelC Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 We're the same. If we buy raw chicken, it is either cooked that day or frozen immediately. Once cooked, it is eaten within 24 hours (unless cooked in a casserole or stew and refrozen as soon as it's cooled enough). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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