How to Tell if Raw Chicken is Bad

It’s happened to all of us: we bought chicken at the store, placed it in the fridge, and either forgot to cook it, or it hid in the back.

And now you’re wondering if the raw chicken has gone bad or if it’s still good to eat. Read the tell-tale signs to see if it’s time to throw it out.

How to Know if Raw Chicken is Still Good

Whether the package is marked with an expiration date dated yesterday, today, or tomorrow; there is a chance the raw chicken is still good. The first thing you’ll need to do is open the package and inspect the meat. 

This quick inspection includes a visual test, a smell test, and a texture evaluation. If your raw chicken passes them, it’s still good to cook it and eat it. 

This is a little harder if you marinated chicken in the fridge for a bit too long, but nonetheless, continue reading to learn what to do next. This “inspection” also applies to frozen chicken that you’ve thawed out and is now in your fridge.

What Does Bad Chicken Look Like?

When raw chicken goes bad, the color of the meat will no longer look light pink. It tends to turn a shade of grey that can appear greenish in hue.

The fat attached to the chicken will no longer look white and will begin to turn yellow and if the chicken has the skin on, the coloring is more yellow than white. All of these changes in color are the first sign that your chicken might have gone bad.

What Does Bad Chicken Smell Like?

Another sign that your chicken is no longer good once you open the package, is that it has a funny smell -even if it is still in the best-by date- since good chicken meat has a neutral smell.

If there are some chicken juices at the bottom of the package or from thawing, discard those first and then do the smell test.

Is It Okay to Cook Chicken that Smells a Little?

Sometimes, chicken can have a little smell when it’s sat in thawing liquid or its juices a little too long. In this case, pay close attention to any discoloration of the meat, fat, or skin before cooking.

Texture/Slimy Chicken

There are some instances where the texture of raw chicken can change that will leave you wondering if it’s gone bad. This happens often when chicken marinades in citrus for too long and its color changes to white and the texture looks coarse. In this case, it’s still good. 

Slimy chicken is usually due to sitting in its own juices too long which can foster bacterial growth. The USDA recommends making sure the chicken is thawed safely in the fridge and never on the counter, which can lead to quick bacterial reproduction and make it slimy.

While raw chicken can naturally have a slimy feel, if you clean it and after you pat it dry with a paper towel, it still has a slimy texture to it, it’s time to throw it out.

While raw chicken can naturally have a slimy feel, if you clean it and after you pat it dry with a paper towel, it still has a slimy texture to it, it’s time to throw it out.

How Long Does Raw Chicken Stay Good in the Fridge?

The USDA recommends storing raw chicken at 40F in the fridge for 1 to 2 days. For store-bought chicken that’s been properly transported and stored, it’s good to eat in a 1 to 2-day window of the marked expiration date. Defrosted chicken is good 1 to 2 days from the date you take it out of the freezer and is thawed out.

How Long Can Raw Chicken be Frozen?

If you bought chicken and realized you won’t be able to cook it in time, you should seal it and freeze it. Whole chickens can be frozen for up to a year while chicken breasts, thighs, and pieces for up to 9 months. How long the chicken can stay frozen depends on how well it’s stored and wrapped. Freezer-burned chicken does not mean it’s gone bad, it mostly means improper storage.  

What Happens if You Eat Bad Chicken

Eating bad chicken can lead to intestinal distress (food poisoning) which means stomach pains, diarrhea, and/or fever. 

The best way to ensure you don’t eat bad chicken is to take the internal temperature of the chicken meat using a meat thermometer. This is especially important if you were iffy about cooking the chicken in the first place.  Chicken breasts should be cooked to 165F and dark meat to 175F.

How to Keep Chicken from Going Bad

How you transport the chicken home from the store and how you store it are the two main things that help it stay good longer. 

To keep it from going bad, I recommend:

Refrigerate immediately
The first thing that should be put away in the fridge is raw chicken and any other raw proteins. 

Safe transport
Using a thermal bag to place your raw meats after the store is recommended and a better way to keep your food chilled during transportation. 

Never leave it in a car
The grocery should be your final stop before going home. If you’re in the middle of the summer and live in a hot area, never leave the chicken in the car while you’re running errands. Cars can reach extremely high temperatures and bacterial growth is nearly assured. 

Keep the package sealed
It’s best not to open the packaging until you’re ready to cook the chicken since air and temperature changes can impact bacterial growth.

Don’t leave it out on the counter too long
Even if you plan on cooking it, don’t leave the chicken out on the counter for longer than 15 minutes while you prep other ingredients or preheat the oven.

Use a meat thermometer
Cooking according to temperature is the best way to ensure your chicken is properly cooked.