Even if it's raw or cooked, eating chicken that has gone bad can make you sick.Check the color, smell, and texture of the chicken to see if it has gone bad.If the chicken is frozen, look for ice and freezer burn.Check the smell, color, taste, and mold to see if cooked chicken is bad.How long the chicken has been stored is another thing to consider.
Step 1: Look for a change in color.
Chicken that is fresh has a pink color.The color fades to grey as it starts to spoil.If the chicken's color starts to look dull, you should use it soon.It is already too late when it looks grey.Chicken colors can range from grey to yellow spots.If you cook bad chicken, it may look dull and not become white.
Step 2: You can smell the chicken.
A raw chicken that has gone bad has a strong odor.Some like to call it a "sour" smell, while others think it's a scent of ammonia.It is best to discard the chicken if it begins to have an unpleasant odor.If chicken starts to smell bad while cooking, it is a good idea to discard it.
Step 3: You can feel the chicken.
Is it slimy?Chicken has a glossy, somewhat slimy feeling to it, so the touch test is more difficult than the color or smell test.There is a good chance that the chicken has spoiled if this remains after rinsing it under water.The chicken has gone bad if it feels sticky.
Step 4: An ice crust is what you should look for.
It is no longer good if there is a thick layer of ice around your chicken.The ice will be thick like the ice on a freezer.A chicken that has been frozen will not have a thick crust.It could be an issue with freezer burn if the ice is white.
Step 5: Check for freezer burn.
There is a mark on the chicken that isn't fat.It is rougher than the skin around it.It will make your chicken less enjoyable.
Step 6: Take a look at the color.
A frozen chicken can't be checked for color.It will be off color, similar to the raw or cooked chicken.The chicken should be in the trash bin if it is darker than grey.
Step 7: There is a smell to the chicken.
The smell test can work for cooked chicken as well as it can for raw chicken, but it is sometimes more difficult to distinguish the smell of bad chicken if spices and other seasonings are masking it.The smell of the chicken is bad.
Step 8: If possible, check for changes in color.
If the chicken has been breaded or if the color was altered by a glaze, it's not possible.Chicken that is cooked white can no longer be eaten.
Step 9: Look for mold.
One of the most obvious signs of bad chicken is mold.If green, black fuzz, or any organic growth of any kind has begun to form on the chicken, it should be discarded immediately.The smell of chicken may make you sick.
Step 10: The chicken should be tasted before you eat it.
If you don't want to waste chicken if it's still good, you can take a bite.You should carefully analyze the chicken's flavor before chewing or swallowing it.If it tastes off, spit it out and discard the rest.
Step 11: The "Sell By" date is important.
This alone is not always a good indication of whether or not raw chicken is still good because the "Sell By" date only dictates at which point chicken can no longer be sold to consumers.If you suspect that chicken has gone bad, you can use the "Sell By" date to confirm that.If you purchase fresh, refrigerated chicken from a store and freeze it, it can last up to nine months past this date, as long as it was fresh when purchased.
Step 12: The chicken was thoroughly stored.
Chicken that is cooked is more likely to be bad if it is exposed to air.Chicken can be stored in shallow containers or heavy-duty freezer bags.It could be wrapped in foil or plastic.In order to remain safe to eat, the whole chicken should be cut into smaller portions and any stuffing removed prior to freezing.
Step 13: Find out where the chicken was kept.
It depends on how you store the chicken.There is a higher chance that the chicken will go bad.In the refrigerator, raw chicken should be used in one or two days, while cooked chicken stays good for about three to four days.Chicken cooked in the freezer can be good for up to four months, while raw chicken can last for a year.