How to Know if You Bought a Bad Chicken
- 1). Look at the package date. Grocers are supposed to pull the chicken days ahead of the date, but sometimes they miss a stray bird. Checking the "packed on" or "sell by" date can tell you how old the chicken is.
- 2). Check the color for fading or darkening. The normal color of chicken ranges from a bluish-white to yellow. A reddish color on the chicken is most likely due to the protein myoglobin, which is normal. Change in color alone, however, does not necessarily indicate spoilage.
- 3). Smell the chicken. If you find that it has an "off" or unpleasant odor, this may be a sign that the chicken has indeed gone bad.
- 4). Rub the chicken with the tips of your fingers. If the chicken has a slimy feel, or is sticky to the touch, it may have gone bad.
- 5). Take note of the above steps and make a decision about whether to return the chicken or use the chicken. If you have a chicken or chicken pieces that have a change in color, odor or texture, you could have a spoiled chicken. If two or more of the changes are apparent, there is a good chance the chicken is spoiled or near spoiling.
