You can tell if chicken is bad by checking its smell, color, texture, and how long it has been stored:
- Smell: Bad chicken often has a sour, pungent, or sulfur-like rotten egg smell. Fresh chicken should have little to no odor
- Color: Fresh raw chicken is pink and fleshy. If it turns dull, grayish, yellow, green, or has dark spots, it has likely gone bad
- Texture: Fresh chicken feels smooth and moist. If it feels slimy, sticky, or has a filmy layer, it’s spoiled. Pressing the meat may leave an imprint if it’s bad
- Storage time: Raw chicken should be used or frozen within 1-2 days of purchase if refrigerated. Cooked chicken lasts about 3-4 days in the fridge. If chicken has been left out at room temperature (40-140°F) for more than 2 hours, it should be discarded
If you notice any of these signs-off smell, discoloration, slimy texture, or it’s past the recommended storage time-discard the chicken to avoid food poisoning. Cooking spoiled chicken can kill bacteria but not the toxins they produce
. When in doubt, throw it out.
