Learn how to identify if your chicken has gone bad as we answer if yellow chicken is safe to eat, and other related questions!
I am a huge stickler when it comes to food safety. My motto is, and always will be, “When in doubt, throw it out.” That said, there are times when the doubt may be unfounded, and I sometimes find myself on the fence when tossing valuable food, especially meat. That’s why we’re exploring if yellow chicken is safe to eat, and touch on related food safety questions related to poultry.
Chicken is a highly versatile meat, one of the many reasons it regularly makes my weekly grocery list. It’s challenging to satisfy several family members with just one dish, but chicken makes it easy for my whole family to enjoy dinner.
Chicken is one of the first meats I introduced my children to because it’s not fatty and very mild. Plain chicken is easy on the stomach and low in fat and calories, all while being loaded with minerals like calcium, selenium, and phosphorous, not to mention protein.
But chicken that has gone by or is not cooked correctly can be a source of serious foodborne illnesses like food poisoning — and even death. Read on to find out how to ensure your chicken is safe for consumption!
How to Tell If Raw Chicken is Bad
The best way to tell if your raw meat is spoiled is to look for one of these three signs of spoilage:
- Smell: Chicken that is still good has little to no smell. Anything sour or rotten smelling indicates that the chicken has gone bad.
I distinctly recall a time I took chicken out of my garage freezer with the intent to bring it in and forgot it for a couple of days—a horror story, indeed. Needless to say, the overwhelming stench in my garage was unforgettable, largely because it took so much time to rid the area of the foul smell.
But you don’t have to be a total space cadet like me and let it drive you out of your living space to before you identify any funky smells. If taking a whiff of your chicken is the opposite of appetizing, you know it’s time to chuck it.
- Color change: Healthy raw chicken is a peachy or pinkish color. Chicken that has gone bad will turn yellow, gray, or green. That said, yellow fat on your chicken breasts IS okay — just make sure the uncooked chicken itself hasn’t experienced any weird color changes. Also, chicken SKIN may look yellow — that’s totally different.
This is not a Dr. Seuss book, folks — don’t eat chicken that’s turning funny colors! That’s a sure sign your raw poultry has spoiled.
- Texture change: You do not want to serve meat that has a noticeably slimy texture for dinner. Healthy raw chicken should be moist and smooth, not gummy, sticky, dry, or rough.
Fresh raw chicken does not last long in the refrigerator.
It should be used within two days or frozen for future use, and then consumed within 1-2 days of thawing. This is similar to turkey, which has the same fridge shelf life.
Did you know you can marinate your chicken and freeze it for future use!
In short, is yellow chicken safe to eat? No, not unless you’re referring to the fat, skin, or seasoning.
How to Tell If Cooked Chicken Is Safe to Eat
The dangers of bad chicken are not limited to fresh chicken only — cooked chicken can also go bad and make you ill.
For best food safety practices, cooked chicken should be consumed within three days of being stored in the fridge and no more than four days after being cooked.
If your cooked chicken meets the above criteria of bad smell, color change, or texture change, consider it bad and err on the side of caution.
You can freeze cooked leftover chicken in individual portions in freezer-safe bags for up to three months, or longer if you vacuum seal it.
Related: How to pick the best cutting board for raw meat.
You can also reuse them in new ways! You can easily replace any of the recipes in our 10 Easy Dinner Ideas Made with Rotisserie Chicken or 13 Ways to Use Rotisserie Chicken recipe guides with your leftover chicken so it doesn’t go to waste, but also doesn’t feel boring.
For a guide on storing (and tossing) your favorite leftovers, check out our guide to fridge shelf life.
This should be pretty obvious, but chicken cooked with seasoning may often have a yellow tint — think of a curry dish, for example. If your chicken dinner includes sauces or seasonings that will change its color, that’s entirely different.
How to Store Chicken in the Fridge
Raw chicken should be placed in the fridge immediately upon returning from the grocery store. You will want to consume chicken within two days, though the first day is undoubtedly the best.
I like to meal plan my chicken for use the same day so I don’t risk any pesky, nasty bacteria on my family’s dinner plates.
Storing your meat on the bottom shelf or drawer of the fridge ensures that any raw juices will not spread throughout the appliance and potentially contaminate other foods.
Also, storing your meat toward the back of the fridge is generally safer, as this area of the fridge is the coldest and least prone to temperature fluctuations that may contribute to food safety concerns.
Store your cooked chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator and enjoy within three days. Always be sure to place chicken in the fridge after cooking it within two hours at moderate temperatures and in an hour or less when the room temperature is hot, such as in the summertime.
If you’re freezing chicken to save it for later, defrost your raw chicken in the fridge and never on the countertop or in hot water.
The second-best method for defrosting chicken is using cold water, which must be changed at intervals of 30 minutes or less to maintain safe temperatures. This process takes hours, so it’s best to use chicken when it’s fresh or thaw it overnight in the fridge and use it immediately.
Wondering if you can use that frozen chicken in a slow cooker or Instant Pot? The answer may surprise you.
What to Look for When Buying Chicken
Purchasing chicken that is as fresh as possible in the first place will help your chicken be healthier and safer for your consumption.
Look for chicken that has fat that is white to deep yellow in color, never gray or pale.
Best practices involve making sure the package is sealed tightly, with no signs of leaks or gaps.
Check the label for an expiration date. This best-by date is for general reference only — fresh poultry can still go bad within this time frame if the smallest fluctuation in storage temperatures or conditions occurs.
Always stick with the smell test, checking the texture of the chicken, and rules about the color of the meat, even if the chicken is still within the “use by” dates. Toss it if you see any tell-tale signs in order to avoid dangerous bacteria and other adverse health impacts.
Yes, we all want to reduce food waste, but the way to avoid this is to purchase carefully, cook, and consume quickly.
How to Tell If Chicken is Done Cooking
Another way that chicken can make you sick is if you consume it without cooking to the proper temperature. You may wonder how to tell if the chicken you’re cooking is safe to eat. Here are some simple ways to know if the chicken you’re making for dinner is ready:
- Temperature: Use a digital food thermometer to check the temperature of the center of the thickest part of your chicken. Cook until the chicken’s internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. Be careful not to touch the thermometer probe to any bones, as those will run hotter and give a false reading.
- Check for color: Properly cooked chicken will not have any pink meat remaining inside, unlike pork or beef. Make sure that your chicken meat is uniformly white in color.
- Juices run clear: Similar to checking for color, juices from a fully cooked chicken will run clear when the meat is prodded.
Now you’re fully prepared to buy, cook, and consume chicken safely, and you know if yellow chicken is safe to eat!
