Spoilage of Cooked Chicken

[rajsuman]

Hi,

A couple of weeks back I made this garlic and lemon roast chicken, which was pretty delicious, if I say so myself. The next day, I had some of it in a sandwich made with superb roasted garlic bread, bought from a baker half an hour's drive from my home. I froze the rest of the chicken, saving it for more such sandwiches when I could lay my hands on the bread. I got the chicken out of the freezer and into the fridge on Wednesday the 1st, thinking I would be able to buy the bread on Thursday. As it happened, I never got around to buying the bread until today - now I'm not sure about the chicken. It smells and tastes alright, but I want to be sure that it isn't spoilt.

TIA,

Suman

[Anna N]

Hi,

A couple of weeks back I made this garlic and lemon roast chicken, which was pretty delicious, if I say so myself. The next day, I had some of it in a sandwich made with superb roasted garlic bread, bought from a baker half an hour's drive from my home. I froze the rest of the chicken, saving it for more such sandwiches when I could lay my hands on the bread. I got the chicken out of the freezer and into the fridge on Wednesday the 1st, thinking I would be able to buy the bread on Thursday. As it happened, I never got around to buying the bread until today - now I'm not sure about the chicken. It smells and tastes alright, but I want to be sure that it isn't spoilt. 

TIA,

Suman

←

For me, that is just too long for chicken. I would ditch it. I'd rather be safe than sick.

[NulloModo]

So all in all, it has been in the fridge for only about a week? I would personally have no problem digging in, but then again I am still merrily digging in to thanksgiving turkey that has been in the fridge since then...

Unless you have an immune deficiency of some variety, I wouldn't worry.

[peppyre]

I'm of the same mindset. If it tastes OK, smells OK and it's only been a week, I'd eat it.

[Malawry]

After a week, no, I'd pitch it. If I insisted on eating it I'd do something where it'd be cooked again, like shred it and make it into chicken soup, so at least some of the nasties would get killed off. But really, just pitch it. Life's too short to eat bad chicken.

[culinary bear]

As it happened, I never got around to buying the bread until today - now I'm not sure about the chicken. It smells and tastes alright, but I want to be sure that it isn't spoilt. 

←

A good guideline for cooked meat is three days in a domestic fridge, in a sealed container or well-wrapped.

The edibility or otherwise of chicken can be difficult to gauge. Clostridium species often have a pungent smell, but other spoilage bacteria like Campylobacter or E coli can pose a threat without any of the obvious signs of spoilage such as a sticky or mucilaginous coating, discolouration, or an 'off' smell.

It's tempting to be cavalier about such issues, but food poisoning can be extremely dangerous (20 people died in my home town six years ago in an E coli outbreak linked to cooked meat), and remember, it may not always be you eating the food in your fridge. Accidentally killing your eighty-year old granny might not be a good thing. :)

The phrase we use at work is, "If in doubt, get rid of the fucker". We haven't poisoned anyone yet.

[winesonoma]

As it happened, I never got around to buying the bread until today - now I'm not sure about the chicken. It smells and tastes alright, but I want to be sure that it isn't spoilt. 

←

A good guideline for cooked meat is three days in a domestic fridge, in a sealed container or well-wrapped.

The edibility or otherwise of chicken can be difficult to gauge. Clostridium species often have a pungent smell, but other spoilage bacteria like Campylobacter or E coli can pose a threat without any of the obvious signs of spoilage such as a sticky or mucilaginous coating, discolouration, or an 'off' smell.

It's tempting to be cavalier about such issues, but food poisoning can be extremely dangerous (20 people died in my home town six years ago in an E coli outbreak linked to cooked meat), and remember, it may not always be you eating the food in your fridge. Accidentally killing your eighty-year old granny might not be a good thing. :)

The phrase we use at work is, "If in doubt, get rid of the fucker". We haven't poisoned anyone yet.

←

I had food poisoning once. That was enough. When in doubt throw it out.

[Really Nice!]

What temperature is your refrigerator?

[rajsuman]

Okay, I'm convinced enough to throw it out. Maybe I can roast another chicken - can you tell I love this sandwich?

Thank you all!

Suman

Edited to add the thank you bit.

Edited December 7, 2004 by rajsuman (log)