Cooking Question - Ground Turkey

[BrianL]

Okay, so I may be going crazy, but I wanted to ask others. I often cook some "Hamburger Helper" meals but I use 93/7 ground turkey instead. Last night as I was browning the meat I noticed that the turkey had a very strong smell. It's not a bad smell, it just smells like turkey - like full roasted Thanksgiving turkey. It looked fine and tasted fine and was well before the exiration date. The thing is the smell is still hanging in the house - like it's very noticeable, which I feel is unusual. I haven't gotten sick yet, but I was going to eat the leftovers for a few days. For some reason it is concerning me, maybe because it was the last package in the store. Anyone have any thoughts on it?

 

[HeatherC]

I have had that happen before. It should be perfectly fine. If it smelled or tasted spoiled that would concern me. But turkey smelling like turkey should be A ok!

 

[BrianL]

I have had that happen before. It should be perfectly fine. If it smelled or tasted spoiled that would concern me. But turkey smelling like turkey should be A ok!

Thanks. I figured that - it's just really, really strong! I cook it all the time and have never noticed that. I poked around online and have seen people mention similarly random occurrences like that.

 

[usnuzuloose]

It should be fine, just like bacon the odor lingers. Open the window and air it out.

 

[BrianL]

It should be fine, just like bacon the odor lingers. Open the window and air it out.

Yeah, that's why I never cook bacon! It's just never happened with 1 lb. of ground turkey before like that. Maybe it was higher fat content than labeled?

 

[DLgal]

So, a lot of ground turkey has "rosemary flavoring" added to it. I actually hate that they do this because sometimes it's too much and it overwhelms the flavor of whatever you are making. You may have gotten a batch with a bit too much rosemary. You have to look at the back of the package of meat, and see if it is listed as an ingredient. Most people don't expect to find an ingredients list on a package of fresh meat, but for whatever reason, ground turkey and chicken often have flavor additives, even the plain variety.

 

[BrianL]

So, a lot of ground turkey has "rosemary flavoring" added to it. I actually hate that they do this because sometimes it's too much and it overwhelms the flavor of whatever you are making. You may have gotten a batch with a bit too much rosemary. You have to look at the back of the package of meat, and see if it is listed as an ingredient. Most people don't expect to find an ingredients list on a package of fresh meat, but for whatever reason, ground turkey and chicken often have flavor additives, even the plain variety.

It does jsut say "natural flavoring" - I am reading that that could be the culprit. I buy this same kind all the time though.

 

[usnuzuloose]

It's like when they need more meat they glue it. Many articles on this They don''t put on the package that it was glued

 

[BrianL]

It's like when they need more meat they glue it. Many articles on this They don''t put on the package that it was glued

And I sit here and think I use ground turkey because it's healthier....

 

[RedAngie]

Maybe some ground up beaks and wattles were added as “flavor enhancers.”

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Okay, so I may be going crazy, but I wanted to ask others. I often cook some "Hamburger Helper" meals but I use 93/7 ground turkey instead. Last night as I was browning the meat I noticed that the turkey had a very strong smell. It's not a bad smell, it just smells like turkey - like full roasted Thanksgiving turkey. It looked fine and tasted fine and was well before the exiration date. The thing is the smell is still hanging in the house - like it's very noticeable, which I feel is unusual. I haven't gotten sick yet, but I was going to eat the leftovers for a few days. For some reason it is concerning me, maybe because it was the last package in the store. Anyone have any thoughts on it?

I'm afraid it's the this turkey smells like turkey virus. It's so rare that even the CDC hasn't put guidelines out on it. I'm afraid you'll be breaking out in pink and purple spots, followed by lime green stripes, and finally ending in dormancy so that you think it has gone away. That is until it comes back as something far far worse. This fish really smells like fish disease.

 

[BrianL]

I'm afraid it's the this turkey smells like turkey virus. It's so rare that even the CDC hasn't put guidelines out on it. I'm afraid you'll be breaking out in pink and purple spots, followed by lime green stripes, and finally ending in dormancy so that you think it has gone away. That is until it comes back as something far far worse. This fish really smells like fish disease.

Well, yeah, one might expect fish to smell fishy, but not TOO fishy! Really fresh fish doesn't really smell that way at all. It's just never happened when I've cooked the turkey before. I can still smell it in the air!

 

[usnuzuloose]

Maybe some ground up beaks and wattles were added as “flavor enhancers.”

Oh my thanks for putting that idea in my head.....

 

[NannyBeBe]

I use ground turkey a lot because my daughter has GERD and does not eat beef. I have never noticed a strong smell in the turkey but am wondering if the difference in fat content may be the culprit. Maybe a turkey with higher fat would smell stronger than the leaner turkey. I used to find that with ground beef when I ate beef. But since you were using a leaner turkey, that would not be the problem. I would think that if the turkey had been spoiled, you would have detected the odor when you opened the package.

 

[BrianL]

I use ground turkey a lot because my daughter has GERD and does not eat beef. I have never noticed a strong smell in the turkey but am wondering if the difference in fat content may be the culprit. Maybe a turkey with higher fat would smell stronger than the leaner turkey. I used to find that with ground beef when I ate beef. But since you were using a leaner turkey, that would not be the problem. I would think that if the turkey had been spoiled, you would have detected the odor when you opened the package.

Yeah, it didn't really start smelling until I started cooking it. Actually, I think it is quite possible that even though the package said 93/7 that maybe it was actually 80/20 or something.

 

[tvguy]

That is one of the reasons we stopped buying ground turkey. Just doesn't smell right cooking, no matter how fresh it is.

 

[ronandannette]

Maybe some ground up beaks and wattles were added as “flavor enhancers.”

Only in the generics. Stick with the fancy labeled brands and you should be fine.

 

[Skippy918]

I remember if I kept ground turkey in the freezer it would smell off once I defrosted it. Like somehow it went bad even though it was frozen. When I buy it fresh it has no odor.

 

[BrianL]

Only in the generics. Stick with the fancy labeled brands and you should be fine.

This is in fact Kroger brand, but it's always been fine in the past.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I'm afraid it's the this turkey smells like turkey virus. It's so rare that even the CDC hasn't put guidelines out on it. I'm afraid you'll be breaking out in pink and purple spots, followed by lime green stripes, and finally ending in dormancy so that you think it has gone away. That is until it comes back as something far far worse. This fish really smells like fish disease.

Hold up, that's the Skittles Pox! Can't pull one over on me.