Does Chicken have a Smell?

[disneymom3]

I was just getting ready to make dinner and I got the chicken breast out of the ziploc bag it was frozen and has been defrosting in and it has kind of an odd smell. I have never noticed chicken having a smell before, but I cannot think of any reason this chicken would not be good. On the one hand, I have nothing to make for dinner if this is bad and on the other hand, I obviously don't want to serve my family spoiled chicken.

 

[chell]

Yes, raw chicken does have a smell but I don't know how to explain the smell to you. Go with your instincts.

How is the color of the chicken? What color(s) do you see? That can also tell a lot about it.

 

[KarenAylwood]

It's raw, right? How long has it been frozen?

I believe raw chicken has a smell.. it makes me nauseous actually... it's like the salmonella is actually crawling up into my nose. I'm deathly afraid of raw chicken, DBF call's it my Kryptonite

If it smells like rotting meat, obviously don't cook it. If it looks ok and the smell isn't very strong (you've got to be relatively close to smell it) then I think it's fine.

But it definitely does have a distinct smell (IMO).

 

[jel0511]

I once bought chicken that was bad and it had a definate odor. Raw chicken does smell, but if it smells rancid or icky, I'd toss it and order a pizza.

 

[Sleepy]

The rule I go by is if it doesn't seem right, toss it. I'd rather throw away a few bucks worth of good meat than eat bad food and get sick.

 

[Albertan mom]

I believe raw chicken has a smell.. it makes me nauseous actually... it's like the salmonella is actually crawling up into my nose. I'm deathly afraid of raw chicken, DBF call's it my Kryptonite
(IMO).

That line struck me as hilarious, because it totally describes me too!!

I hate thawing chicken, cutting raw chicken, everything about chicken scares me. If it is the slightest bit light pink, I am scared of it. Unless it is dry as a bone overcooked, I think it is out to poison me!!
But I really like the taste of chicken, and like to eat it!!
Crazily enough, I order it at restaurants all the time, where I am sure they have taken the upmost care and precautions in cooking it!! .

 

[djcruz4fun]

If you smell it and gag it might be bad but Cook it really good and you will have no problems

 

[Nancy]

If it's bad you'd be gagging. Bad chicken smells disgusting. Raw checken does have a faint odor

 

[disneymom3]

Okay, well, I am cooking it on the advice of all of you. I wouldn't say the smell makes me gag, but it's more than I have noticed before. A friend who lives on a hobby farm and raises her own chicken says the smell may be from being in the bag in the freezer.

I don't know. I may still order that pizza. I am waiting to see if it seems okay once it is cooked. I am pretty freaky about the whole salmonella thing too. I am definitely a throw it away if you doubt kind of a girl, but I just don't see how it could be bad. There are no freezer burn marks and when raw it looked totally normal and was nice and pink.

I'll let ya know!

 

[disneymom3]

Well, it is now cooked and I am still not sure so I am having DH stop at the store on teh way home ot pick up one of those fully cooked chickens from the deli. It kind of smells fine, but there is this odd lingering odor in my house that I have never had before. I might be being paranoid, but I have had food poisoning before and it is really a bad thing. I am going to see if it smells off to DH when he comes home and since he is more paranoid than I am, if he says it's okay, I will just save it for another meal.

 

[Nancy]

Better safe than sorry. I have been known to throw things out if unsure.

I don't think you would have a lingering smell unless you are smelling the bag in the garbage.

 

[minkydog]

When in doubt, throw it out

 

[Cantw8]

Yes, chicken has a "fowl" smell

 

[mickeyfan2]

Raw chicken has a smell. Now you will know rotten chicken, it will make your stomach turn. Where did you thaw it? Water or the fridge is the right way. On the counter can lead to the center being frozen and the outside begining to turn.

 

[GoofyDad869]

Yep.
Smells Like Nirvana.

 

[LaLa]

I have to say that if it is bad, there will be no doubt. I cooked some chicken breasts one night (those quick frozen tenderloins) and it smelled fine to me...yes there is a slight smell to it normally.

DH took a bite and almost threw up right then and there. There was ONE piece that was bad. Don't know how it happened, but that piece of chicken smelled like a rotting garbage can. Thank God DH noticed it and was able to spit it out without swallowing and never got sick, but it was very gross.

I still make that particular dish, and now DH refers to it as 'Garbage Chicken'

"What are we having tonight, dear, Garbage Chicken?"

 

[LoveWDW]

Wow! I am so glad that you decided not to eat it. Any time you wonder or or doubtful throw it out. It isn't fun to wonder if somebody is going to get sick.

 

[Beth76]

You're not pregnant, are you? When I was pregnant the first time I could not cook with chicken because the smell just made me sick. Never had a problem with it before and I still don't.

And this will sound crazy, but I worked with infants at the time and there was one baby who was on a special formula and (to me) made him smell like raw chicken. It was awful. No one else smelled this, just me. Poor kid.

 

[disneymom3]

Well, when DH came home he thought the house had a slightly odd smell so we threw it out. The cooked chicken smelled okay, and I tried a small piece but by that time, I think I was paranoid and I couldn't decide if it was good or not. I think it was probably fine, but oh well. DH picked up the cooked chicken from the deli and we just had that with the rest of the items I had planned.

Thanks for all the advice and not thinking I was crazy.