Random cooking question

[Princess_Ariel_5]

So I have a pack of chicken that was frozen until last week. The date says 5/7 but it was frozen from the minute we purchased it until last Monday. For a week now, it's been in the fridge. Took a few days to fully defrost. Is it safe to cook tonight? What do you all think? Thanks!

 

[mjkacmom]

Hmm, I freeze meat all of the time, but like to cook it within a day of defrosting. It was probably thawed by Wednesday.

 

[AppleDumpling]

Has it changed color? You may have to remove the skin to see the meat. If in doubt, I would toss it. A week seems too long. Better safe than sorry.

 

[kimblebee]

I wouldn't risk it but I'm super picky about chicken. On the other hand, chicken is so super expensive that I'd hate to waste it..

 

[Turn the Page]

My husband works in a grocery store so I will often ask him these types of questions. His answer is generally "if it has gone bad you will not have to ask that question." Seriously, give it a good whiff and if it smells ok then it is fine. But, to each their own. If you're really worried there isn't anything wrong with tossing it but if it smells ok I would use it.

ETA: Just make super sure it is cooked thoroughly.

 

[Poohforyou]

I wouldn't chance it. I'm sure some of it was still frozen until the middle of last week but not all of it.

 

[Minnesota!]

I would eat it if it passed the smell test

 

[Hikergirl]

Open the package, if it has a foul odor don't use it. If its doesn't smell or look yellow you are good to go.

 

[ImDMous]

I'm a smeller too. If it still smells ok, I cook it. You will KNOW if it's spoiled. I always wondered about this until I did actually have some go bad, it's obvious.

 

[mousefanmichelle]

Smell it. If it smells funky - toss it. I have had chicken sit in the fridge for a week and it was fine.

 

[Princess_Ariel_5]

Thanks guys! It looks fine in color, so I'll just sniff it when I open the package.

 

[John VN]

If no smell then cook it, but WITHOUT herbs or spices that could mask a bad tasting piece of cooked chicken. NOTE, grilling the chicken could also mask the true taste.

I would have a back-up meal ready to go just in case.

 

[lorimay]

The nose knows.........

 

[Shmily1]

I smell a lot of foods, but if it was in my fridge for a week, no way would I eat it.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I'd like to think I would trust the grocer's answer, but I know I, personally, would panic and throw it away.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

I'm a "when in doubt, throw it out" cook, so if I had taken it out of the freezer to thaw on Monday and hadn't cooked it by Thursday, it would have been in the can for pickup Thursday morning.

Even if I didn't have a specific dish in mind, I'd have just cooked it to use in a casserole of some sort on Tuesday, latest Wednesday.

 

[CPanther95]

Throw it out and serve beef or bacon.

That's a good policy even for fresh chicken.

 

[Turn the Page]

To be perfectly honest I don't trust sell by dates very much. I have had chicken that is good 4 days after the sell by date and also had it go bad 3 days BEFORE the sell by date. Same with dairy products. I use the smell/taste test and call it a day.

 

[MomofKatie]

Chicken is a meat that can't be served "rare", so it will be thoroughly cooked. If it passes the sniff test, I would go ahead and cook it, but use an instant read thermometer to make sure the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.

 

[olliesmom]

I wouldn't use it. Anything that's been thawed in the fridge longer than 24 hours gets thrown out. We had a good friend who was extremely sick for weeks in ICU due to a septic blood infection from E. coli which they suspected was from bad chicken that she had eaten. Ever since, I have been incredibly careful with chicken. Just not worth it to us to chance it!