Why Your Frozen Ground Turkey Package Might Be Puffed Up – And What To Do
You reach into the freezer to grab some ground turkey for dinner, but notice the package looks puffed up. This abnormal swelling can be alarming since you expect frozen items to maintain their shape.
Seeing a frozen ground turkey package that is puffed up naturally brings up some questions Is it safe to use? What causes this? Should you be concerned?
In this article, I’ll explain the common reasons for ground turkey packages puffing up in the freezer. I’ll also provide recommendations on what to do if you notice this with your frozen ground turkey.
Main Causes of a Puffed Up Ground Turkey Package
There are a few typical culprits for a puffy or bloated turkey package in the freezer:
- Gas accumulation
- Ice crystal formation
- Improper packaging
- Bacterial growth
- Refreezing after thawing
- Trapped air
Gas Accumulation
Gases produced naturally by the meat during decomposition can become trapped in the sealed packaging. As the gas expands, it can cause the bag or container to inflate.
Ice Crystal Formation
Freezer burned areas on the turkey allow moisture to leak out. When this moisture refreezes, it turns to ice crystals that take up more volume than liquid water, puffing up the package.
Improper Packaging
If the package had any small holes, tears, or wasn’t completely sealed, air can sneak inside. This air expands when frozen, causing the puffy appearance.
Bacterial Growth
Contaminated turkey can start to spoil in the freezer. As bacteria multiply, they give off gases that inflate the packaging.
Refreezing After Thawing
If the ground turkey was thawed and refrozen, moisture inside forms ice crystals during refreezing. These crystals take up more space, puffing up the bag.
Trapped Air
Sometimes excess air just gets trapped in the package before sealing. This expands in the freezer environment and makes the package puff up.
Is Puffed Up Ground Turkey Safe To Eat?
The puffiness itself doesn’t necessarily mean the ground turkey is unsafe. As explained above, harmless ice crystals or trapped air could be the cause.
However, a swollen package does warrant caution. It often indicates potential bacterial growth or gasses from spoilage that can pose health risks if consumed.
Before using puffed up ground turkey, it’s important to thoroughly inspect it. Check the expiration date and look for any foul odors, sliminess, stickiness, or unusual coloring. If anything seems off, it is best to discard the turkey.
If the meat otherwise looks and smells normal, cook it thoroughly until piping hot throughout to kill any potential bacteria. When in doubt, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Preventing Ground Turkey Packages From Puffing Up
To avoid a puffy ground turkey package, start with proper storage habits:
- Store at 0°F or below
- Use airtight, freezer-safe packaging
- Avoid temperature fluctuations
- Check for damage before freezing
- Follow recommended storage times
Also handle the raw turkey carefully according to food safety principles, like avoiding cross-contamination.
Additionally, some puffiness can simply be caused by excess air in the packaging itself, not actual spoilage. Opt for vacuum-sealed packages whenever possible to remove this air.
What To Do With a Puffed Up Ground Turkey Package
If you discover an inflated ground turkey package, follow these steps:
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Inspect the package closely. Check the expiration date. Look for any signs of damage, leakage, odor, color changes, etc.
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Touch the turkey through the bag. If it feels slimy, sticky, or overly soft, it is likely spoiled. Discard it.
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Carefully open the bag if necessary and smell the meat. If it smells unpleasant or sulfurous, it has probably gone bad. When in doubt, throw it out.
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If the turkey shows no obvious signs of spoilage, it should be safe to cook thoroughly. Take extra care to cook it to an internal temperature of 165°F.
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Contact the store where purchased if you suspect a packaging defect led to the puffiness.
Always remember – safety first. If you have any concerns about the quality of the turkey, don’t risk it. Play it safe and throw away puffy ground turkey packages. It’s not worth getting sick over.
The Takeaway on Puffy Ground Turkey Packages
Seeing a puffy or swollen ground turkey package in the freezer can be a little alarming. However, it does not necessarily mean the turkey is unsafe if stored properly. Many harmless factors can lead to this puffiness.
That said, a bloated package does warrant caution, as it can indicate bacterial growth or gasses from spoilage. Always thoroughly inspect the turkey and discard it if you notice any foul odors, stickiness, or other signs it has gone bad.
When in doubt, do not eat turkey from a puffy package. Follow proper storage guidelines to prevent this issue in the first place. And above all, listen to your instincts – if something seems off with the turkey, play it safe and throw it out.
Are Swollen Meat Packages Safe to Eat?
“Assuming the packaging has swollen due to the growth of microorganisms, it may still be safe to eat, although perhaps not a pleasant experience,” says Jacob Tuell, assistant professor of animal science/food science at Northwest Missouri State University, and member of the muscle foods division at the Institute of Food Technologists.
Take a look at similar packages, he suggests. If they’re equally puffy, then it’s likely on purpose. Tuell recommends looking for other signs of spoilage such as odd coloring, an “off” smell, or a slimy texture. If any of those accompany the swelling, then toss the meat.
“It can be tricky for consumers as the bacteria that cause foods to spoil usually do not cause foodborne illness, and vice versa,” he says. “Pathogenic bacteria that cause people to get sick typically thrive at warmer temperatures, so making sure meat is kept cold is critical.”
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Then, when you prepare it, make sure you cook it to the minimum safe temperature recommended by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). That’s 165°F for chicken, 160°F for ground meats, and 145°F for steaks, chops, and roasts.
To err on the safe side, however, it’s best just to avoid buying and eating meat with unusually swollen packaging.
“If the puffiness is not done on purpose, but rather the result of microbial spoilage, we would say no, that it should not be eaten,” says Bucknavage. “At this point, there is sufficient spoilage.”
To keep meat from puffing up at home, make sure it’s refrigerated and that you use it quickly. If you won’t use it in a timely manner, then freeze it to keep it from becoming spoiled.
Why Packaging Swells or Bloats
Perishable food like meats or cheeses is susceptible to spoilage from the growth of bacteria and mold when exposed to air. Sometimes manufacturers use what’s called modified atmospheric packaging, or MAP, to lessen the chance of spoilage and encourage freshness by changing the gas inside the package. And MAP does sometimes make the packaging bloat.
“If it is not done by the manufacturer as part of MAP packing, then the puffiness is the result of microbial action,” says Martin Bucknavage, an expert in food safety at the Penn State Department of Food Science. “We see this with the normal overwrap with Styrofoam trays used by grocers or in vacuum-packed products.”
Oxygen is the most likely culprit for spoilage in food packages. An oxygen-rich environment can cause food to go bad and lose its nutrients. When microorganisms grow, they emit a gas such as carbon dioxide which can cause the package to engorge.
“Much like humans, when bacteria eat, they create waste in the form of chemicals and gasses. In an enclosed space with no holes, that gas will accumulate and eventually lead to swelling,” says microbiologist Jason Tetro, host of the Super Awesome Science Show and author of The Germ Codeand The Germ Files. “In this case, you do not want to be opening the package because it will smell quite bad.”
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VERIFY: Does frozen chicken in puffed-up packaging mean the meat is spoiled?
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