Turkey is a lean and tasty protein that can be enjoyed in everything from sandwiches to stir-fries. However, like any meat, turkey is perishable and can go bad if not stored and handled properly. Eating spoiled turkey can cause unpleasant symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Luckily, there are several easy ways to determine if your turkey is still good or if it’s time to toss it. This guide will go over all the signs of spoiled turkey, tips on turkey storage, and how long turkey lasts in the fridge or freezer. Read on to learn everything you need to know how to tell if turkey is bad.
Now that you know how to tell if turkey has gone bad, it’s equally important to understand how to store turkey correctly to extend its shelf life and prevent spoilage in the first place.
Cooking a delicious turkey dinner can be one of the highlights of the holiday season. However, improperly stored or old turkey can pose serious health risks Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to tell if your turkey has gone bad
How to Identify Spoiled Raw Turkey
Raw turkey has a relatively short shelf life and can show signs of spoilage rather quickly if not stored properly Here are the top signs that indicate your raw turkey has gone bad
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Appearance. Fresh raw turkey is pale pink or beige in color. Gray, brown, yellow or green hues likely mean spoilage. Mold is also a giveaway.
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Smell. Raw turkey has a mild odor. A foul, rancid or ammonia-like smell means it has spoiled.
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Texture. The surface should be slightly damp but not slimy or sticky. A sticky texture indicates bacterial growth.
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Expiration date. Raw turkey lasts just 1-2 days past the sell-by date if refrigerated. Don’t risk it past that.
How to Identify Spoiled Cooked Turkey
Identifying spoiled cooked turkey can be trickier. Watch for these cues:
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Smell. Fresh cooked turkey has a pleasant aroma. If it smells sour or sickly sweet, it has spoiled.
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Color. The meat should be white or brown. Gray hues indicate it is spoiled.
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Texture. Leftover turkey can dry out but shouldn’t be slimy or tacky. Stickiness suggests spoilage.
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Taste. If the flavor seems “off”, it’s best to play it safe and not eat it.
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Expiration date. Cooked turkey lasts 3-4 days past the use-by date in the fridge. Toss it after that.
What Makes Turkey Spoil Quickly?
There are a few reasons why turkey tends to spoil quickly:
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Low fat content – Less fat means fewer preservatives to prevent spoilage.
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Processing – Slaughtering and grinding expose turkey to bacteria.
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Permeable skin – Bacteria can penetrate the skin more easily than with other meats.
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Enzymes – Turkey contains enzymes that break down tissue, accelerating decomposition.
Storing Turkey Properly
Prevent turkey from going bad prematurely with these safe storage tips:
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Store turkey right at the back of the bottom shelf of the fridge, at 40°F or below.
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Immediately freeze turkey that won’t be used in 1-2 days. It lasts 3-4 months in a 0°F freezer.
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Wrap raw turkey tightly in plastic wrap or freezer bags to prevent air exposure.
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Separate raw turkey from other foods in the fridge to avoid cross-contamination.
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Cooked turkey should be refrigerated in airtight containers within 2 hours of cooking.
What to Do with Spoiled Turkey
If you determine your turkey is spoiled, it’s important to discard it right away:
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Don’t taste turkey you think has spoiled, as bacteria can survive cooking. Play it safe and toss it.
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Discard the turkey in a tightly secured bag so it doesn’t transmit bacteria.
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Be sure to wash any counters, cutting boards, plates or utensils that touched the turkey.
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If you ate spoiled turkey, be alert for food poisoning symptoms like nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.
The Takeaway
With its short shelf life, turkey spoils easily if mishandled. But you can avoid a spoiled turkey ruining your holiday meal. Check for signs of spoilage, store turkey properly, follow expiration dates and discard bad turkey safely. By understanding what makes turkey go bad and how to tell if it has, you can enjoy delicious fresh turkey without worry.
Store Turkey Properly After Purchase
- Keep raw turkey refrigerated at 40°F or below immediately after purchase. Leave it in the original airtight packaging until you are ready to use it.
- Freeze raw turkey if you can’t use it within 1-2 days of purchasing. Frozen, unopened raw turkey lasts 9-12 months.
- Either refrigerate cooked turkey at 40°F or less or freeze at 0°F. Refrigerated cooked turkey keeps 3-4 days. Frozen cooked turkey lasts 4-6 months.
- Always place turkey on a plate or bowl to catch any juices and prevent cross-contamination of bacteria onto other foods.
- Keep turkey away from the freshest parts of the fridge like the door shelves. Store it toward the back where temps are most consistent.
Can you get food poisoning from bad turkey?
Yes, eating spoiled, undercooked, or contaminated turkey can give you food poisoning. Turkey is prone to harbor salmonella, E. coli, campylobacter, and other bacteria that can cause vomiting, stomach cramps, fever, and diarrhea. Leftovers and raw turkey are the biggest risks.
How to Determine If a Thawed Turkey Has Gone Bad
How do you know if Turkey is bad?
Here’s how to know if turkey is bad—both before and after you cook it. Once turkey has gone bad, it will usually give off a strong, rancid odor. It might also turn grayish brown, or grow patches of white or blue-green mold. Also, note that the surface of fresh turkey should be slightly damp, but not overly slimy or sticky.
What are the health benefits of ground turkey?
Ground turkey has multiple benefits. It is a good source of minerals, and B vitamins, rich in proteins, low in fat and it is lower in calories than common turkey.
What does a bad Turkey look like?
Fresh turkey usually looks light pink, off-white, or light orange. Bad turkey, on the other hand, may look like a duller shade of fresh turkey. Bad turkey may also be discolored; colors like grey, black, green, and brown are seen when a piece of turkey goes bad. Turkey meat does not last forever.
How do you know if a ground turkey is safe to eat?
Ground turkey contains both white and dark meat, so its color can range from light pink to a brownish hue. If it turns gray or green, that’s a sign it’s no longer fresh or safe to eat. Justin Micheal is KitchenSanity’s founder, food writer and editor in chief.