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 up a delicious turkey dinner can be one of the most rewarding parts of the holiday season. However, if you aren’t careful, that beautiful bird can go from succulent to spoiled quicker than you may expect. Knowing what spoiled turkey smells like and other signs of spoilage can help you identify when your turkey is past its prime.
How To Tell If Your Raw Turkey Is Spoiled
Fresh raw turkey has a very subtle aroma that is barely detectable. If you notice a strong sour odor when you open up the packaging this is a telltale sign your raw turkey has gone bad.
Some common scents you may notice from a spoiled raw turkey include:
- A sour, rotting stench
- A strong sulfur-like smell
- An ammonia-like aroma
- A yeasty, unpleasant fragrance
If you start preparing your raw turkey and notice any of these foul odors, it’s best to throw it out. Cooking and eating meat that has these off-putting scents can potentially cause foodborne illness.
In addition to scent, the texture and appearance of your raw turkey can provide other clues that it has spoiled.
A spoiled raw turkey often has a slimy feel or coating on the surface. This is caused by spoilage bacteria that have started to accumulate in large numbers on the meat, creating a slippery biofilm layer.
You may also notice the raw turkey meat itself appears more grayish or greenish rather than its normal light pink hue. Discoloration like this can indicate bacteria growth and the start of rotting.
So if you detect a rancid smell slimy feel or abnormal colors on your uncooked turkey, trust your senses and discard it.
What Spoiled Cooked Turkey Smells Like
Properly cooked turkey tends to have a mild aroma and taste, which makes it ideal for absorbing all those delicious holiday flavors like herbs, gravy and cranberry sauce.
If your leftover cooked turkey has been sitting in the fridge for several days and develops a sour, funky odor, this is a red flag that it has spoiled.
Some common scents that indicate your cooked turkey has gone bad include:
- A rotten, decaying smell
- A sour milk-like aroma
- A pungent “off” odor
- A smell reminiscent of ammonia
If you’ve reheated your turkey and notice any of these unpleasant smells, do not eat it. The odors are a sign that dangerous bacteria like salmonella or listeria may have multiplied to unsafe levels. Play it safe and throw it out.
Other Signs Your Cooked Turkey Has Spoiled
There are a couple other ways besides smell to identify if your leftover turkey has gone bad after refrigeration.
First, check the texture. Turkey that is starting to spoil often develops a slimy or sticky feel on the surface, which indicates bacteria growth.
You can also taste a small bite of the turkey. If the flavor is “off” and not as you’d expect, that’s your body’s warning sign to spit it out and not eat any more.
And finally, if you see any mold growth on cooked turkey, regardless of the amount, it has definitely spoiled and you should discard all of it.
What Causes Turkey To Spoil?
Raw turkey naturally contains bacteria on its surface. Proper cooking kills the harmful pathogens, making it safe to eat. However, once cooked, turkey can start to spoil again if left out for too long at room temperature or not stored properly in the refrigerator.
The main culprits of food spoilage are bacteria like salmonella, listeria, and E. coli. Given the right conditions and time, these organisms will start to rapidly multiply, producing toxic substances and foul odors in the process.
Some common causes of turkey spoilage include:
- Leaving turkey out too long after cooking
- Not storing leftovers in air-tight containers
- Keeping cooked turkey for longer than 3-4 days
- Letting raw turkey surpass its use-by date before cooking
- Improper thawing techniques
- Contamination from unsanitized cooking spaces
No matter how you end up with a spoiled bird, always remember if in doubt, throw it out!
How To Store Turkey To Maximize Freshness
You’ve invested time and money into cooking up a tasty turkey dinner. Follow proper storage methods to get the most out of your bird and keep leftovers fresh as long as possible.
For raw turkey:
- Store unopened packages on the bottom shelf of the fridge at 40°F or below
- Use raw turkey within 1-2 days of purchasing it
- Freeze extra raw turkey if you won’t use it in 1-2 days
For cooked turkey:
- Allow to cool completely after cooking, then refrigerate within 2 hours
- Store in air-tight containers to prevent bacteria growth
- Use leftover cooked turkey within 3-4 days
- Freeze any extra you won’t eat within this time
Following safe time limits, temperatures, and proper storage methods will help prevent your delicious turkey from ending up in the trash prematurely.
What To Do If You Eat Spoiled Turkey
We all make mistakes, including accidentally consuming spoiled foods sometimes.
If you ate turkey that was past its prime and start feeling ill, watch out for symptoms of foodborne illness like:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal cramping
- Diarrhea
- Fever
You may need to seek medical care if you have severe symptoms that persist more than 1-2 days. Make sure to stay hydrated and get plenty of rest.
Call your doctor immediately if you experience concerning symptoms like bloody stools, blurred vision, seizures, chest pain, or trouble breathing.
In the future, remember to adhere to safe cooking, refrigeration and use-by guidelines to avoid sickening spoiled turkey scenarios. However, if one occurs, act fast and put your health first.
Enjoy Safely Prepared Turkey This Holiday Season
When properly stored and prepared, turkey can make for amazing holiday meals and leftovers. However, no one wants to deal with the aftermath of spoiled turkey, which can cause serious illness.
Keep these smells, textures, appearance and storage tips in mind to identify when your turkey has gone bad. If you’re ever uncertain about your bird’s safety or freshness, don’t risk it. Remember the cardinal rule – when in doubt, throw it out!
Following safe food handling practices will allow you to enjoy the delicious turkey flavors you know and love without worry this holiday season.
Watching For Unusual Turkey Behavior While Cooking
Observe the turkey closely as it cooks. Fresh turkey behaves predictably when cooked using standard methods and recipes. Here are some red flags:
- The turkey keeps oozing pinkish liquid long into cooking. Fresh turkey juices will run clear sooner.
- The meat stays stubbornly pink and undercooked looking even after meeting recommended cooking times.
- The skin appears very dark or charred but the inside looks underdone. The fresh turkey cooks evenly.
- There is an atypical odor emanating from the oven. Cooked turkey should smell savory, not sour or rotten.
- The bones protrude visibly from the meat as it cooks. Older turkey flesh shrinks back more from the bones.
- The meat seems tough, rubbery, or dry compared to a normal cooked turkey texture.
Looking For An Unusual Viscosity
Raw turkey contains myosin proteins that break down over time, causing the pink juices in the packaging to become more viscous and gloopy.
Fresh raw turkey juices will be slightly sticky and glossy. As the turkey ages, those juices will become very thick, pasty, and sticky with a cottage cheese-like consistency. This change in viscosity signals spoilage.
After cooking turkey meat, the juices should be clear with a jiggly, gravy-like texture. Gray, slimy, or ropy juices around cooked turkey indicate it is spoiled.
The Reason: Why Does Ground Turkey Smell Bad
FAQ
How can you tell if turkey is spoiled?
What does expired turkey meat smell like?
What does rotten ground turkey smell like?
Does ground turkey smell bad?
While it’s still fresh, ground turkey won’t have much of an odor, but it will start smelling off-putting as soon as bacteria starts forming. Raw and cooked ground turkey start to develop odors when they go bad. Slimy texture Press your finger lightly into the meat. Ground turkey will feel slightly moist while it’s still fresh.
What does a spoiled turkey smell like?
Spoiled turkey has a strong, foul odor, reminiscent of ammonia or rotten eggs. What’s more, whole turkeys are quite large —usually between 15 and 30 pounds. If one of those goes bad while it’s in your fridge, you’ll be able to smell it right away.
Why does turkey meat smell bad?
When meat is deprived of oxygen it will often change to a darker color, and will sweat in the packaging sometimes causing a bad smell when you first open the packaging! Disclaimer: Although it’s normal for turkey meat to have a natural smell, if you feel like your turkey is actually spoiled, don’t risk eating it!
How do you know if Turkey is bad?
Well, here’s how to know if turkey is bad! When both cooked turkey and fresh turkey go bad they start to smell sour, and may develop a slimy texture, or grow mold. If you notice any of these signs of spoilage, you should throw it out to avoid making someone sick. No amount of cooking or reheating can make it safe again.