Like most foods, meat is best when its served fresh. And while no one wants to be wasteful, no one should risk getting sick from tainted or spoiled meat. When that beef, pork or poultry is ground up, however, it can sometimes be difficult to tell if its actually gone bad.
Since best by, sell by and use by dates can be pretty confusing, culinary professionals recommend that home cooks perform their own assessment of any meat products before cooking them.
The first test? Take a look. In general, ground meat should be a varied shade of red or pink. Slight discoloration is natural, but the product package itself may also indicate spoilage.
“From a visual perspective, if you have a piece of meat thats in a bag or vacuum-sealed pouch (and) if it has blown up like a balloon, its going to be really rotten, so much so, you should not even open the bag,” butcher James Peisker, co-founder of Porter Road, told TODAY Food.
If ground meat passes the visual test, the next step is to touch it. “If the meat is sticky or super slimy, throw it away. Wet and juicy is OK, but you never want your meat to be slimy to the touch,” advised Peisker.
After passing the look and touch tests, then its time to use your nose. “Different meat has different smells,” said Peisker but, generally, rotten meat actually smells slightly sweet. Like other products that have spoiled, ground meat will be especially pungent. Like fresh fish, fresh meat shouldnt really be smelly at all.
Here are some top tips for how to assess the freshness of specific types of meat.
Ground turkey is a healthy and versatile protein used in many delicious recipes, from meatballs to chili. However, like any perishable food, it’s crucial to know when ground turkey has gone bad. An unpleasant odor is the clearest indicator of spoilage, but what exactly does spoiled ground turkey smell like? This article will explain the scents to watch out for so you can identify rancid ground turkey.
How to Tell If Ground Turkey Is Bad
Fresh raw ground turkey should have a mild, meaty smell. Once it spoils, it gives off distinct sour, ammonia-like, or rotten odors Cooked spoiled turkey retains an unpleasant scent as well Other signs of bad ground turkey include
- Grayish, greenish, or yellowish color
- Slimy or tacky texture
- Visible mold
- Dull or dark spots on cooked meat
Don’t rely on smell alone. Consider the turkey’s appearance texture taste, and best-by date too. When in doubt, play it safe and discard meat that seems off.
What Causes Ground Turkey to Smell Bad?
Bacteria like Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria can multiply in ground turkey and cause foul odors. Improper storage temperature changes and simply exceeding the expiration date can all contribute to rapid bacterial growth. Here are some common scents emitted by spoiled ground turkey
Rancid, Rotten Scent
A rancid odor, resembling rotten eggs or garbage, means bacteria have broken down the turkey’s fats and proteins. This rancid turkey is not safe for consumption.
Sour Milk Smell
Ground turkey gives off a sour milk odor as bacteria produce acid. It’s a clear warning sign the meat has spoiled.
Ammonia Scent
An ammonia-like smell happens as amino acids in the turkey break down. This chemical scent means the meat has gone bad.
Odd Sweet Scent
An unusual sweet, fruity smell could indicate microbial growth. Do not eat turkey with this odor.
Bad Boiled Eggs Scent
The sulfur compounds in spoiled turkey can smell like rotten boiled eggs. Toss any ground turkey with this stench.
Dangers of Eating Spoiled Ground Turkey
Consuming rancid ground turkey can cause foodborne illness. Nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and diarrhea are common symptoms. In severe cases, hospitalization may be required. Play it safe and discard questionable turkey.
How to Store Ground Turkey to Avoid Spoilage
Proper storage is key to prevent foul odors and spoilage. Follow these tips:
- Refrigerate at 40°F or below
- Freeze for long-term storage
- Use sealed packaging
- Portion into airtight containers if dividing
- Label with date
- Use within 1-2 days fresh, 3-4 months frozen
What to Do If Your Ground Turkey Smells Bad
Trust your senses. If you detect foul odors, err on the side of caution. Here are the steps to take:
- Discard the rancid ground turkey
- Wash hands, surfaces, utensils that touched meat
- Buy a fresh package for your next recipe
The Takeaway
Sniff your ground turkey and be wary of any unpleasant scents, especially rotten, sour, or ammonia odors. Discoloration, sliminess, and mold are also signs of spoilage. When in doubt, throw it out. With proper storage and handling, you can enjoy fresh-tasting ground turkey in your favorite dishes.
How to tell if ground beef is bad
“All beef, including ground beef, is a deep purple until it hits oxygen,” Peisker told TODAY. “If its a deep purple, it was cut and then taken away from oxygen instantly. As the meat hits oxygen, it blooms to a bright red.”
Beef actually has the longest shelf life of most ground meats and, assuming it wasnt purchased past its use by date and is freshly ground, should stay fresh in the fridge for five to seven days.
“The meat should always have a nice sheen to it and not [be] gray. The grind should be a coarse grind where you can see the meat,” Josh Capon, executive chef and partner at Lure Fishbar and Bowery Meat Company, said.
When raw beef starts to turn brown or gray (even if its just a small portion of the package), its time to perform the smell and touch tests right away. Graying is a natural process that occurs as beef continues to oxidize, but if there is any sticky residue or it smells funky, toss it. If youre still within that five day window and the beef is only a little gray on the outside, but otherwise seems fine, its OK to consume it. However, if the meat is showing signs of gray or brown discoloration throughout, its time to say goodbye.
Its also important to keep in mind that ground meat can still go rotten in the freezer. “Large ice crystals (on ground beef) indicate it could be bad, and it could make you sick,” said Peisker. “Also with frozen meat, if there is discoloration, be careful, its always better to air on the side of safety.”
How to tell if ground pork and sausage is bad
Ground pork will stay fresh up to five days but around day three, you should definitely check the package.
“With grocery store ground pork, it will start to turn brown, but it doesnt have the oxidation like beef does,” Peisker said. “Ground pork is often considered the other white meat but … if you get it from a reputable, high-quality purveyor, it will automatically look darker than what you would see in the grocery store.”
When it comes to fresh sausages like bratwurst (which may have dairy in them), they will go bad pretty quickly.
“Anything in a natural casing will also go bad faster,” said Peisker, adding that “anything that has a starch in it (potato, rice) will go bad faster, because bacteria loves starches and turns them into sugars — which will increase the growth of bacteria, good and bad.”
How long sausage lasts will vary by the type of meat in it, but most sausages will last two to three days in the fridge, and about a month in the freezer.
Of course, with various spices and additives like onions or garlic, fresh sausage can be pretty pungent right off the bat. Chef Justin Burdett of Crooks Corner in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, told TODAY that “pre-wrapped meats have an odor to them immediately after being opened that will go away after the meat is allowed to breathe a little. However, if the meat still smells after some time out of the packaging, its likely gone bad.”
Sausages also vary in color but like any other ground meat product, once they start to turn a different color, its likely time to toss it. Touching the sausage, said Burdett, is probably the best way to assess whether its fresh: “If the ground sausage feels sticky or has a gummy texture, its past its time and shouldnt be used.”
The Reason: Why Does Ground Turkey Smell Bad
FAQ
What does ground turkey smell like when it’s bad?
- No smell when fresh: Fresh ground turkey should have very little to no smell at all.
- Sour or rancid: The most common description for spoiled ground turkey is a sour, rancid smell.
- Ammonia-like: Sometimes, the smell can be reminiscent of ammonia.
- Check before cooking: Always smell your ground turkey before cooking to ensure it’s fresh.
What does bad ground chicken smell like?
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Sourness:This is the most common description for the smell of spoiled chicken, similar to a fermented or acidic odor.
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Sulfur-like:Some people compare the smell to rotten eggs, which is due to the presence of sulfur compounds produced by bacteria breaking down the meat.
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Strong and noticeable:If you can clearly smell the chicken, especially if it’s a strong or unpleasant smell, it’s likely gone bad.
What does ground meat smell like?
- Fresh: A subtle, almost undetectable iron scent.
- Near expiration: Slightly stronger metallic smell, but still considered safe to eat.
- Spoiled: Strong, off-putting odor like rottenness, sourness, or ammonia.
How do you know if your turkey is spoiled?
“Consumers can tell leftover turkey has spoiled by using their senses,” says Snyder. “Refrigerated turkey leftovers that have spoiled may be slimy or have a bad smell.” If the turkey has been stored in the freezer, you will be able to tell if it is no longer safe to eat if it is discolored, tough, or dry.
What does ground turkey smell like?
Regarding smell, there shouldn’t be any strong odor coming from packaged ground turkey. It should smell similar to raw chicken. If you smell anything that’s off-putting or sour, the turkey is bad and should go in the trash. One way to tell if the ground turkey is still fresh is to handle it a bit.
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.
Why does ground turkey smell bad?
If it’s been stored improperly or for too long, bacteria can grow, leading to an off-putting smell. This bacterial growth can be due to temperature fluctuations in the fridge or simply the turkey being past its use-by date. Cooked ground turkey, on the other hand, should carry the aroma of the ingredients you cooked it with.
Does raw turkey smell?
Fresh, raw turkey that has not been sitting around shouldn’t really have any kind of unpleasant smell. The fresher it is, the less odor it will have. Of course turkey has a natural smell, but it should be very minimal. It’s similar to chicken in that the raw meat itself doesn’t have a strong scent.
Does a fresh turkey smell like chicken?
The fresher it is, the less odor it will have. Of course turkey has a natural smell, but it should be very minimal. It’s similar to chicken in that the raw meat itself doesn’t have a strong scent. So if you unwrap your turkey and are met with a very foul, potent smell, something else is likely going on.
What does spoiled turkey meat smell like?
“The skin or surface of spoiled turkey meat is usually slimy, and the meat itself smells like rotten eggs or sulfur. These characteristics are due to microbial spoilage.” Spoilage might be expected if a turkey has been left in the refrigerator for a week or longer or left to thaw in the garage for a few hours.