As Thanksgiving approaches, many of us are preparing to cook a turkey for the big feast. However, if not stored and handled properly, turkey can go bad quickly. Nothing spoils a holiday celebration faster than food poisoning!
In this article, I’ll provide a complete guide on how to tell if your turkey has gone bad both before and after cooking. Follow these tips to keep your family safe this Thanksgiving.
Signs a Raw Turkey Has Gone Bad
Here are the telltale signs that your raw turkey has spoiled and is no longer safe to eat:
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Grayish or Brown Color – Fresh raw turkey is pale pink or peach in color. If the meat has turned gray, brown, or greenish, it has gone bad.
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Slimy Texture – Run your fingers over the turkey skin. It should feel slightly damp but not sticky or slimy. Slime indicates bacterial growth.
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Foul Smell – Raw turkey has a very mild odor. If it smells unpleasant, sour, or ammonia-like, it has spoiled.
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Mold Growth – Look closely at your turkey. If you see any fuzzy white yellow, blue, or green mold do not eat it.
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Expired Use-By Date – Fresh turkeys should be cooked within 1-2 days of purchase. Don’t risk it beyond the use-by date.
If you notice any of these signs, throw away the turkey immediately. Do not taste it or try to cook it!
How to Tell if Cooked Turkey is Bad
It’s a bit trickier to tell if cooked turkey has gone bad. Here are some things to look for:
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Expired Use-By Date – Cooked turkey lasts 3-4 days in the fridge. Toss it if it’s older than that.
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Funny Colors – The meat should be white or brown. Gray, greenish, or rainbow hues are a red flag.
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Mold Growth – Check cooked turkey carefully for fuzzy mold. Don’t eat any turkey with mold.
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Slimy Texture – The meat should not be sticky, slimy, or gummy. That’s a sign of bacteria.
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Rancid Smell – Leftover turkey tends to smell like old lunch meat. If it smells rotten, sour, or like vinegar, toss it.
When in doubt, remember the old adage “When in doubt, throw it out!” It’s better to be safe than sorry.
How Long Does Turkey Last?
To avoid food poisoning, it’s important to know how long turkey lasts both in the fridge and freezer:
- Raw Turkey (Fresh) – 1 to 2 days in the fridge
- Raw Turkey (Frozen) – 1 year in the freezer
- Cooked Turkey – 3 to 4 days in the fridge
- Cooked Turkey (Frozen) – 4 months in the freezer
These time limits apply as long as proper storage guidelines are followed (more on that next).
Proper Turkey Storage
Storing your turkey correctly helps prevent it from going bad too quickly. Here are some tips:
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Keep Raw Turkey Cold – Store fresh turkey on the bottom shelf in the back of the fridge at 40°F or below. If possible, place other items in front of it.
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Freeze Promptly – Freeze fresh turkey within 1-2 days if you don’t plan to cook it right away.
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Thaw Safely – Thaw frozen turkey in the fridge, allowing 24 hours per 4-5 lbs. Cook within 1-2 days once thawed.
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Wrap Leftovers – Cover cooked turkey tightly in plastic wrap or a sealed container. Refrigerate within 2 hours of eating.
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Mind the Freezer Temp – Frozen turkey lasts longest if your freezer is 0°F or below. Buy an appliance thermometer to monitor.
Following proper storage guidelines minimizes the chance of your turkey going bad prematurely.
Why Did My Turkey Go Bad?
If your turkey shows signs of spoilage, here are some common reasons why:
- You left it in the fridge too long past the use-by date.
- It wasn’t stored at the correct temperature. Both the fridge and freezer should be cold enough.
- It wasn’t wrapped tightly in the fridge or freezer, leading to freezer burn or exposure to air.
- The turkey was already close to expiry when you bought it from the store.
When in doubt, it’s safest to toss turkey at the first hint of spoilage. Don’t risk getting sick from eating bad turkey!
Can You Save a Spoiled Turkey?
Unfortunately, once a turkey has gone bad, there is no way to save it. The bacteria that cause food poisoning cannot be reversed by cooking.
Do not taste, cook, or eat turkey that smells, looks, or feels spoiled in any way. You should discard the entire turkey if even a small portion seems to have gone bad. When it comes to food safety, it’s better to be safe than sorry!
How to Prevent Turkey From Going Bad
The best way to avoid having to toss out a spoiled turkey is to take steps to prevent it from going bad in the first place:
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Buy Fresh Turkey At the Last Minute – Pick it up from the store 1-2 days before cooking.
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Follow Use-By Dates Closely – Cook or freeze turkey before the use-by date has passed.
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Store at Proper Temps – Maintain fridge temp at 40°F and freezer at 0°F.
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Freeze Promptly – Freeze fresh turkey within 1-2 days if you don’t plan to cook it right away.
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Thaw in Fridge – Safely thaw turkey in the fridge, allowing 24 hrs per 4-5 lbs.
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Avoid Thaw and Refreeze – Don’t refreeze raw turkey once thawed. Cook within 1-2 days.
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Wrap Tightly – Cover turkey tightly in fridge and freezer to prevent freezer burn or exposure to air.
Following proper storage and handling is the best way to make sure your turkey stays fresh and safe to eat!
Remember, when in doubt, throw it out! Don’t take risks with food safety. Follow the storage time limits outlined here and take steps to prevent spoilage in the first place. If you notice any signs your turkey has gone bad, discard it immediately. Your holiday will be a lot more enjoyable without any food poisoning!
Why Is Turkey a Risk for Food Poisoning?
Turkey, like chicken and other poultry, is a high-risk food for bacterial contamination. The moist, nutrient-rich environment of turkey meat provides an ideal breeding ground for harmful bacteria. Improper handling, storage, or cooking can allow these bacteria to multiply quickly, increasing the risk of food poisoning.
Several factors during the food handling process can contribute to bacterial growth in turkey:
- Thawing turkey at room temperature for too long – Thawing turkey on the counter can lead to bacterial growth.
- Not washing hands, utensils, or surfaces after handling raw turkey – Bacteria from raw turkey can spread to other foods, surfaces, and utensils if you do not follow proper hygiene practices.
- Storing turkey at temperatures between 40–140 °F, known as the “danger zone” – Bacteria multiply most rapidly in this temperature range, so it’s crucial to keep turkey out of this zone.
- Undercooking turkey or not reheating it to a safe internal temperature – Consuming undercooked or leftover turkey that has not been heated to safe temperatures can lead to food poisoning.
Cross-contamination is another significant factor in the spread of bacteria from turkey to other foods. This can occur when raw turkey comes into contact with other ingredients, such as fruits, vegetables, or cooked foods. Always use separate cutting boards, plates, and utensils for raw turkey and other foods to avoid cross-contamination. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling raw turkey. Clean and sanitize any surfaces or utensils that have come into contact with the raw meat.
Bacteria That Can Grow on Turkey
Several types of bacteria can contaminate turkey and cause food poisoning:
- Salmonella – Salmonella is one of the most common causes of food poisoning from poultry, including turkey. Symptoms of Salmonella infection include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps, which typically appear 12–72 hours after consuming contaminated food. In severe cases, Salmonella can lead to hospitalization and even death, particularly in young children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems.
- Campylobacter – Campylobacter is another bacteria that can cause food poisoning from turkey. Symptoms of Campylobacter infection include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps, which usually appear 2–5 days after consuming contaminated food.
- Clostridium perfringens – Clostridium perfringens is a bacteria that can grow on turkey and other poultry, particularly when the meat is cooked in large quantities and kept at unsafe temperatures. Symptoms of Clostridium perfringens infection include diarrhea and abdominal cramps, which typically appear 8–12 hours after consuming contaminated food.
How to Determine If a Thawed Turkey Has Gone Bad
FAQ
How do you know if turkey is spoiled?
Many times people can tell if a turkey is spoiled by the “texture and smell” of the turkey. Hanes said the skin of the turkey may become slimy, and the smell is often described as “rotten eggs or like sulfur.”
What color is turkey when it goes bad?
Raw turkey meat should be light pink or beige, depending on the type of meat and its fat content. The meat color becomes dull as time passes, which is normal. However, if the meat has a brown, gray or yellow or green hue, you will want to part ways with it.
What does turkey look like when it starts to go bad?
Once the meat turns a darker brown or has a gray color, it’s a sign that it’s starting to go bad.
When should you throw away turkey?
As a general guideline, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services recommends eating or freezing turkey and other leftovers within three to four days. For Thanksgiving, that means you should eat or freeze by Monday.
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.
How do you know if a Turkey is Rotten?
You should also smell a rotten turkey when it changes color. Don’t take any chances if it only looks bad without a smell, it’s likely bad. Cooked turkey should be moist, although sometimes dry from overcooking. The breast meat should be white with delicious golden skin. Dark meat should be even more moist than the white.
How do you know if a Turkey is spoiled?
Watch out for these signs of spoiled cooked turkey: Cooked turkey that has gone bad will often smell sour or sickly sweet. If it has a strong, offensive odor, it should be thrown out. Freshly cooked turkey meat should be white or brown, depending on the cut. A grayish hue likely means the turkey is past its prime.
What happens if a cooked turkey goes 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. There are a few key ways to tell if your turkey has seen better days.
How do you know if a Turkey has gone back?
Raw turkey should have smooth dry skin. Sliminess is a sure sign turkey that has gone back and should be discarded. Slimy turkey usually goes hand in hand with foul-smelling turkey as the bacteria activity has increased and therefore spoiled it. Once the turkey has gotten to this point it is safe to say that the trash is where it belongs.
How do you know if raw turkey meat is bad?
The problem with raw turkey meat or meat in general is you can’t tell at first glance when it’s spoiled. However, there are some common signs your raw turkey is bad. All you need is the meat and your sense of observation. 1. Check the Expiration Date