How to Know if Poultry Is Fresh

Thaw frozen chicken in the refrigerator -- not on the counter.

Chicken and turkey are safest to eat, and tastiest, when the poultry is at its freshest. Cooking meat that has not been stored correctly or is past the expiration date may make you sick. Foodborne infections like salmonella and E. coli are common to poultry, and these infections are more prevalent in spoiled meat. These bacteria cannot be detected by mere sight or smell, but you can reduce your chances of becoming sick by cooking only fresh poultry. Learn how to purchase and cook the freshest pieces of poultry by knowing what you should look for. Does this Spark an idea?

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Instructions

- 1
  
  Examine the poultry's skin and flesh. The poultry's skin should be bluish-white to creamy yellow. Throw away gray, blackish or off-color chicken or turkey.
- 2
  
  Touch the poultry's skin. The skin should feel firm not mushy or slimy.
- 3
  
  Sniff the poultry parts. The poultry should have a fresh smell, not bloody or musky-smelling. If the chicken smells "off" at all, do not use it. Sometimes soured poultry will not smell bad until it begins to cook. If your chicken begins smelling as it cooks, throw it away.