How To Tell If Ground Turkey Is Bad (6 Signs!)
Ground turkey has become a favorite in many home cooks’ kitchens; however, not all of us know what to look out for when we are at the supermarket about to purchase some ground turkey. Before you cook your perfectly lean ground turkey for the next Taco Tuesday, let us first look at how you can tell if ground turkey is bad.
Ground turkey is spoiled if it has a slimy or tacky residue sticking to it or on the packaging of the meat. If the meat is off, you will be able to smell the sickeningly sweet smell that only rotten meat has. There are very few reliable visual signs; the color of ground turkey is not a clear indication.
As the world changes, so do culinary habits and trends. With all the new recipe ideas evolving, our methods and ingredients to enhance flavors and make dishes more nutritious and healthy change with it. This includes substituting fattier ground meats with ground turkey. Therefore, it is essential to know about food safety and when ground turkey is bad.
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How To Tell If Ground Turkey Has Gone Bad?
There are three main factors that indicate if ground turkey is bad: the texture, the color of the meat, and the odor of ground turkey all change if the meat is bad. There are a few other matters that you should also consider when you are at the supermarket and looking for the freshest possible ground turkey to buy. Here are the indications that you should look out for before preparing ground turkey.
Sign #1: Ground Turkey Changes Texture
When ground turkey is off or in the process of going bad, the texture of the ground turkey changes. The texture may become tacky, slimy, or sticky. The texture of the ground turkey changes due to Listeria monocytogenes bacteria that can be found in food processing environments. This bacterium grows slowly on meat (like ground turkey), even if you keep it in the refrigerator.
So, if you see any form of slimy or sticky texture on your ground turkey, it’s already too late to save it. Listeria monocytogenes bacteria can cause severe, even lethal, diseases that range far beyond food poisoning, so you should not take the chance.
Sign #2: The Color Could Be An Indication That Ground Turkey Is Bad
The color of ground turkey by itself is not a reliable indication that ground turkey is bad. That is why you need to know all the signs before you can be 100% sure if the meat is bad or not. That’s because light, ventilation, and packaging all play a role in the color of ground turkey meat in the end.
While it is still fresh, ground turkey has a light pink, almost white, color, depending on its fat content. As time progresses, the color of the ground turkey will become dull, and this happens whether the meat is bad or not. It is also essential to know the stages of decay because dull meat is not the only factor to account for.
The colors of decay can range from dull grey to a yellowish-brown off-color, and finally a green off-hue color, which is a clear indication of ground turkey that is beyond salvation. Nevertheless, because the color change starts with the meat growing dull, you need to look closely at the other signs, as these are all more precise indications that the meat has gone bad.
Related: How to Tell if Broccoli is bad
Sign #3: Bad Ground Turkey Will Never Smell Appetizing
Unfortunately, sometimes we have no other option but to get close and personal with our food. Therefore, if you get a whiff of ground turkey that does not smell like fresh meat is supposed to (ground turkey should smell a bit like chicken), that is a definite bad sign. You should closely inspect the ground turkey to ascertain if any of the other signs are present.
Bad turkey may smell a bit like game but slightly off. It will be a strong smell, not just a slight scent. By this time, you should also be able to clearly notice changes in the meat’s texture, as mentioned before.
Look out for an off smell on other meat products too, like pork and chicken broth.
Sign #4: Ground Turkey Won’t Last Much After The Expiration Date
Unlike some other products, the product date on ground turkey’s packaging is not the only guide to follow regarding the safety of ground turkey. There is, of course, the expiration date, also indicated on the packaging. This date is based on when the turkey was prepared and packaged and how long the turkey should last in ideal circumstances. But circumstances aren’t always ideal, are they?
Turkey is always kept cold during distribution to retail stores. This is to ensure that the growth of the Listeria monocytogenes is slowed down or to try and prevent the bacterial growth completely. Sometimes this could fail, so we should take a page from the USDA and FDA book on how to safely store and handle ground turkey from the moment we step into the retail store.
First, of course, you should take note of the expiration date on the ground turkey’s packaging. Ensure that the grocery store is the last stop on your shopping trip since the ground turkey should always be kept at cold temperatures of 40 degrees Fahrenheit or lower.
As soon as you enter your home, put the ground turkey in the refrigerator or freezer to retain its optimal quality. According to FDA and USDA regulations, you can safely store ground turkey in your refrigerator for one to two days after purchase. After that, it is best to use it before any of the signs show themselves, indicating that the ground turkey has gone bad.
Sign #5: Look Out For Swollen Ground Turkey Packaging
Unfortunately, ground turkey’s packaging is also a perfect breeding ground for bacteria. That’s why we need to thoroughly understand how to safely handle the food we purchase and are about to indulge in. Because if we do not make responsible decisions, we can end up with a mouthful of disappointment.
This is precisely why you should not buy or cook ground turkey if the package is swollen or if it has a slick, slimy texture on the inside. Chances are that the smell will already be putting you off any dinner plans you may have had that involved ground turkey.
You should also not buy ground turkey if the packaging is torn or damaged in any other way. Though this is not a sign that the ground turkey is bad, it could have been exposed to other bacterial contamination, and it is therefore not a good idea to buy it, as you do not know how long it will still be safe to use.
Sign #6: The Taste Will Be Off
Hopefully, things will not progress to this, but if, and only if, you did not notice any of the other signs and started eating the ground turkey, you may notice that the taste of ground turkey is off. If anything does not taste as it should, it’s always best to stop eating and look out for signs of food poisoning.
Because you are dealing with a lump of meat that could have bacteria like Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, or Campylobacter jejune growing in it, it is best not to take the chance on a palate test as this can have severe consequences on your health.
If you notice any signs of vomiting, diarrhea, fever, or headaches after you had an encounter with a mouthful of ground turkey that has gone bad, then it is best to talk to a medical professional. Hopefully, you didn’t eat too much of it, and the symptoms will be over soon, but because there are plenty of things that could go wrong, you should really get the opinion of a medical doctor.
More Questions on Spoiled Ground Turkey
Can I eat ground turkey that has turned brown?
No, brown ground turkey is a sign that it is bad. Do not eat ground turkey that has turned this color. Throw it away immediately.
Does cooking spoiled ground turkey kill the bacteria?
No, unfortunately you cannot simply cook spoiled ground turkey to get rid of the bacteria. Once the turkey is spoiled, it is bad for good. Do not try to cook bad ground turkey; you can still get food poisoning.
How long is ground turkey good in the fridge?
Ground turkey only lasts about 2-3 days in the fridge. It is one of those things you want to use right away! If it has been longer than this, start looking for the signs of spoilage we’ve talked about.
Is it OK if ground turkey has a smell?
No. If ground turkey has a smell this is not a good sign. Fresh ground turkey should have practically no smell at all. So if yours smells, there’s a pretty good chance it is starting to go bad.
How do you tell if cooked ground turkey is bad?
It is a little more tricky to tell if cooked ground turkey has gone bad, since you can’t check the color or the packaging. You will have to rely on the smell. If it smells off or sour, throw it out.
Conclusion
Ground turkey is a yummy lean alternative to ground beef. But if your package of ground turkey has been sitting too long, you might be wondering how to tell if it has spoiled. Make sure you examine the smell, packaging, and appearance before proceeding with your recipe!
