Turkey is a nutritious lean protein that can make a delicious main course for holidays, family dinners, and more. However, like any meat, raw or cooked turkey can spoil if improperly handled. Eating spoiled turkey can cause foodborne illness, so it’s crucial to know how to determine if your turkey has gone bad.
This comprehensive guide covers all the signs of bad turkey, proper storage times, reasons for spoilage, and tips to keep your turkey fresh. Read on to become an expert in detecting bad turkey and avoiding food poisoning from spoiled poultry
3 Ways to Check if Raw Turkey is Bad
Follow these simple steps to visually, aromatically and physically inspect raw turkey
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Look – The color should be pink or pale peach. Gray, greenish, or brown hues indicate spoilage. Mold is also a giveaway of bad turkey.
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Smell – Raw turkey has a mild odor. A sour, rotten, or sulfurous smell means toss it.
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Touch – The texture shouldn’t be slimy or sticky. An overly soft or tacky feel is a red flag.
If the turkey fails any of these checks, play it safe and throw it away. Don’t risk eating turkey that shows signs of spoilage.
Signs Your Cooked Turkey Has Gone Bad
Leftover cooked turkey also has indications if it’s past its prime:
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Smell – Leftover turkey will have a sour or sickly sweet odor when spoiled.
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Color – Grayish, dull, or brownish meat color signals deterioration.
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Texture – The turkey meat may become slimy in spots or overall.
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Mold – Fuzzy white, blue, or black mold spots mean toss it.
When cooked turkey exhibits these characteristics, it has likely spoiled and should be discarded. Don’t taste test questionable turkey.
Proper Turkey Storage Times
To prevent spoiled turkey, follow these USDA-recommended maximum storage times:
- Raw turkey from store – 1 to 2 days refrigerated
- Raw turkey from farm – 7 to 10 days refrigerated
- Frozen raw turkey – 1 year frozen
- Thawed raw turkey – 1 to 2 days refrigerated
- Cooked turkey – 3 to 4 days refrigerated
- Frozen cooked turkey – 4 months frozen
Store turkey at 40°F or below in the fridge and 0°F or below in the freezer. Use cooked turkey within 3-4 days and reheat fully before eating.
Why Your Turkey Spoiled Quickly
There are a few common reasons turkey can spoil ahead of schedule:
- Purchased past sell-by or use-by date
- Stored at improper temperatures
- Poorly wrapped packaging
- Repeated opening of the fridge
- Left in the “danger zone” above 40°F too long
Always inspect dates on packages andconfirm your appliance temperatures. Discard any questionable turkey. Don’t take risks with possible spoiled poultry.
Keeping Turkey Fresh Longer
Follow these handy tips for maximizing your turkey’s freshness:
- Buy turkey only 1-2 days before cooking
- Immediately refrigerate or freeze upon bringing home
- Store turkey tightly wrapped in back of fridge/freezer
- Use appliance thermometers and aim for 40°F fridge and 0°F freezer
- Cook oldest turkey first before newer packages
- Prevent cross-contamination with other foods
- Thaw only in fridge, cold water, or microwave then immediately cook
- Use thawed raw turkey within 1-2 days
- Divide large amounts of leftovers into smaller containers for faster chilling
Proper temperatures and food handling are key to fresh, delicious turkey. Discard any turkey with an off appearance, texture, or smell. Don’t take chances with spoiled poultry.
What to Do if You Ate Bad Turkey
If you suspect you consumed spoiled turkey, watch for symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. Drink plenty of fluids and call your doctor if severe signs or fever develop.
Most cases of food poisoning from turkey last a day or two. But be aware that certain higher-risk groups like pregnant women, young children, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems should seek medical care for foodborne illness.
The Takeaway
It’s important to frequently check your raw or cooked turkey for any signs of spoilage like odor, color, texture, and mold. Follow the recommended fridge and freezer storage times. Monitor appliance temperatures. And discard any turkey that seems to have gone bad instead of tasting it. With proper handling, you can enjoy fresh delicious turkey and avoid the dangers of foodborne pathogens.
Notable Outbreaks of Food Poisoning From Turkey
Several widespread outbreaks of food poisoning from turkey have occurred in recent years, highlighting the importance of proper handling, storage, and cooking of turkey to prevent the spread of foodborne illnesses:
- In December 2018, Jennie-O Turkey Store Sales Inc. recalled approximately 164,210 pounds of raw ground turkey products due to possible Salmonella contamination. The recall was initiated after the CDC and USDA linked the ground turkey products to a multistate outbreak of Salmonella infections.
- In April 2021, the Food Safety and Inspection Service issued a public health alert for approximately 211,406 pounds of raw ground turkey products linked to a Salmonella Hadar outbreak. The outbreak sickened 28 people across 12 states, resulting in two hospitalizations.
- From November 2017 to March 2019, a Salmonella outbreak linked to raw turkey products sickened 356 people across 42 states, resulting in 132 hospitalizations and one death. The outbreak was traced to several raw turkey products from multiple sources, highlighting the need for comprehensive food safety measures throughout the supply chain.
These outbreaks serve as a reminder that turkey food poisoning can have serious consequences. Proper food safety practices must be followed at every step, from production to consumption.
How Long Can Turkey Sit Out?
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), turkey should not remain at room temperature for more than two hours. This guideline applies to all forms of turkey, including whole turkeys, sliced turkey, turkey cold cuts, and ground turkey. When temperatures are above 90 °F, the time limit is just one hour. These time limits apply to both raw and cooked turkey.
If turkey is left out for longer than the recommended time, it should be discarded to prevent the risk of food poisoning. During the holiday season, when people prepare large quantities of food, it’s easy to lose track of how long turkey has been sitting out. Be mindful of the time and ensure your turkey is refrigerated or consumed within a safe time frame.
When thawing a frozen turkey, do so in the refrigerator over a few days, not on the countertop at room temperature. Leaving turkey to thaw on the counter can cause the outer layers to reach temperatures in the “danger zone” (between 40–140 °F) while the inside remains frozen. This creates an ideal environment for bacteria to multiply rapidly, increasing the risk of food poisoning.
How to Determine If a Thawed Turkey Has Gone Bad
FAQ
How to 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 does turkey look like when it goes bad?
- Color change: A shift from a normal light pink to a dull gray, brown, yellow, or even greenish color.
- Slimy texture: The meat will feel noticeably slimy or sticky when touched.
- Unpleasant smell: A strong sour or putrid odor is the most reliable indicator of spoiled turkey.
- Visible mold: Mold growth on the surface of the meat
How can you tell if a turkey is safe to eat?
Use a food thermometer to make sure your turkey has reached a safe internal temperature of 165°F. Check by inserting a food thermometer into three places, avoiding bone: thickest part of the breast; where body and thigh join, aiming toward thigh; and where body and wing join, aiming toward wing.
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?
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.
What are the health benefits of ground turkey?
Ground turkey is a highly nutritious food. It is loaded with protein, vitamins B3, B6, B12, selenium, sodium, phosphorus, and zinc. Here are some of its health benefits: Spaghetti Squash is a great source of vitamin C, vitamin B6, manganese, and fiber. It is also rich in antioxidants. Here are some of its health benefits for us:
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.