You’re prepping the holiday bird and suddenly an unpleasant stench hits you when you open the packaging. Why does raw turkey sometimes have such a foul smell even when not spoiled?
There are a few common culprits that can cause turkey to give off a bad odor during storage and cooking Understanding the sources of these smells is key to preventing and eliminating them
Main Causes of Foul Turkey Odors
Packaging – Vacuum-sealing and cryovac packaging removes oxygen which causes buildup of tangy juices that smell unpleasant. Longer it’s packaged, stronger the smell.
Spoilage – Rotten, rancid odors occur when turkey goes bad from improper storage, expired sell-by date, or bacterial growth.
Improper Handling – Smells can result from unsanitary conditions during processing and transportation or cross-contamination at home
Undercooking – Cooking at too low a temperature breeds bacteria on the raw meat that gives off bad scents.
Bone and Fat – The bone, fat, and ligaments in parts like legs and wings produce strong, gamey smells when cooking.
Seasonings – Some spice combinations can create unbalanced, off-putting smells despite using fresh turkey.
Tips to Prevent Bad Smells
Here are some useful tips to prevent foul odors when storing and cooking turkey:
- Purchase fresh, high-quality turkey and use within recommended date
- Store properly in airtight packaging in coldest part of refrigerator
- Avoid cross-contamination – use separate cutting boards and utensils
- Rinse turkey parts thoroughly before cooking
- Cook to safe minimum internal temperature (165°F)
- Allow cooked turkey to rest before carving to redistribute juices
- Use aromatic herbs, spices, oils, and cooking methods to impart pleasant scents
- If reusing marinades, bring to a full boil before applying to cooked turkey
What to Do if Turkey Smells Bad
If you encounter a persistent foul odor with raw or cooked turkey:
-
Raw Meat: Remove from packaging and allow to air out for 30 minutes up to 1 hour. If odor remains, discard.
-
Cooked Meat: Review proper storage times. Reheating thoroughly may help but discard if odor persists.
-
Ground Turkey: Discard if odor is persistent. Do not rinse raw ground meat.
-
Cooked Parts: Soak in cold water 30 minutes. Pat dry, rub with baking soda, rinse and dry well.
-
Refrigerator: Clean with baking soda solution if smells linger from storage.
-
Packaging: Air out new package meats before freezing to avoid trapped smells.
When in Doubt, Throw it Out
Trust your nose above all else. Foul persistent odors likely mean spoilage. Never taste meat you suspect may be bad. If the turkey smell is unappealing, it’s better to be safe than sorry and discard the meat entirely.
With proper handling and cooking, you can avoid most cases of foul turkey odors. But if smells do arise, use these tips to troubleshoot the cause and remedy the situation. With a few preventative measures, you’ll be rewarded with delicious, aromatic holiday turkey every time.
Things You Should Know
- Check if your turkey has a bad sour-smelling odor to know if it’s spoiled.
- Toss out your ground turkey if it has a slimy texture.
- Get rid of ground turkey if it darkens or dulls to a dark gray color, a sure sign it’s gone bad.
StepsSection 1 of 4:
- 1 Sour odor Give your ground turkey a quick sniff to check it for odors. While it’s still fresh, ground turkey won’t have much of an odor, but it will start smelling off-putting as soon as bacteria starts forming.[1]
- Raw and cooked ground turkey start to develop odors when they go bad.
- 2 Slimy texture Press your finger lightly into the meat. Ground turkey will feel slightly moist while it’s still fresh. As bacteria starts to grow, it will develop a slimy or sticky feeling.[2]
- If frozen ground turkey feels slimy after it thaws, then it’s spoiled.
- Don’t forget to wash your hands after touching raw turkey so you don’t spread any bacteria.
Advertisement
- 3 Dark, dull meat If you have fresh ground turkey, the meat will have a light pink or beige color. Once the meat turns a darker brown or has a gray color, it’s a sign that it’s starting to go bad.[3]
- Ground turkey may have variations in color depending on differences in the animal, such as its age, breed, and diet.
- Frozen ground turkey may also darken in color, so always check the odor and texture to confirm if it’s spoiled or not.
Advertisement Section 2 of 4:
The Reason: Why Does Ground Turkey Smell Bad
FAQ
Is it normal for a turkey to smell?
It should not smell of anything when fresh and uncooked. I guess smelling like turkey when your cooking it is a good thing. How much it smells would depend on how much you brown it or cook it for and the quality of the bird. I often find organic meat has more odor when cooked.
What does bad deli turkey smell like?
- Sourness: This is the most common descriptor for spoiled deli meat, similar to the smell of old milk.
- Unpleasant and strong: A noticeable, off-putting odor that is not present in fresh turkey.
- Potential for other smells: Depending on the bacteria present, it could also smell slightly sweet, stale, or even slightly ammonia-like.
Can meat smell bad and still be good?
- Smell is a reliable indicator: While fresh meat may have a slight odor, a noticeable bad smell is a sure sign of spoilage.
- When in doubt, throw it out: Even if the smell is just slightly off, it’s best to discard the meat to avoid potential health risks.
- Other signs of bad meat: Besides smell, look for discoloration, slimy texture, or visible mold.
Does ground turkey smell bad?
Ground turkey may have a slightly stronger smell just due to being ground up. But generally, raw turkey that smells neutral not unpleasant, is still good to cook. If you unwrap a package of fresh, raw turkey and notice a strong, foul odor, that’s a sign it has already started to spoil. Meat goes bad when harmful bacteria start multiplying quickly.
Why does turkey meat smell bad?
If your turkey meat smells unpleasant, it can be caused by factors such as the age of the turkey, its diet, processing methods, and packaging materials. These factors play a significant role in determining the freshness and smell of turkey meat. The age of the turkey can affect the smell due to the breakdown of proteins and fats over time.
How do you know if a Turkey smells bad?
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.” Can you eat turkey that smells bad?
Does ground turkey smell sour?
Fresh ground turkey has a very mild, slightly gamey, or poultry scent. If it starts to smell sour, metallic, or reminiscent of ammonia, it’s time to toss it. How do I tell if ground turkey is bad after cooking? Even after cooking, bad turkey retains its unpleasant odor. Why does my Turkey smell sour?
What does raw turkey smell like?
Generally, all raw turkey has a good or neutral smell: spoiled turkey, on the other hand, gives off a foul odor, almost sour or unpleasant. Also, if your raw turkey meat has a sticky or slimy texture when touched, it has certainly gone bad. I classify slimy turkey under stage 3 of meat spoilage.
Why does my Turkey taste bad after a few days?
If you feel surprised at the sudden change in texture, color, or smell of your packed turkey meat after a few days of refrigeration, you most likely bought an expired and already bad turkey pack. Also, note that fresh ground turkey meat spoils faster.