A week ago I purchased a package of chicken breasts and another of pork chops on sale at our local supermarket. Well I was in a rush so I just put it in our garage refrigerator with the thought to divide them up and freeze later that day. Well I forgot. We only keep drinks in that refrigerator so since it has been cooler, we have not had a need to go there. I looked in about 5 days later and found the meats. The chicken smell was strong but when I looked at the label it still had 2 more days left before it needed to be used or frozen. Now the pork chops dates were 3 days past but it did not have any strong smell but maybe a little drier than maybe fresh meat would be. I immediately froze everything but now I am having second thoughts. Should I just throw everything out or should could any of it be salvageable. I hate to waste food but if my family is going to get sick than I will trash it all.
Trash it! Better safe than sorry and who wants to eat meat that smells anyway. I always freeze the meat I buy, no matter what the date says, unless I'm using it that day or the next.
I would throw it away. If there is ever any question about chicken be cautious! Food poisoning is no fun and is worst in kids.
if the chicken is still before the use by date you can take it back and get another package. but if you keep them definatly check them well before serving.
You can use them. First I would rinse the chicken really well as the smell is from the juices in the plastic wrap underneath the meat. Cook it well and serve. The pork chops if there is little smell can be use. Just rinse them good as well and cook them on a low heat for a longer period of them and you should be good to go. My frig (37 yrs old) has a habit of freezing everything in it within 2 days and you have to thaw it out. Just remember to stick a note on your inside frig you have something in the outside frig. The other S.
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/safefood/newsltr/v9n2s04.html
Info on rinsing meat....
If it was 3 days past the date I would throw it away. My policy: Better Safe than sorry. I think the chicken is fine.
rule of thumb: if it is sticky to the touch.......bad
I know I'm probably in the minority on this one, but I use meat that has been in the refrigerator for 5 or more days all the time. I don't let my kids eat it, but my husband and I will, and in 20+ years, no one has ever gotten sick from any meat that I have cooked. Obviously, I cook the meat thoroughly, and I always rinse the meat very well before cooking. I don't know if the rinsing makes a difference, but a lot of time, if there is even a slight smell and I rinse the meat, the smell is gone. I think sometimes the smell is from the juices and the packaging the meat is sitting in rather than the actual meat. Now, if I rinse the meat an there is still a strong smell, I have thrown the meat away. And the exception to this for me is hamburger meat, or any ground meat. If there is a strong smell to ground meat, I throw it out since I can't rinse it.
Anyway, with the meat you've described, I personally would rinse the meat and cook it for me and my husband no problem. A lot of times when I cook meat that I don't want my kids to eat, I just make sides that qualify as a main dish for kids, like macaroni and cheese or spaghetti with marinara and they are just fine to not have the meat for that meal.
Blessings,
N.
If there is a question trash it. Better then getting sick. G. W
Trash It!! Don't be selfish and try to save it. Think of your family. It is not worth seeing them over the toilet bowl every thirty minutes with severe cramping.
Again, TRASH IT! It is an accident learned!
Your meat is fine. Both of them. Rinse the chicken and freeze it. Just remember it has sat out so when you cook it, don't let it defrost slowly but be very prompt in cooking it.
VickiS
I have never heard of rinsing the meats.....am I missing something here? I am going to try it but am wondering what else I don't know about meat storage....thanks for posting ladies.....sorry I can't help---I usually throw it out and feel guilty about it! Maybe now I won't do that anymore...we will see.
Throw it away. If it had a chance to thaw and then you refroze it, that is not good. I would not eat it.
Trash it... If it smells or is past the date, it's bad.
If it were me I would toss all of it! But I'm really weird about my meat anyway...I got some bad pork chops once, and I've always heard chicken need to be handled with care...Good Luck! I know what you mean about wasting food but better then you and your family getting ill...
J., TRASH IT! Pork and chicken are two of the biggest samonilla carriers! Think if you throw away 20 dollars of meat...cheaper than DR's visit or an ER.NOTHING hurts worse than food poisoning! Safety first! I've had to do it too and kicked myself for not tending to it sooner..but didn't want to take that chance! Good question to ask!!! GOD bless you and yours!
A few years ago I got food poisoning from Chicken. I have NEVER been so sick in all my life! Throw it away!!!!
