Raw chicken - should I freeze or bin it?

littlesnuggy

:mad: I bought a pack of 4 chicken breasts last Saturday, opened the pack and used two. Been meaning to freeze the other two but had to go away for work during the week, and just got round to looking at them now. The use by date is tomorrow.

They have a slight bad smell, and the surface has gone a little bit bumpy. I've rinsed them well under running water and put them in bags to go in the freezer, but I'm concerned that I may have left them just a bit too long this time, though.

What would you do? It would pain me to throw out £2 worth of food

Third option just thought of, should I cook them very thoroughly now and then freeze them cooked, would that be better?

FYI, they would be eaten by me and my OH, both 20something and healthy, so no children....

Lalaladybird

If they smell at all then they are off. I'd bin them... not worth saving £2 if you end up with food poisoning!

Valley's_girl

I agree bin them!
ally x

tessie_bear

id sling them in the bin

Cazza

If they fail the sniff test, then I'd bin them. I've tried freezing chicken before which has been open for a similar amount of time, I wasn't ill at all, but even though I'd used them in a curry, there was a definite "taste" to them.

McKneff

on the other hand, if the sell by date is not till tomorrow, take them back to the shop,

kitschkitty

anniehanlon wrote: »

on the other hand, if the sell by date is not till tomorrow, take them back to the shop,

I'd do that if they are in date.

I bought some pork that was in date but it didn't smell right to me when I opened it so I took the packaging back to Asda and got a full refund.

Incidentally If it smelt OK I'd cook it then freeze it, as then when you come to defrost it your not adding to the overall hours it's spent in your fridge uncooked.

littlesnuggy

anniehanlon wrote: »

on the other hand, if the sell by date is not till tomorrow, take them back to the shop,

But I opened the pack a week ago, and I seem to think it does say on there somewhere that once opened, it should be consumed within 24 hours or something like that.

Hmm, well I stuck them in the freezer last night but think when bin day comes around I'll get rid of them, not worth making us ill over.

Thanks for all your replies OSers!

kazwookie

Bin it not worth faffing around with.

Swan_2

I agree with the others, & it pains me to say this (I'm one of these people who'll ignore dates if I think it's safe) but in this case definitely bin them, the use by date only applies if the pack hasn't been opened

Ephemera

littlesnuggy wrote: »

:mad: I bought a pack of 4 chicken breasts last Saturday, opened the pack and used two. Been meaning to freeze the other two but had to go away for work during the week, and just got round to looking at them now. The use by date is tomorrow.

They have a slight bad smell, and the surface has gone a little bit bumpy. I've rinsed them well under running water and put them in bags to go in the freezer, but I'm concerned that I may have left them just a bit too long this time, though.

What would you do? It would pain me to throw out £2 worth of food

Third option just thought of, should I cook them very thoroughly now and then freeze them cooked, would that be better?

FYI, they would be eaten by me and my OH, both 20something and healthy, so no children....

Yes, as you have opened the pack you have possibly contaminated the remaining fillets, so it is not worth the risk.
Trust your nose!! :beer:

Foods like this are packaged in a 'protective atmosphere' that inhibits bug growth. And your fridge only slows down the rate of division of bugs, it does not stop them multiplying - so nearly a week of the bugs on your utensils/fingers to breed all over the remaining fillets...no wonder they're a bit pongy!!

Even for in date, unopened stuff - if it doesn't smell right, don't take the risk...!

All the best,

Eph xx