Chorizo gone off?

cherryblossomzel

I bought a ring of chorizo sausage from Sainsbury's a few weeks ago, chucked it in the fridge and forgot about it until this evening.

It now looks weird: brown in colour, rather than red, and there's some kind of white (fatty?) substance on the surface. I don't know what it tastes/smells like as the packet is still sealed. The packet isn't swollen. Use by date is 20 April 2015.

I often buy chorizo and it normally lasts ages in the fridge, I've never seen this before. Does anyone know if it's still OK? It looks pretty unappetising.

I no longer have the receipt, but it's a "By Sainsbury's" brand, so I'm wondering if it's worth taking back?

mumtosix

I would definitely take it back or phone their customer services. I always find Sainsburys have good customer services.

NoGoodNamesLeft

I've had the white stuff before and was told it is salt and that it's fine to eat - chorizo shouldn't go off. Not sure about it changing colour though, I'd probably take it back.

Pollycat

As it's still 4 weeks within date, I'd take it back.

If it was out-of-date, I'd open the packet and sniff to see what I thought.
Unless it smelled definitely 'off', I'd probably use it.

cherryblossomzel

Thanks all. Definitely taking it back.

The white stuff is soft and smears around, like fat. It might be salty, I guess, but I'm not opening the packet to find out!

It's the colour change that bother me mostly.

Fluff15

Is it a cured one or a fresh one?

Chorizo when cured gets darker with age. The white stuff around the outside can be mould, which is usually safe. However, since it's been in a packet in the fridge rather than hung, moisture could have been trapped inside and made it yucky.

Personally, I'd probably eat it and wipe the white stuff off as I think it would be fine.

PenguinOfDeath

Fluff15 wrote: »

Is it a cured one or a fresh one?

Chorizo when cured gets darker with age. The white stuff around the outside can be mould, which is usually safe. However, since it's been in a packet in the fridge rather than hung, moisture could have been trapped inside and made it yucky.

Personally, I'd probably eat it and wipe the white stuff off as I think it would be fine.

This is my thoughts, I take the skin off before using anyway. I've had cured chorizo in my fridge for many months and it's been fine. But if you're concerned I don't see any problem with taking it back as it's still 'in date'

cherryblossomzel

It's cured. It's just that I've not seen this before. In the past when I've left cured chorizo in the fridge for months it's gone hard, but not changed colour. I took it out of the fridge, drove to work, put it back in the fridge and it is now completely disgusting, the meat has obviously sweated, so the inside of he packet is dripping wet. I know that sweating isn't dangerous per se, but it really does not look nice.


I'm normally pretty gung-ho about use by dates and things, happy to cut mould off and eat what's left etc, but for some reason this one is bugging me. I've got to go to the shop in any case, so I'll just take it back.


I do realize that I'm sounding a bit (!) whiny about something silly!

Pollycat

cherryblossomzel wrote: »

I do realize that I'm sounding a bit (!) whiny about something silly!

I don't think you sound whiny at all and I don't think it's a silly question.