Raw turkey -- or raw meat of any kind -- does have a slight odor, but the smell of meat that has gone rancid is quite unpleasant. By the time you can smell it, the bird is already bad and you should throw it out. Spoilage may cause fading or darkening of color, and the meat may feel sticky or slimy to touch..
Moreover, what should Fresh turkey smell like?
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." It gets trickier with detecting foodborne pathogens, according to Hanes.
Also Know, how long can you keep a fresh turkey in the fridge before cooking? The company customer service representative as well as the store manager all reassure us that their turkeys are fine to refrigerate in the coldest part of the refrigerator for as long as 10 days. The turkey's sell-by date is Nov. 28 - two days after Thanksgiving.
Similarly, it is asked, how can you tell if raw turkey has gone bad?
Signs of spoiled raw turkey include a foul odor, slimy texture and an unnatural coloration. When raw turkey is safe to cook and consume, it has a very mild odor similar to that of raw chicken. Spoiled turkey has a strong, gamey smell, and it develops a slimy or sticky texture.
How long can a fresh killed turkey stay in the fridge?
A freshly killed and properly cleaned turkey should be just fine if refrigerated for a week. I probably wouldn't leave it much longer than that. One thing about poultry: it starts to smell "off" before it actually becomes dangerous to eat. So if your turkey doesn't smell funky, go ahead and cook it.
Related Question Answers
How far in advance can you buy a fresh turkey?
The general consensus was that a fresh turkey bought in the store should be cooked within 3 to 5 days. Now if you buy your turkey directly from the source you have a lot more time, up to 10 days.Can I keep a turkey in the fridge for a week?
Answer: It depends on how you're thawing it. If you're defrosting the turkey in the fridge, you can safely keep it refrigerated for an additional one or two days after it's fully thawed, says the U.S. Department of Agriculture.Is fresh turkey better than frozen?
Fresh turkeys will hold their moisture better than frozen turkeys, bringing out a meaty texture with deeper natural flavors. Frozen turkeys are best when flash-frozen packaged immediately to 0°F. The most important factor in deciphering between a fresh or frozen turkey is the quality of the meat before it is frozen.What happens if you eat spoiled turkey?
Like any other old, spoiled food, bad meat can make you sick. If the meat has been contaminated with something pathogenic, like bacteria or toxins, it can make you sick. People who eat rancid meat are likely to get sick.How do you store fresh turkey?
A fresh whole turkey or fresh turkey parts may be stored in the refrigerator at 33°F to 40°F for 1 or 2 days before cooking. It is best to place turkey products in the coldest part of the refrigerator, which is usually the meat drawer or the bottom shelf.Why does my ground turkey smell weird?
“If the meat is sticky or super slimy, throw it away. “Different meat has different smells," said Peisker but, generally, rotten meat actually smells slightly sweet. Like other products that have spoiled, ground meat will be especially pungent. Like fresh fish, fresh meat shouldn't really be smelly at all.What is the shelf life of a fresh turkey?
The general consensus was that a fresh turkey bought in the store should be cooked within 3 to 5 days. Now if you buy your turkey directly from the source you have a lot more time, up to 10 days.Can you eat ground turkey after expiration date?
After ground turkey is purchased, it may be refrigerated for 1 to 2 days - the "sell-by" date on the package may expire during that storage period, but the ground turkey will remain safe to use after the sell by date if it has been properly stored.What does bad ground turkey smell like?
The best way is to smell and look at the ground turkey: signs of bad ground turkey are a sour smell, dull color and slimy texture; discard any ground turkey with an off smell or appearance.Can you refreeze a thawed turkey?
Cooked or uncooked turkey can safely be refrozen, as long as you refreeze it within three days of thawing. You should only refreeze turkey if it's been handled properly at every step along the way. Turkey that has been thawed on the counter or left out for long periods shouldn't be refrozen.When should you buy a fresh turkey for Thanksgiving?
If you're buying a fresh bird, purchase it one to two days before you cook it.How do you store a turkey in the refrigerator?
Tightly-covered, your leftover turkey will keep in the refrigerator for 3 or 4 days. We often store turkey meat in zipper-type plastic bags. Your stuffing and gravy should be used within a day or so. If you would like to keep your turkey longer than a few days, freeze it.Can you put hot turkey in the fridge?
After all, no one wants to chew antacid when you could be eating turkey. The short answer is yes, it's usually OK to put hot food in the fridge. As a matter of fact, it's preferable. 
