Can spoiled chicken meat still be eaten? How to remove the odor

Generally speaking, chicken meat that has developed a foul odor shouldn't be consumed. If the chicken already has an unpleasant smell, it is recommended to discard it promptly rather than trying to remove the odor before consumption. However, if you only want to remove the fishy smell of chicken, you can choose methods such as blanching, marinating, washing with white liquor, adding white vinegar, or cleaning with flour. Detailed explanations are as follows:

1. Is it still edible?

Chicken that has developed a foul odor means it has been heavily contaminated by microorganisms such as bacteria and mold. Under the action of these microbes, the proteins, fats, and other nutrients in the chicken undergo spoilage and deterioration. This not only produces a foul odor but also generates toxic substances such as histamine and cadaverine. Even by blanching or adding seasonings to remove the unpleasant smell, these harmful components cannot be completely eliminated. Consuming such chicken may cause acute food poisoning symptoms like nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, and in severe cases, it may even threaten life. Therefore, once chicken develops an odor, it is recommended to discard it promptly. Don't take chances and consume it, to avoid harming your health.

2. Methods to remove odor

1. Blanching: Cut the chicken into appropriate sizes and place it in cold water along with slices of ginger, scallion sections, and cooking wine. As the water heats up, blood, impurities, and some fishy-smelling substances will gradually seep out from the chicken, forming scum on the surface. Remove the scum promptly. After blanching, remove the chicken and rinse it thoroughly with clean water, which can effectively reduce the fishy smell.

2. Marinating: Evenly coat the chicken with seasonings such as salt, cooking wine, and pepper powder, add ginger slices and scallion sections, and marinate for a certain period. The seasonings can penetrate into the chicken, and the volatile components in the cooking wine and spices can carry away the fishy smell. This process also allows the chicken to absorb flavors beforehand.

3. Washing with white liquor: Apply an appropriate amount of white liquor evenly onto the chicken's surface and gently rub it so that the liquor fully contacts the chicken. The ethanol contained in the white liquor can dissolve the fishy-smelling substances in the chicken. After rubbing for a while, rinse the chicken thoroughly with clean water to effectively remove the fishy smell.

4. Adding white vinegar: Add an appropriate amount of white vinegar to the water used to wash the chicken and soak the chicken for 10-15 minutes. The acidity of the white vinegar can neutralize the alkaline fishy-smelling substances in the chicken and soften the chicken fibers, making its texture more tender and delicious. After soaking, remove the chicken and rinse it thoroughly with clean water.

5. Cleaning with flour: Pour an appropriate amount of flour into a container with chicken, add a small amount of clean water, and gently mix to allow the flour to fully coat the chicken. Flour has strong adsorption properties, which can absorb impurities, mucus, and fishy-smelling substances on the chicken surface. Finally, rinse the chicken thoroughly with clean water.

In daily life, attention should be paid to food hygiene, choosing to eat fresh chicken that hasn't spoiled. If the chicken develops an odor or shows signs of spoilage, it should be discarded immediately to avoid harm to the body. If spoiled chicken is accidentally consumed and causes discomfort, immediate medical attention should be sought.