Black marks on turkey

[puzzled198]

Our turkey has black marks on it. Any idea what they are and if the turkey is safe to eat? Thanks.

I wouldn’t eat it

Eeeek

That looks like mould, does it smell ?

And this is just one of many reasons why I like a nut roast 😂

Looks revolting

I’m no expert but I wouldn’t risk eating it. Sorry.☹️

It doesn't smell. We've eaten some of the slices that don't have black marks, so hopefully we don't get sick. I'm just curious what's caused it. Google wasn't very helpful!

I would not be eating that, and I definitely wouldn't allow anyone else to eat it, either. It's not worth the risk.

Honestly between this and the post about the eyelid and lashes in the sausage, I'm feeling very tempted to become vegetarian

Thought it might be a vein? And the blood has caused the discolouration

Cooked blood. Harmless.

@formerbabe

Honestly between this and the post about the eyelid and lashes in the sausage, I'm feeling very tempted to become vegetarian

I'm just really craving an Indian takeaway

@thecompletenonsequitur

Cooked blood. Harmless.

Thanks, that's what I was thinking! I've just never seen it before on a turkey.

Eeek

No no no. That’s not blood. It’s black. Cooked blood goes dark red or brown.

No. I wouldn’t of risked that

Yep cooked blood or staining from a broken vein then cooked. Completely harmless!

It's not cooked blood. Cooked blood does not look like that, and you can see veins.

I remember reading somewhere that this is due to bruising in the muscle - so blood, essentially - because the birds are bred to have such large amounts of heavy meat it causes bruising. Or something along those lines. I can’t remember the exact details.

I had a slight freak out this morning when I unwrapped the fresh turkey and it had blue/black spots on the skin.

Then I spotted instructions on the packet that basically said don't freak out this is normal for certain breeds of turkey that have black feathers. Google also confirmed.

Could it be that some of the pluck marks extend inside the bird? If poultry is off you can usually smell it a mile away.

Looks very odd.
I wouldn't be happy eating that.

This is why vegetarians will eventually inherit the Earth.

Also it wasn't one of us that ate that bat.