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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Why does the chicken smell?

42 replies

Sardonicsnape · 05/03/2019 17:33

I've bought a meal kit from waitrose against my better judgement and the chicken is, once again, utterly rancid. It is well within the use by date but smells like something has died in the packaging. I stopped my Hello Fresh orders for the same reason. Reading the reviews of this kit it's a regular problem BUT I DONT GET IT.

So, why does the chicken smell even though it is within date? I dont think it's off, it's just a particular smell these prepackaged meal kits seem to have.

OP posts:
GreatDuckCookery6211 · 05/03/2019 17:33

Sometimes chicken does have a funny smell. What colour is it?

Original poster
Sardonicsnape · 05/03/2019 17:36

Its chicken coloured. No other ill effects aside from its smell. I gave it the benefit of the doubt and cooker it but it still smells.

OP posts:
Sforsh49 · 05/03/2019 17:38

It's because they vacuum seal it to keep it fresh which removes some oxygen (the oxygen helps the bacteria breed so it gets removed) and it can cause a sulphur or eggy smell when it's opened. It's fine to eat and will dissipate after a few seconds.

Original poster
Sardonicsnape · 05/03/2019 17:40

The chicken is inedible- tastes like it smells. But thank you for the explanation Smile

OP posts:
Sforsh49 · 05/03/2019 17:59

It does put me off too, it was explained by a butcher to me and now I generally just buy the unpacked fresh stuff from a butchers

MartinaNew · 05/03/2019 18:02

When pregnant I binned enormous amount of chicken. It was making me puke. So I'd check for that.

Original poster
Sardonicsnape · 05/03/2019 19:08

@MartinaNew there have been no angels in my dreams and there are very few wise men in the east end of Glasgow so I think im safe Grin

No more meal kits, its utterly foul. Bad news is I've got another one for tomorrow night as it was buy one get one half price. Can I take it back uncooked if this one is the same Envy not envy

OP posts:
Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 05/03/2019 19:14

I have a simple rule - if any food smells of fish, but isn't fish then it's off. Raw chicken really shouldn't smell of much at all, any packaging smell should dissipate quickly.

Have you kept your chicken adequately refrigerated?

gaggiagirl · 05/03/2019 19:19

My gousto orders were like this. Looking at the gousto 'contact us' form, it's a known problem. Now I open and smell the chicken and immediately freeze it if it doesn't smell rancid.

Original poster
Sardonicsnape · 05/03/2019 19:27

Have you kept your chicken adequately refrigerated?

It's hard to describe, but not a fishy smell. Blargh, youd think they'd find away to stop it since it seems such a common issue.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sardonicsnape · 05/03/2019 19:28

I meant to make that bold, oops.

OP posts:
BabyDarlingDollfaceHoney · 05/03/2019 19:31

Ugh does it not put off meat?

CrispbuttyNo1 · 05/03/2019 19:31

Just because it's got a date on the pack really doesn't mean it's not possible for it to be rotten. If it was off when it was packaged then it's going to be off no matter what the date is.

I've had pork in vacuum pack with over five days shelf life left but when I opened the pack it smelt like a rotting corpse was in there. It was vile. When I took it back to the store my car reeked and the woman at customer services was gagging as she looked at it too.

BabyDarlingDollfaceHoney · 05/03/2019 19:32

Sorry *put you off

Original poster
Sardonicsnape · 05/03/2019 19:35

Just because it's got a date on the pack really doesn't mean it's not possible for it to be rotten.

I get that, but I find it hard to believe every single meal kit I've ever bought with chicken in it has been rancid.

OP posts:
Thisismyusernamefornow · 05/03/2019 19:41

Waitrose will refund this as well as replace it. It's worth taking it back.

Jon65 · 05/03/2019 19:50

It's off, that's why it smells. Chicken needs to be kept constantly refrigerated. Sometimes in the delivery chain the refrigeration is faulty, or it has been left out on a warm day waiting to be loaded. Sometimes it only needs an hour or two in the sun to go off. It's one of the reasons I don't eat it, along with the way they are kept penned up inside, with a very poor quality of life.

Chicken should not smell.

Original poster
Sardonicsnape · 05/03/2019 20:07

I'll see what the other one smells like- if it's the same ill take it back.

OP posts:
motherheroic · 05/03/2019 20:24

Because it's dead flesh?

Original poster
Sardonicsnape · 05/03/2019 21:21
Hmm
OP posts:
jcmayj · 05/03/2019 21:22

I find this with Aldi stir fry's, don't know why..

lisasimpsonssaxophone · 05/03/2019 21:25

I know the smell you mean. It’s kind of a gamey smell and usually seems to dissipate but not always. Boak 🤢

Original poster
Sardonicsnape · 05/03/2019 21:28

Exactly! It's so annoying. I'm trying to cut down on buying loads of ingredients and also struggle with cooking and these things should make my life easier Sad

OP posts:
neverbee · 05/03/2019 21:32

I've had this too. The chicken with chilli lime and coriander? My DH couldn't smell it (but he didn't smell the electric socket that was smouldering either..)

I ended up throwing it in the bin twice and started shopping at ASDA.

Schmoozer · 05/03/2019 21:33

Cos it’s gawn orff !!!! 😩