Is it ok to eat it?

[mielimato]

I left raw chicken marinating in a yogurt and onion mixture since Saturday (in the fridge). I don't think I will have time to cook it and eat it until tomorrow, Wednesday. By then it will have been nearly 5 days...do you think will be ok to eat it or will I have to throw it out?

[grant.cook]

Hmm.. how near the "sell-by" date was the chicken? In my experience, either do it and don't worry, or not.. if you are "thinking' about it, then just chuck it. It was in the fridge, you have that going for you.. people age meat in the fridge no worries.. and they used to hang chickens by the neck until they rotted through and fell, to get flavor.

[mielimato]

I decided to leave work early to check on the chicken...yes, I know that that sounds ridiculous but I hate the idea of throwing away food! By then, it had been marinating in yogurt for a little over 72 hours. I did the smell test. It smelled alright so I cooked it and ate it.

Some mentioned that the meat would be mushy--you were right. Also, while I was baking it in the oven, a tremendous amount of liquid came out. Was this because of over marination? Anyways, the chicken was a weird combination of over tenderized and dry. But overall, it wasn't bad...the flavor was pretty good!

I just ate it for lunch today and am waiting to see if I get deathly ill. Let's see...

[millygirl]

So, everything okay so far?

[mielimato]

so far so good...no excessive cramping, no emergency trips to the bathroom! keeping my fingers crossed!!!!!

[millygirl]

LOL, glad to hear mielimato. I have to say you are a brave one!

[bw2082]

I am of the opinion that if you have to ask, you should throw it out.,

[Kagey]

You know, I think that's a good rule of thumb. There was a recent discussion started by someone who used months-old turkey stock. Of course lots of different opinions were offered, but in the end it's down to the person with the questionable food in his/her fridge.

If you feel uncertain enough to ask, then what good does "if it smells ok it's probably fine" do you? How do we know you'd know if it smells ok? I trust my own instincts on this sort of thing, but I've been wrong before. If you don't fully trust your own instincts, it's probably best that you don't risk it.

[addicted2cake]

I'm in the throw it out camp. It's just not worth cooking and eating something that's iffy at best. Sorry!

[addicted2cake]

I meant cooking AND eating.

[Bat Guano]

If it smells OK I'd eat it - I hate throwing away food. As others have noted, it might be somewhat soft or mushy, but it's probably safe.

[Rhee]

If it looks and smells fine, I would cook it. I've left chicken in buttermilk for longer and its been fine.

[Mila]

In my opinion, I would have to say no. It's hard to tell by smell or texture if it's been in a marinade. And the acidity in the yoghurt would have probably broken down the meat to a mushy texture after five days.

I would go with better safe than sorry.

[C. Hamster]

I agree. Even if the acid in the yogurt inhibited bacteria growth it would have, like Mila said, probably tenderized the chicken to a very unappetizing mush.

[addicted2cake]

I meant cooking AND eating, but I guess you knew that.