Chicken Smells Like Eggs: Is It Bad? (Explained)

One of the foods we enjoy all the time is chicken. Many of us enjoy them at restaurants, and most of us stock raw chicken at home and cook them whenever we want. Now, if you’re buying raw chicken all the time, you may find it troubling if your raw chickens smell like eggs. If such happens, you may ask:

If my chicken smells like eggs, is it bad? If your chicken smells like eggs, it’s due to Salmonella enterica. This bacteria creates a gas that smells like eggs. If the egg-like smell is funky, you should discard the chicken. Raw chicken that is safe for consumption should only have a mild or no scent.

In general, raw chicken should be kept frozen if you won’t be cooking it soon. Thus, whenever you pick chicken in groceries, make sure that the chicken doesn’t smell like eggs. Further, it would be best to keep it frozen unless you’re going to cook it soon. This way, you can prevent the bacteria from growing and keeps the chicken safe for consumption.

This article will walk you through all you need to know about raw chicken and why it can smell like eggs. This way, you can learn how to pick the best raw chicken and keep them to prevent any funky smell like eggs.

Without further ado, let’s get into it!

Chicken Smells Like EggsPin

Why does my raw chicken smell like eggs?

If your raw chicken smells like eggs, it’s because a bacteria called Salmonella enterica produces a gas that smells like eggs. 

The Salmonella enterica bacteria can cause enterocolitis in humans. Raw chicken that hasn’t been adequately stored develops this bacteria, which produces a gas that gives the chicken an egg-like aroma.

Shortly put, raw chicken that smells like eggs have gone bad or is about to go bad. It’s not safe to consume raw chicken if it smells like eggs. If your raw chicken smells like eggs, you should discard it.

Why does my cooked chicken smell like eggs?

If your cooked chicken smells like eggs, it’s likely because the Salmonella enterica grows and gives out a smell similar to eggs. 

Raw chicken containing Salmonella enterica is about to go bad or is already going bad releases a gas in the form of hydrogen sulfide. Such a gas gives that funky smell similar to eggs.

If you smell eggs coming from your cooked chicken, it has already gone bad. As a result, the chicken is also unfit for consumption, and you should dispose of it as soon as possible.

Is chicken bad if it smells like eggs?

Yes, a chicken is bad if it smells like eggs. Getting raw chicken shouldn’t smell strong, or you shouldn’t notice any scent.

The faint scent of a fresh raw chicken is generally an indicator of its freshness. So, if your raw chicken gives off an odor similar to that of an egg, you shouldn’t cook it or consume it.

Can you cook chicken that smells like eggs?

No, you cannot cook chicken that smells like eggs. The minute a raw chicken smells like eggs, it’s no longer safe to cook it since it’s gone bad.

Even if you cook the chicken, there will be an egg-like odor left behind, and because the bacteria has already grown inside the chicken, you cannot consume it. 

The fact that bacteria may be destroyed by proper cooking does not mean you should risk your health by eating such food.

When picking raw chicken, it is best to pick a piece with no scent and keep it frozen unless you are about to cook it. 

Then you won’t have to worry about that funky smell, and you will make sure that the raw chicken is safe to consume.

Is it safe to eat chicken that smells like eggs?

No, it’s not safe to eat chicken that smells like eggs. A raw chicken that smells like eggs is caused by Salmonella enterica, a type of bacteria that grows when chicken goes bad.

In short, if your chicken has an egg-like scent, you cannot consume it. Therefore, you should not cook the chicken in a way that can cause health problems and then consume it.

What happens if you eat chicken that smells like eggs?

If you eat chicken that smells like eggs, you may suffer digestive issues such as vomiting, diarrhea, or an upset stomach. 

Although proper chicken cooking can kill the bacteria that cause infection, eating a chicken that smells like eggs is always a risk that you should avoid.

If you want to pick raw chicken, choose a piece that has no scent and keep it frozen unless you are planning to cook it. 

By doing so, you will not have to worry about those funky odors and be sure that the raw chicken is safe to consume.

Frequently asked questions

Here are a few frequently asked questions regarding raw chicken and whether it smells like eggs. You can take a closer look at the different types of chicken we have here, and we can answer any questions you have about the matter.

Frozen chicken smells like eggs

If your frozen chicken smells like eggs, it’s about to go bad or has already gone bad. In general, frozen chickens that smell like eggs should be discarded because they shouldn’t smell that way.

It shouldn’t give a funky egg-like smell when you have frozen chicken. There might be a mild scent in some cases, but it’s rare.

For this reason, you should always make sure you get frozen chicken without any smell. This way, you can ensure it’s safe as long as you keep it frozen.

Organic chicken smells like eggs

If your organic chicken smells like eggs, it’s due to Salmonella enterica. It’s a bacteria that makes the chicken release hydrogen sulfide. Thus, if you have organic chicken that you didn’t store properly, it can have a funky smell like eggs.

Such a scent indicates that your chicken is about to go bad or has already gone bad. Thus, you should avoid consuming it and pick organic chicken that doesn’t have an egg-like scent next time you purchase.

HelloFresh chicken smells like eggs

When your HelloFresh chicken smells like eggs, it’s due to Salmonella enterica. In this case, a bacteria is responsible for hydrogen sulfide production in the chicken. Also, you might notice a funky smell if you didn’t store your HelloFresh chicken properly.

If you detect such a scent, your HelloFresh chicken is going bad or is already rotten. So, if you buy HelloFresh chicken next time, be sure to pick chicken that does not smell like eggs.

Home Chef chicken smells like eggs

Home Chef chickens that smell like eggs are likely to suffer from Salmonella enterica, which causes the smell. There is a bacteria responsible for hydrogen sulfide production in the chicken in this case. In addition, the Home Chef chicken might have a funny smell if you do not store the chicken properly.

When you smell a rotten smell from your Home Chef chicken, you can be sure that it is already rotten. So the next time you buy Home Chef chicken, you should be careful to pick one that does not smell like eggs.

Chicken smells like eggs when cooking

If the chicken smells like eggs when cooking, it can be due to the Salmonella enterica causing hydrogen sulfide gas. While the smell might reduce due to cooking, it’s not something we recommend you eat.

If the scent doesn’t dissipate when cooking, it means the chicken has gone bad and is unfit for consumption.

Chicken smells like eggs when cooking after defrosting

If your chicken smells like eggs when cooking after defrosting, it means you didn’t store it correctly at some point and that it has gone bad.

A defrosted chicken that smells like eggs should be thrown out since it shouldn’t smell like that.

There shouldn’t be an eggy smell to defrosted chicken. Occasionally, a mild scent might be present, but it is rare.

Summary

In a nutshell, a bacteria called Salmonella enterica is responsible for the egg-like smell of your chicken. When this bacteria produces gas, it smells like eggs. It is best to discard the chicken if it has an egg-like smell. When raw chicken is safe to consume, it should only have a mild smell or none at all.

If you are not planning on cooking raw chicken anytime soon, it should be kept frozen. Whenever you pick up chicken from the grocery store, make sure it does not smell like eggs. Unless you are going to cook it soon, keep it frozen. You can stop the bacteria from growing and keep the chicken safe for consumption by doing so.

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Image credits – Canva

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