Chicken Tastes Metallic: Is It Bad? (Explained)

If you love to eat chicken, you’ve probably tried several recipes for such. Since chicken is one of the accessible proteins we have, many people enjoy it in various ways. Due to such a variety, you may sometimes encounter a chicken that tastes odd. For instance, some people encounter chicken with a metallic taste, and if you also encountered such, you may ask:

If a chicken tastes metallic, is it bad? No, a chicken with a metallic taste doesn’t mean it’s bad. The metallic taste can come from the chicken’s diet, the cooking process, and the doneness of the chicken. In general, the metallic taste doesn’t mean it’s harmful. On the contrary, it’s safe for consumption, and you can fix such a problem in several ways.

A metallic taste in chicken happens occasionally, and if it happens to your chicken, you may find it unpleasant and worrisome. Thus, understanding the cause of such will help you understand what it means to your chicken and how you can fix it.

This article will walk you through all the things you need to know about chicken and why it can have a metallic taste. You’ll also learn how to deal with such to still enjoy your chicken by fixing and covering that metallic taste.

Without further ado, let’s get into it!

Can chicken taste metallic?

Yes, a chicken can taste metallic. The metallic taste in chickens occurs because of several reasons. Thus, if you have a chicken that tastes metallic, you should note that it’s ordinary in some chicken, and you can go around it in several ways.

Why does chicken have a metallic taste?

There are three common reasons why a chicken has a metallic taste. The first one is the diet of the chicken when it’s still alive.

Most chickens with a metallic taste usually get such from being raised as free-range. Because these chickens get to roam, they tend to eat many things. As a result, they sometimes give a metallic taste.

On the other hand, the metallic taste may come from cooking. For instance, if you’re cooking the chicken in tin foil or with a foil cover, it may taste metallic.

Such cases happen when you put something acidic in the chicken, and the acidic component reacts with the foil.

Another reason is that the chicken still has blood in it due to being undercooked. As a result, the blood in the chicken can give a metallic taste.

Does spoiled chicken taste metallic?

No, spoiled chicken does not taste metallic. A spoiled chicken usually tastes sour, and it smells a bit sour. Thus, if your chicken tastes metallic, it doesn’t mean it’s spoiled. However, you should still check it to be sure.

Is metallic chicken bad?

No, a chicken with a metallic taste doesn’t mean it’s bad. However, this taste may not be pleasant for most people. 

As mentioned earlier, there are three common reasons why chicken has a metallic taste. Among all these three, none indicates a sign of spoilage.

Thus, you shouldn’t worry much when your chicken has a metallic taste. Instead, it would be best if you thought of taking care of that taste.

Is it safe to eat chicken that tastes metallic?

Yes, it is safe to eat chicken that tastes metallic. As mentioned earlier, the metallic taste can come from the chicken, the cooking method, and the doneness of the cook. 

In short, you can fix all these things using several methods, and you shouldn’t worry about them posing a health risk when consumed.

What happens if you eat chicken that tastes metallic?

When you eat a chicken that tastes metallic, nothing’s going to happen to you. However, you may find this taste disturbing and unpleasant.

While a chicken with a metallic taste is safe for consumption, it doesn’t mean it’s enjoyable. Thus, it would be best to consider dealing with it by cooking properly or adding something to cover that taste.

Why is my chicken metallic after cooking?

When your chicken is metallic after cooking, you’re using foil or any baking dish while having an acidic component in your recipe.

For instance, when you’re using foil as a cover or as a dish for your chicken and have some acidic components such as vinegar, lemon, lime, or wine, the foil can react to it and cause a deep metallic taste.

At the same time, undercooking your chicken can retain the taste of blood, which is usually metallic. For this reason, you should be mindful of cooking to make sure your chicken won’t taste metallic.

How do I stop my chicken from tasting metallic?

If you want to stop the chicken from tasting metallic, you can deal with the several possible reasons it gets such a taste. 

First, you need to make sure your chicken is fresh, and its diet doesn’t include anything that can give it a metallic taste.

The next thing to do is to make sure you’re not using tin foil or any metallic dish that quickly reacts to acidic components. However, if you’re not adding any acidic ingredients to your dish, you can use tin foil and any dish without worries.

Lastly, you should make sure the chicken cooks thoroughly to get rid of the blood’s taste and prevent it from giving a metallic taste. 

Is metallic chicken undercooked?

In some cases, a chicken with a metallic taste can be undercooked. When a chicken is undercooked, it may retain some blood that can taste metallic.

Thus, make sure the chicken is thoroughly cooked so the blood taste disappears and it doesn’t have a metallic taste.

Frequently asked questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about chickens with a metallic taste. You can read further below to see if any of the questions concern you.

Chicken soup tastes metallic

If your chicken soup tastes metallic, it’s likely because of the dish you used to cook it with. In most cases, you used pans that react to acidic components. 

For instance, if you’re using aluminum dishes or cast iron, the metals can give a metallic taste to your soup. Such a taste won’t be harmful to you. However, it can give a taste that may not be enjoyable.

If such is the case, you should use dishes that will not give a metallic taste to your soup. One good example is a ceramic pot.

Canned chicken tastes metallic

If your canned chicken tastes metallic, it’s because of the can used to preserve the chicken. Such a taste doesn’t mean it’s harmful. However, it can be noticeable and unenjoyable.

If you’re cooking a canned chicken, take it out of the can as you cook and place it in a ceramic pot or a glass baking dish. Please don’t use the can to heat or cook the chicken since it can retain the metallic taste.

Summary

In a nutshell, a chicken with a metallic taste doesn’t mean it’s bad. The metallic taste may be caused by a chicken’s diet, the cooking process, or the doneness of the chicken. Generally, the metallic taste isn’t harmful. You can fix such a problem in several ways, and it is safe for consumption.

If you experience a metallic taste in your chicken from time to time, it may be unpleasant and problematic. However, by understanding the cause, you can better understand what this means for your chicken and how to fix it.

Related:

• Chicken Tastes Watery
• Chicken Tastes Rubbery
• Chicken Tastes Sour
• Why Does My Chicken Taste Like Fish?
• Chicken Tastes Soapy

Resources

Image credits – Canva