Should I eat this chicken?

Whew, I’d throw it out!

If it just went out of date yesterday I wouldn’t worry, as long as they looked ok and smelled normal. The date is the sell-by date, not the consume by date. I wouldn’t go beyond a couple of days though.

It probably won’t hurt you. I’ve eaten off-smelling chicken many times. I think the cooking would kill any bad guys lurking inside. It smells a little off, but you can eat it. And if you can’t smell it, then it really makes no difference. Eat up!

I wouldn’t take the chance. Those dates are there for your protection. Chicken isn’t that expensive considering that you could get food poisoining for free. Throw it out. I listen to a cooking show every weekend and this subject came up last weekend. The host explained that if the meat has already been contaminated, cooking it won’t help (and you might not be able to see or smell it). Heed the dates! Don’t ever eat meat that has an off-smell, an off-color or is past the expiration date. Also don’t eat meat that has been sitting out for more than a couple of hours. Even if @wundayatta has never gotten sick by doing any of these things, why risk it?

I’ve learned my lesson the hard way and more than once. If it has a ‘funny smell’, then I toss it without a qualm. I’ve had food borne illnesses before (infrequently), and for me it starts out feeling like I’m going to die, and then wishing that I would.

For the price of a pound or two of chicken, it’s no longer worth the risk to me.

As long as you have cooked it well it should be fine.

Here is a surefire way to test meat for freshness, including chicken. meat should not have a slick feel on its surface.

Rubbish, the chicken is fine. One day out of date is nothing, the best thing to do with meat if your unsure is place it in a bowl with a diluted vinegar solution. This kills off nasty bacteria and removes the smell, and of course make sure you then cook it thoroughly.
Remember that people pay a lot of money for aged meats which have been cleaned up for presentation before sale.
Fresh chicken and pork are the first to go off, but in this case i would say its nothing to worry about at all.

Any question that asks, “Should I eat this chicken?” is probably best answered “No” although I suspect the cooked meat will be o.k.

I agree with @janbb. If you question the meat enough to have to ask a question to Fluther, don’t eat it. Eating out of date meat with a funny smell is one of the things on my list of “not worth the risk”.

The chicken should be okay, if you have kept it properly refridgerated.

I eat more chicken any man ever seen

Generally I agree with @Arbornaut that “date stamp” doesn’t have so much meaning. “Funny smell” has a lot of meaning to me. It means: “Don’t eat this shit.”

Just a couple of links for further information. This from wisegeek and this .

If you have any doubts
Throw it out!

2nd Answer: i don’t think the outdate was the only reason a red flag came to you, concerning this chicken. you mentioned smell. sometimes, i question the dates stamped on many food items, including meats and eggs. several years back, there was an undercover investigation concerning chicken eggs on the shelves in stores. several stores were caught on tape applying new outdates on the unsold eggs. also, adding food color to beef in order to extend its expiration date.

Not only did the expiration date of your chicken arouse your curiosity of freshness, but also the apparent smell you mentioned.

Please tell us what what the final outcome? toss or no toss?

Rule of Thumb: “When in doubt, throw it out!”

You DON’T want food poisoning, trust me.

One way you can tell that someone’s never had food poisoning – they say something like: “Man, my stomach kinda hurts. I might have food poisoning.” No, if you have food poisoning, you don’t THINK you have food poisoning – you KNOW you are gonna DIE!

It’s that serious.

Better to spend a couple of dollars replacing that chicken than hundreds of dollars on ER visit, lost time at work, etc.

Well, I didn’t end up eating it. I ended up agreeing with those of you who would throw it out! I decided a sandwich would be the safer option. My S.O. did eat it, although I did warn him. Apparently it tasted great, and as far as I can tell he is alive – but, the thought of the funny smell ended up being enough for me not to eat it. I’m not adventurous enough!