what does chicken smell like when it goes bad

Bad chicken usually smells sour, pungent, or ammonia-like , and some people compare it to rotten eggs or sulfur. Fresh raw chicken should have only a very mild smell, so if the odor is strong or “off,” it’s safest to throw it out.

Quick Scoop

Common spoilage smells include:

• Sour smell.
• Ammonia smell.
• Rotten egg or sulfur smell.
• General foul, funky, or “off” odor.

Other signs it has gone bad:

• Gray, green, or otherwise unusual color.
• Slimy or sticky texture.
• Mold or visible spoilage.

A simple rule: when in doubt, throw it out.