Help! What does a raw turkey smell like?

[sapphirestar]

This year I'm trying out brining my turkey, so I had it in the fridge to thaw starting on Saturday. When I went to put it in the brine this morning, it was totally thawed-- and usually when I am prepping a turkey on Thanksgiving morning, there's usually ice around the cavity and so I never wonder if it is "good" or not.

So, I'm not sure what a raw turkey is supposed to smell like? This one has a little smell, a raw smell, and now I'm wondering... could it be bad? I did let it sit out a bit on the counter, maybe 2-3 hours yesterday because usually turkeys thaw so slowly for me. But is could be that I just don't know what raw poultry smells like.

And is the brining kind of preserving it too? I'm using a very basic brine of 1 c salt to 1 gallon of water.

Of course, DH is ALWAYS accusing me of thinking everything has gone bad, and I know I tend to be a bit paranoid.

So if anyone can describe a raw-turkey smell to me (I know, I know, an impossibly weird question)... go at it!

TTIA

[Goin' Coastal]

You may not know what raw poultry smells like, but I am SURE you would recognize the odor of spoiled poultry. That smells really foul. (No pun intended )

[funnybone]

Originally posted by Goin' Coastal
I am SURE you would recognize the odor of spoiled poultry. That smells really foul. (No pun intended )

LOL

As long as you cook it to the right temp, you should be fine anyway.

I found this link which answers turkey questions.
http://www.rce.rutgers.edu/pubs/pdfs/e234.pdf

[mrswaz]

I thought the same thing last year! I pulled the turkey out to brine, and I thought it smelled a little off, but proceeded anyway, because I honestly didn't have much of a choice. My turkey was wonderful- and no one got sick. My guess is that you will be just fine. I agree that a rotten turkey will most likely be extremely obvious.

[VeggieQueen58]

This is completely unscientific but "a little funky" is pretty normal for a defrosted bird.

Believe me, if it was spoiled you'd have no question! Ditto advice on cooking to full temperature for all meats.

[Middydd]

I find brine has a "funny" smell. Maybe it's the brine you smell.

[SLFlyt]

I remember my first Thanksgiving I bought home a turkey and when I unwrapped it it stunk to high heaven. My mother was there to show me how to clean and stuff a turkey and we had such a fit of laughing over this ROTTEN turkey we almost peed ourselves. Needless to say, a bad turkey is very obvious. We took it back to the butcher - Mom wanted to tie it to the bumper it stunk so bad.

[sapphirestar]

Thanks, everyone! I feel better now. It wasn't noticeably "foul" (heh!) but just a bit funky. So I'm going to cook it well, and I'm looking forward to seeing what this brining craze is all about!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

[coktaildrink]

You never told us if your turkey ended up okay??

[yumyummum]

I think it does have a bit of an "off smell" sometimes. I get chicken at Whole Foods and know what you mean. I used to worry that is was "bad". But I think you really really smell a foul oder when it is.

[haley17]

I agree. Most defrosted turkeys have a little smell. On the opposite end, last year in December we defrosted a turkey and the whole refrigerator started to smell as soon as it started to thaw. It got so bad it brought tears to my eyes and I had to take it outside to throw it away immediately, then clean the whole refrigerator out. So, if it was that bad, you would definitely know it.

[Canice]

This thread is six years old. I have no idea why it's being bumped up now - though I could guess.

[sapphirestar]

Okay, very strange. I went to read this post and thought "wow, this person is a little paranoid but I can kind of relate to some of the things she's saying. My husband thinks I'm paranoid too..."

Um, that's when I realized I'd written the post! Long ago!

Very strange to read your own writing and not realize that it was. Anyway, I remember the turkey being great and being impressed with the flavor and texture. But I didn't brine this year and the turkey was great too.

Thanks for the blast from the past...

[suefern]

Hi. I found this link when googling around trying to find my answer. I tried to start a new thread but it wouldn't let me. Anyway, I just unwrapped a thawed 21 pound Butterball and noticed the tiny hole in the wrapper matched up with the middle of a 6 inch diameter yellowish spot on the turkey's back. I rubbed the spot fairly firm under the running water and the skin and fat all came off in that area fairly easily. I smelled it to see if it smelled rotten, but it smelled more like a chemical smell or kind of like fresh spray paint. I smelled the opposite side of the turkey and it had some of that smell, but not nearly as strong. Is this kind of what Butterballs smell like or should I just throw it away? Any thoughts? I was going to start cooking it in about 8 hours. Thanks for any help.