Over the years our dependency on buying meat and fresh produce from stores has surged and with that our confusion too has increased.
Wonder why? The culture of processed meats or pre-cuts have taken over the conventional ways of buying chicken from a butcher shop.
But are we sure of the quality and additives? Well, here are some smart tips to keep in mind while buying chicken online or from a store and check its freshness.
1. Packaged in a fluid
Have you ever observed why packaged chicken or meat has a liquid flowing inside the pack? In case the chicken appears pinkish in colour and does not have too much fluid oozing out, you can be sure that the meat is fresh. Excess fluid in packaged meat indicates that the meat has undergone the process of water immersion. Once this fluid is removed the chicken turns mushy and soggy.
2. Texture
Freshly cut meat/chicken has a firm yet slightly soft texture. You can just press the body and if it comes back to normal. Then the meat is fresh and is great for consumption.
3. Appearance
4. Smelling the meat
Smelling the chicken from a packaged tray of meat can be tricky and also the easiest way to judge its quality. If the chicken smells normal after opening the pack and has no odor, then it is safe for consumption. In fact, encountering moisture makes the meat more prone to infectants like bacteria and pathogens.
5. Look for spots
The process of bulk cutting may leave some bruises, but if you observe black or greenish spots then chances are that the chicken is either contaminated or is not fresh. In case of frozen meat cuts these spots are often hidden as they can also be some infections.
