what happens if you eat bad ground turkey?

Ground Turkey

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What happens if you eat bad ground turkey? Also called a minced turkey. The skin, meat, and fat are separated from the bone, then processed together with additives till it becomes ground and smooth.

Turkey has low-fat content and it’s best for getting a healthy heart.

It is nutritious and readily provides protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals.

It is important to use a fresh ground turkey in order not to compromise your health.

Fresh ground turkey is usually light pink in color, with a glistening look as if it’s moist.

Ground turkey contains polyunsaturated fat, a far more protective and healthier kind of fat.

It has less fat than ground beef which makes it more preferred.

 

So, what happens if you eat bad ground turkey?

In as much as Ground turkey is highly recommended, with good properties and high nutritional value,

Eating in its imperfect state will result in many problems such as food poisoning, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, chills, nausea, and stomach upset.

This is because it has been contaminated with pathogens – bacteria and toxins. At this point, you should visit a physician.

Eating bad ground turkey is not worth it.

The smell becomes pungent, the appearance is irritating, the quality declines and the meal is not appealing for consumption.

The effects of ingesting bad turkey will begin to show from 30 minutes to 8 hours after.

The time variation depends on the strength of your immune system.

Recommendation:

 

What Happens When You Cook Bad Ground Turkey?

Cooking a bad ground turkey is not guaranteed to make you very sick, however, this is determined by whether you cook it long enough or not.

Cooking it long enough will subject it to high temperature, which will subdue the effects of the microbes to an extent.

Many bacteria are eliminated during the cooking process.

However, this is not enough reason to risk cooking and eating bad ground turkey

This is because, even though bacteria are eliminated, toxins have been released by these bacteria (while they were alive), and these toxins are harmful.

To prevent situations like this, it is best you preserve your ground turkey and protect it from spoilage.

Store in the refrigerator for 2 days and use within this time frame.

If you wish to store it for a longer period, keep it in the freezer for up to 4 months.

When ready to thaw and eat, ensure you cook at a high-degree temperature.

Ground turkey should be cooked at a temperature of 145⁰ F, fresh or frozen, in order to avoid the risk of food poisoning caused by microbes.

 

How Long Does Ground Turkey Take To Cook?

It will take about 14 to 16 minutes (more or less) to cook ground turkey to an even brown color with no pink, at a temperature of 145⁰F.

Ground turkey can also be baked in an oven preheated to 350⁰F.

Line the baking sheet with parchment paper, then bakes ground turkey for 15 minutes.

When it’s done, the ground turkey should measure up to 165⁰F internally, on a food thermometer.

The cooking time may vary with some cookers and recipes,

But the most important thing is to ensure it reaches an internal temperature of 165⁰F and no pink color is seen anymore.

Ground turkey cooks faster than ground beef because it is leaner in size.

However, don’t capitalize on this as you may end up undercooking it. Overcooking will make it dry.

Avoid it as well. Try to ensure a balance.

 

How Long Does Ground Turkey Take To Thaw?

It will take 12 to 24 hours to thaw ground turkey in the refrigerator and 2 minutes to thaw in the microwave.

You can also defrost it under running cold water, for 1 hour till it becomes defrosted.

Do not try to thaw in hot water. This will increase the risk of bacteria contamination.

However, the refrigerator is the most recommended option by experts.

You should thaw in the refrigerator at least, overnight.

Leaving ground turkey on the counter at room temperature for more than 2 hours is unsafe.

At this point, it should be discarded as it is risky to consume.

Nevertheless, you don’t necessarily need to thaw the ground turkey before cooking.

You can as well cook it in its frozen state directly from the freezer.

This will save time and prevent potential contamination that occurs during the process of thawing.

 

How To Thaw Ground Turkey.

When frozen ground turkey has thawed accordingly, it gives the exact fresh taste as it would on the first day.

Below are the step-by-step guide on thawing ground turkey.

Thawing in the refrigerator;

1. Ensure you place it in a container that is leak-proof so that it doesn’t leak as it thaws.

2. Keep away from other open foods or fruits so that they don’t absorb the smell of each other.

3. Store in the fridge, in the back area of the fridge. Leave it there for about 12 – 24 hours, overnight.

4. Cook immediately after it is thawed or after 2 days. Thawed ground turkey will stay for only 2 days after it is thawed before getting contaminated.

5. Do not leave thawed ground turkey on the counter for up to 2 hours. It will risk being contaminated due to exposure.

Thawing in the microwave;

1. Transfer the ground turkey to a microwave-safe plastic dish.

Do not use the original packaging as it may melt and catch fire.

2. Defrost at 50% power for 2 minutes. Or use the defrost section of the microwave.

Rotate the meat in the microwave in order to get all the sides evenly thawed.

3. You need to cook it right away, so as to avoid bacteria growing on it.

Refrigerate any leftovers that cannot get cooked for whatever reasons.

Thawing under running cold water;

1. Place the ground turkey in a plastic, zipper-lock bag. This is to prevent the entry of water or bacteria.

2. This method is faster than thawing in the fridge and more even than thawing in the microwave but requires more attention.

3. Place the bag in a large bowl and fill it with water, enough to cover up the plastic bag of ground turkey.

4. Change the water every 30 minutes to ensure it stays cold. After an hour, the ground turkey has been fully defrosted.

5. If it isn’t thawing fast enough in the cold water, complete the process in a microwave.

6. Remember to cook immediately after it is thawed. Leaving it longer will increase the chances of contamination.

Recommendation:

How Long Does Ground Turkey Last In The Fridge Once Cook?

Cooked ground turkey will last in the fridge for 3 to 4 days if kept at a temperature less than 40⁰F constantly.

Refrigeration will stall the growth of bacteria but won’t stop it entirely.

This is why 4 days is the maximum amount of time it can stay safe and of top quality.

Leaving it at room temperature is worse. Bacteria will feed on it almost immediately thereby making it unsafe for consumption.

For longer storage, transfer to the freezer. Otherwise, cook only the quantity that can be consumed entirely.

 

How Long Does Ground Turkey Last In The Freezer Once Cook.

It will last for 3 – 4 months. This option is preferred for long-term storage as it will keep cooked ground turkey longer than if stored in the refrigerator.

Experts recommend this time frame because exceeding this, the freezer temperature will sip out moisture from the ground turkey,

Thereby making it dry out. If this happens, it wouldn’t taste as fresh as it was at the initial time of purchase.

 

10 Best Substitutes For Ground Turkey.

The nutritional benefits of ground turkey and its advantages over ground beef cannot be over-emphasized.

That’s why even though you seek an alternative, you must ensure all worthy criteria’s are met.

This article has handpicked all the best substitutes for ground turkey.

1. Ground Veal.

This is gotten from adult cows. It has the same taste and texture as ground turkey, though with a stronger flavor.

It is a more wonderful choice for baking than cooking. The only con is that it is quite expensive.

2. Ground chicken.

Excellent choice for vegetables and pasta dishes. It can also be used in sausages.

It tastes like a mixture of ground turkey and ground chicken, but it’s slightly sweeter.

The only con is that it is rare to find in the meat section of stores. You’ll mostly find it with butchers.

3. Ground Pork.

It tastes slightly different from ground turkey with more fat content.

Although, this doesn’t affect its substituting capabilities. The advantage is that it is readily available and affordable in price.

4. Ground Lamb

This meat is quite a wonderful option to alternate ground turkey.

It tastes similar and tastes better when cooked with strong spices.

Ground lamb is not recommended for dishes with less flavor, because the spices attached to ground lamb make it have a strong flavor.

5. Ground beef.

This substitute has more people opting for it because it has a familiar flavor.

Quite affordable and goes well for sausages and pies.

Others include;

6. Tofu – the vegetarian’s choice

7. Texture vegetable protein (TVP)

8. Tempeh

9. Bulgur wheat

10. Seitan

How Do You Store Ground Turkey?

Store in the refrigerator or in the freezer.

It is recommended that you double-wrap the original packaging, with foil, plastic wrap, or a plastic bag.

This precautionary method will protect it from freezer burn, and factors that will lead to contamination.

When storing ground turkey, ensure that the temperature of the refrigerator is less than 40⁰F constantly.

Keep it in the main compartment, away from other foods.

Storing it at the door, or cupboard section will lead to fluctuation in temperature. This is not good for ground turkey.

Also, when storing in the freezer, ensure that the temperature is kept at 0⁰F constantly to keep it fresh and of high quality for a long time.

These methods of storing are acceptable for both cooked and uncooked ground turkey.

Storing at room temperature, and on the counter is totally prohibited.

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Conclusion.

All information provided in this article is borne from deep research and has been tested and proven to be trusted.

Ground Turkey should be handled with care and knowledge.

Improper handling will lead to contamination and food poisoning in the long run.

Ensure you purchase fresh and quality ground turkey, store it properly and discard it once signs of spoilage begin to creep in.

With this information, you have been enlightened enough to know that it is unwise to ingest bad ground turkey.

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