16 days since process- in fridge Still okay to eat?

[Jmash]

I had 3 birds processed 16 days ago. I put them straight in the fridge to rest and then FORGOT about them.

Has it been too long to roast or freeze them? I’m so sad and feel like I’ve wasted their little lives…

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I had 3 birds processed 16 days ago. I put them straight in the fridge to rest and then FORGOT about them.

Has it been too long to roast or freeze them? I’m so sad and feel like I’ve wasted their little lives…

Partly depends on how clean your processing was.. but I was seriously surprised to see just how long they were still good for without any feeling of slime or scent of funk like is common from commercial poultry.

I have gone just about that long safely.

 

[Molpet]

Cooking kills most germs.
I would cook well ASAP.
Also people used to hang older birds to tenderize for a while.
https://honest-food.net/on-hanging-pheasants-2/

 

[aimee750]

How do they smell?

 

[littledog]

Food usually goes bad starting from the outside (bacteria starts on the surface, then oxygenation makes the rest go bad) so if they were mine, I would scrub them with soapy water, making sure to get rid of any slimy sections, then thoroughly cook them immediately. A slow-cooker would be the best way, to make sure they're cooked thoroughly. Then freeze whatever cooked meat you're not going to eat right away, use it for soups or pot pies later.

 

[littledog]

Assuming they don't smell at all.

 

[Luv Ducks]

I too would go by smell and feel. If they have slime on them or smell bad, out they would go if it were me. I would think that is too long but that's just me. I am the type that throws food out after a week, not everyone does that and they are just fine.

 

[ColdWind]

We ate hundreds of pheasants and ducks that were hung for two weeks if the temps were 30s or 40s. Dad swore by it. If they smell fine, chow down!

 

[Kenya Mwangi]

Your refrigerator is at a temperature. But if your meat smells badly, or sticky, or slimy, bacteria has started badly.