Can you tell if meat is spoiled if you don't have a sense of smell?

Answer 1

Many harmful microorganisms do not produce any odors. Smell alone is not a perfect indicator of spoilage.

AnswerYou probably can't tell, but if no one else is around to sniff the meat for you, then "when in doubt, throw it out." But according to the Department of Agriculture, spoiled meat generally doesn't make people sick -- it's the pathogens that cause all the problems, like e.coli bacteria. I personally have cooked and consumed meat that I thought was a day or two past its prime, but have never suffered ill effects. Answerallowing your other senses to help. looking at the meat you would notice a change in color , sometimes the whole will be affected and sometimes only in spots. look carefully. the other way is texture and how it "feels". it can change in "density" (how firm or mushy it might feel). another change would be that a superficial film developes that you can feel.(a thin "slime" or slickness). the rule of "when in doubt throw it out" is a good one, follow it, especially if it concerns chicken, "ground" anything and seafoods. the importance of temperature cannot be stressed enough. a refrig should always be kept below 40 degrees and foods should always be heated to 145 degrees, (leftovers to 165 degrees). it is imperative to keep foods out of the 40 to 145 degree range!!! these temps allow rampant reproduction of bacteria. AnswerPlease also be aware that meat and especially chicken that's been unrefrigerated too long can contain bacteria or viruses that will give you food poisoning. These are absolutely odorless and colorless, so even with a keen sense of smell, you'll never know they're present. Foodborne illness is much more common than actually eating rotten food.

Answer 2

The following detectors indicate spoilage in food:

• Odour : Food gets spoiled due to bacteria, that gives out foul odour or repulsive smell. It happens only when bacteria breaks the protein present in food items.
• Souring : Certain bacteria act to produce acids which makes the food sour in taste. It happens in case of milk and gravies of vegetables if not preserved properly.
• Gas Formation : Sometimes gases like carbon dioxide are produced due to bacteria. It makes the food swell or spongy.

Answer 3

If you have no sense of smell, you can tell food is spoiled by looking at the package and checking to see what the use by date is, if past, it may mean it is not good to eat. Go into a room with good light and look at the food, if if looks brown, or has mold on it, it is rotten or will be rotten soon. Feel the food, esp. meats, chicken, turkey, if they are slimy, they have gone bad.
It may be difficult to tell if food is spoiled when you have no sense of smell. The best alternatives are to ask someone else to smell it. If this is not possible, check the expiration date on the product. If it has expired, throw it out.

Answer 4

It is pretty easy to recognize when food has gone bad. It will begin to smell, and will sometimes grow mold or become discolored.