It’s a good idea to keep salmon on hand so you can use it in your favorite recipes or make it quickly when you don’t know what else to make. But if you keep salmon around for a long time, you’ll eventually have to ask yourself, “Has this salmon gone bad?” This is a tough question.
No one wants to eat fish that’s off. That’s just a recipe for a nasty case of food-borne illness. So how do you know if salmon is bad? Here’s what to watch for.
Salmon is one of the most delicious and nutritious fish you can eat. When properly stored and prepared, it’s a stellar addition to any diet However, there’s a dark side to this tasty fish – eating expired or spoiled salmon can cause severe food poisoning
There are a few things that can go wrong if you eat salmon that has gone bad. You will learn about the harmful bacteria that grow in fish that has gone bad, the signs of salmon poisoning, and the right way to handle and store salmon. To keep you from getting sick from old salmon, my goal is to get the word out.
Why Eating Spoiled Salmon is Risky
Salmon, like any food that goes bad quickly, can grow harmful bacteria if it is kept at temperatures that are too high for too long. Here are some of the main risks of eating spoiled salmon:
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Salmonella – Yes, this common bacteria is named after salmon It causes diarrhea, fever, cramps and dehydration.
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Botulism is a very rare but very dangerous type of food poisoning that can be fatal. It is caused by Clostridium botulinum.
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Listeria – Causes listeriosis which can be especially risky for pregnant women, newborns and those with weak immune systems.
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Staphylococcus aureus – Leads to violently upset stomach and digestive issues.
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Vibrio – Causes vibriosis linked to diarrhea, chills, nausea and vomiting.
So eating salmon that’s clearly gone bad is like ingesting a petri dish of dangerous bacteria. Your stomach will not thank you!
Next, let’s go over the common symptoms of food poisoning if you eat spoiled salmon.
Symptoms of Food Poisoning from Expired Salmon
If you eat rancid, bacteria-laden salmon, symptoms of food poisoning typically develop within 12-72 hours. Here are some common signs that the salmon has made you sick:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Severe diarrhea
- Abdominal pain and cramping
- Fever and chills
- Fatigue and muscle aches
- Dehydration
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Blurred vision
In extreme cases, food poisoning from salmon can even lead to hospitalization. Those with compromised immune systems are especially susceptible.
The duration of symptoms depends on the type and amount of bacteria ingested. Mild cases may resolve within 1-3 days while more severe cases can linger a week or longer.
Let’s hear some first-hand accounts of suffering through salmon-induced food poisoning.
Real-Life Cases of Sickness from Spoiled Salmon
Here are some real-life stories of people who got sick from eating expired or questionable salmon:
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Sandra ate leftover grilled salmon that had been sitting in the fridge for 5 days. Within hours, she got violently ill with vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramps that lasted 2 days straight.
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Jared’s family thawed frozen salmon fillets and left them in the fridge for a week before cooking them. The entire family came down with nausea, dizziness and diarrhea after the meal.
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Eva was pregnant when she ate some home-smoked salmon that may have been improperly stored. She became extremely dehydrated from diarrhea and had to be hospitalized for 2 days to get IV fluids.
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Luis ordered sushi and noticed the salmon pieces had a mild fishy odor. The next day he developed a 101°F fever, headache and severe intestinal distress.
As you can see, food poisoning from spoiled salmon is definitely an ordeal you want to avoid! Next, let’s go over some tips for how to safely handle salmon.
Safely Storing and Handling Salmon
To avoid getting sick, you have to store and handle salmon properly. Here are some tips:
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Check expiration dates – Only purchase/eat salmon before the expiration date or freeze-by date.
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Store at 40°F or below – Keep fresh salmon chilled at all times to inhibit bacteria growth.
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Freeze for long-term storage – Freeze if not using within 2 days of purchasing.
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Thaw in the fridge – Don’t leave at room temp longer than 2 hours during thawing.
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Marinate in the fridge – Don’t marinate at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
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Cook thoroughly – Cook to an internal temperature of 145°F to kill any lingering bacteria.
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When in doubt, throw it out! – Don’t eat salmon with an odd appearance, smell or texture.
Following these safe salmon handling tips can help protect you from getting sick. Take expiration dates seriously and don’t take risks with food safety. It’s simply not worth the pain and misery!
Key Takeaways on Eating Expired Salmon
To wrap this up, let’s review the key points:
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Eating spoiled, expired salmon can cause foodborne illnesses like salmonella, listeria and botulism.
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Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps. Cases can range from mild to requiring hospitalization.
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Check expiration and freeze-by dates, keep chilled at all times, cook thoroughly and discard any salmon that seems “off”.
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Storing at unsafe temperatures allows dangerous bacteria to proliferate, making previously safe salmon dangerous.
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When in doubt, throw it out! Don’t take risks with expired salmon that could make you sick for days.
How to Tell if Salmon Has Gone Bad: APPEARANCE
How do you know when salmon is bad? One of the key giveaways is appearance. So what does bad salmon look like?.
Fresh, high-quality salmon is bright pink, but salmon that is old or spoiled will often look dull or gray. Not only does the salmon look bad in general, it may also have dark spots, mold, or other white, filmy residues.
If you look at a whole salmon, you can see more than just the color. You can also see the eyes. The eyes may seem sunken or filmy if your salmon has gone bad.
Look at the shape, too. Does the salmon have a slight curve to it instead of being straight? That could also mean it’s gone bad.
Sell-by vs. Use-by Date
It’s easy to think that the date on the salmon’s packaging will tell you if it’s still fresh, but that’s not always the case. Before you read a past date and toss perfectly-good salmon in the bin, look a little closer. Is the date on your salmon’s packaging a sell-by or a use-by date?.
What is a use-by date? It’s the date by which you should have eaten all of your raw salmon to keep it at its freshest and lowest risk of getting sick. However, a sell-by date gives you a little more time. Fish is usually safe to keep in the fridge for one to two days after the sell-by date, so you should have one or two more days to eat it after the date.
How Long Can Thawed Salmon Stay In The Fridge? ANSWERED
FAQ
How long can you eat salmon after the expiration date?
Is 2 year old frozen salmon still good?
Can you eat fish past its use-by date?
How long after you buy salmon does it go bad?
What happens if you eat expired salmon?
Consuming expired salmon can pose health risks, as bacteria can flourish in fish that has gone bad. This can lead to foodborne illnesses such as salmonella or other bacterial infections. Is canned salmon safe to consume after the expiration date?
Is eating salmon everyday good or bad for consumption?
Eating salmon every day could be good or bad depending on the person. Salmon is a fish with a high content of polyunsaturated fats and omega 3 with benefits for cardiovascular health. Therefore, its daily consumption would be healthy in most cases, except if raw salmon or with added salt.
Is fresh salmon bad?
If the texture is mushy or slimy, the salmon is bad. Note: According to the FDA website, “fresh fish and fish fillets sold as ‘Previously Frozen’ may not have all the characteristics of fresh fish (e.g., bright eyes, firm flesh, red gills, flesh, or bloodlines), however, they should still smell fresh and mild, not fishy, sour, or rancid.”
What happens if you eat bad salmon?
There is a wide array of risks, which can include intense stomach and intestinal discomfort, that may happen after consuming bad salmon. The danger comes from bacterial growth and mold. These risks are not worth consuming questionable fish. Always double check your salmon is fresh by looking at the signs like smell, color, and texture.