7 Signs Your Food May Be Unsafe Even If It Looks Fine

Not all contamination is revealed by the appearance of the food. Contamination doesn’t always change your food’s color or smell; sometimes it’s difficult to spot because some bacteria don’t necessarily change these aspects. 

At Cooking Office, we look at various food safety warning signs that can help you identify which food to throw out, especially if you don’t know its storage history.

1. It Has Been Left at Room Temperature Too Long

Temperature and time are what matter for food safety. Perishable foods should not be left at room temperature for more than two hours, or less if the temperature is high; they may be unsafe even if they appear normal. 

2. It Has Been Stored at an Unsafe Refrigerator Temperature

An overly warm refrigerator can permit bacteria to grow faster. The FDA recommends setting your refrigerator to 40°F or lower. Even when the refrigerator has been above the recommended temperature, perishable foods may be unsafe even if no observable changes have occurred. 

3. You Are Unsure How Long It Has Been Stored

If you don’t know how long it’s been there, don’t eat it. Food can become unsafe during improper storage even when it looks perfectly fine. Knowing the date that leftovers and other perishable foods were refrigerated can help determine if they are still safe to eat.

4. The Food Has Been Through a Power Outage

Refrigerated and frozen foods can reach unsafe temperatures during a power outage if they are not kept sufficiently cold. Don’t open the freezer and refrigerator doors continuously during an outage. A full freezer can hold the food at 40°F for at least two days, and a half-filled one can keep it cool for one day.

5. The Package Is Damaged or Leaking

Food contamination can often be avoided with proper food packaging. Do not use products whose packaging is leaking, punctured, or otherwise damaged in a way that could have allowed contamination to get in. 

6. The Seal Is Broken or the Container Is Unusually Swollen

Bulging containers or broken seals can indicate a serious food-safety problem, including bacterial gas production and, in some canned foods, the potential for botulism. While some changes don’t necessarily indicate contamination, unusual packaging shouldn’t be overlooked. When you are not sure whether the food is safe, it’s better to discard it. 

7. The Food Smells or Looks Strange

Food can exhibit obvious signs of deterioration, such as an off odor, discoloration, mildew, or an unexpected texture change. Instead of tasting food to make sure it is safe, it should be thrown out if there are obvious signs of spoiling.

How to Keep Food Safer

All the above signs point to a single rule: don’t assume food is safe just because it looks normal. Check whether it was left out too long, stored above 40°F, kept for an unknown period, exposed to a power outage, or stored in damaged or unusual packaging. 

If you can’t be sure that it has been stored safely, don’t risk food poisoning; throw it away, particularly when there is evidence that it may have been held at unsafe temperatures or its packaging has been compromised.