Expert: Keith Patton - 10/30/2008

Question
I've got about 15 doves that I breasted out and placed in a sealed ziploc in the fridge (37 degrees) last week.  I planned to cook them that night, but plans fell through and I forgot to freeze them.  They've been in the fridge for 10 days now, so I'm guessing they're no good anymore, but I'd like to know for future reference how long they'd normally stay good in the fridge.  I've always thought they didn't taste as good after they've been frozen.  Thanks in advance for the help.

Answer
Chris:

If they smell a bit off, drain them and rince them good.  The smell comes from the myoglobin (the pink watery fluid).  Since you are cooking them, they should be okay. Just cook them till they are done.

Salmonella in chicken comes from the processing.   Wild fowl is free of it.  

Remember they used to hang pheasant and duck till the heads fell off to ripen them.  This was to tenderize the meat.  I have left unplucked ducks out on my porch in cold weather for days and they were fine too.

It really depends on your personal comfort zone.

Rule of thumb for most meats is 3-4 days depending on the temp of your refrigerator.  At 37 they should still be fine.

Like I said rince them and then let your nose be your guide. If after rincing well they smell like meat and not road kill use them.