Why Does Chicken Taste Like Fish? 7 Causes and How to Fix It

Have you ever prepared what should have been a delicious chicken dinner, only to take that first bite and think, “Wait a minute.. this tastes like fish!”? I certainly have, and it’s one of the most disappointing culinary experiences You’ve put all that effort into cooking, and somehow your chicken has taken on this weird fishy flavor that nobody asked for.

Don’t worry – you’re not imagining things, and you’re definitely not alone. At My Conscious Eating we’ve received numerous queries about this strange phenomenon. Let’s dive into why your chicken sometimes tastes like something that belongs in the ocean and more importantly, how to fix it.

Why Does Chicken Taste Like Fish?

There are several reasons why your chicken might have that unwanted fishy flavor. Here are the most common culprits:

1. Inadequate Storage

This is probably the most common reason for fishy-tasting chicken. When chicken isn’t stored properly it can absorb odors from other foods in your fridge or freezer. If you’ve stored fish nearby those smells can transfer to your chicken.

Also, if you haven’t sealed your chicken properly, it might absorb all the different smells in your fridge – especially fish smells, which are particularly potent.

2. Refreezing Thawed Chicken

One mistake I see all the time is people thawing chicken, using part of it, then refreezing the rest. This is a big no-no!

Refreezing already thawed chicken not only creates a fishy taste and smell but also presents a health risk by allowing bacteria to multiply. This is especially true if the chicken was thawed at room temperature rather than in the refrigerator.

3. The Chicken Has Gone Bad

Sometimes the simplest explanation is the right one – your chicken just isn’t fresh anymore. Chicken that’s past its prime often develops a fishy or sour smell and taste.

Always check the expiration date on your chicken and do a quick smell test before cooking. If raw chicken smells like fish, it’s probably spoiled.

4. Reusing Cooking Oil

This one might surprise you! If you’re reusing cooking oil, especially oil that’s been used to fry fish or other strong-flavored foods, it can impart those flavors to your chicken.

Even oil that’s been used multiple times for cooking the same type of food can develop off flavors that might taste fishy. I always recommend using fresh oil for the best results.

5. Dirty Utensils or Cookware

Sometimes the problem isn’t with the chicken itself but with what you’re using to prepare it. Cutting boards, knives, and pans that haven’t been properly cleaned can transfer flavors to your food.

If you’ve used a knife or cutting board to prepare fish and then use the same unwashed tools for chicken, you’re asking for a fishy result!

6. Unpleasant Odor in the Freezer

When was the last time you cleaned your freezer? If it’s been a while, the odors from various foods might combine to create an unpleasant smell that can be absorbed by your chicken, even if it’s properly sealed.

In some cases, foods in your freezer might have leaked or gone bad, creating odors that can transfer to other foods.

7. The Chicken’s Diet

This is less common these days, but sometimes the issue comes from the chicken itself. Some farms feed their chickens fishmeal to increase protein content, which can result in chicken that naturally tastes a bit like fish.

While this practice isn’t as widespread as it once was, it could explain why chicken from certain sources consistently has a fishy flavor, regardless of how you store or cook it.

Is Chicken That Tastes Like Fish Safe to Eat?

The answer depends on why your chicken tastes fishy in the first place. If the chicken has gone bad, then absolutely not – throw it out immediately! When it comes to chicken, the golden rule is: when in doubt, throw it out.

However, if the fishy taste is due to other factors like cooking methods or storage near fish products, and you’re confident the chicken is fresh, then it should be safe to eat. The issue is more about flavor than food safety in these cases.

How to Remove the Fishy Taste from Chicken

If you’ve determined that your chicken is fresh and safe to eat but still has that unwanted fishy flavor, here are some effective methods to fix it:

1. Marinate in Vinegar and Water

This is my go-to solution. Create a mixture of water and a few tablespoons of vinegar, then soak the chicken in it for about 15-20 minutes before cooking.

The vinegar will neutralize the fishy smell and flavor while also tenderizing the meat. After marinating, be sure to rinse the chicken with plain water to remove excess vinegar before seasoning and cooking as usual.

2. Use a Flour and Salt Mixture

Another effective method is to coat the chicken pieces with a mixture of flour and salt. Here’s how:

1. Wash the chicken thoroughly and pat it dry
2. Combine two tablespoons of flour with one tablespoon of salt
3. Rub this mixture onto the chicken pieces
4. Let it rest for 5-10 minutes
5. Wash off the mixture
6. Soak the chicken in a solution of water, vinegar, lemon juice, and salt for another 15 minutes
7. Rinse the chicken again before cooking

This method is particularly effective at eliminating fishy odors and flavors.

3. Cook in Tomato Sauce

Acidic ingredients like tomatoes are great at neutralizing fishy flavors. If your chicken has a slight fishy taste but is otherwise fine, try cooking it in a tomato-based sauce.

The acidity of the tomatoes will help mask the fishy flavor, especially when combined with aromatic herbs like basil and thyme. This is a great way to salvage chicken that might otherwise go to waste.

4. Clean Your Kitchen Thoroughly

Prevention is better than cure! Keep your kitchen clean, including all utensils, cutting boards, pots, and pans. Regularly clean out your fridge and freezer to prevent odors from developing and transferring to your food.

When preparing chicken, always use clean tools and surfaces to avoid cross-contamination of flavors.

How to Tell if Raw Chicken Is Spoiled

To avoid cooking and eating chicken that’s gone bad in the first place, here’s how to check if raw chicken is still good:

• Smell: Fresh chicken should have a very mild smell or no smell at all. If it has a strong, unpleasant, or sulfurous odor, it’s probably bad.

• Color: Fresh chicken should be light pink with white fat. If you notice gray or green tinges, or if the fat is turning yellow, the chicken has spoiled.

• Texture: Fresh chicken should feel soft and somewhat dry to the touch. If it feels slimy, sticky, or tacky, it’s time to toss it.

Remember that you can’t always tell if chicken is spoiled just by looking at it. If chicken has been left at room temperature for more than an hour, it’s safest to discard it, even if it looks and smells fine.

Best Practices for Storing Chicken

To prevent your chicken from developing that fishy taste in the first place, follow these storage guidelines:

• Room temperature: Only keep raw chicken at room temperature if you plan to cook or freeze it within one hour.

• Refrigerator: Store chicken in the fridge if you plan to cook or freeze it within 48 hours.

• Freezer: For long-term storage (up to one year), keep chicken in the freezer.

Always store chicken in airtight containers or well-sealed freezer bags to prevent it from absorbing odors from other foods. I like to wrap my chicken in parchment paper before placing it in a container for extra protection.

If you’re storing multiple types of meat, keep them separated to prevent cross-contamination of flavors and bacteria.

Why Can Some People Taste It and Others Can’t?

Interestingly, not everyone can detect the fishy flavor in chicken that’s been refrigerated overnight. This is due to genetic differences in taste perception. Some people are more sensitive to certain compounds that develop in cooked and refrigerated chicken.

It’s similar to how some people think cilantro tastes like soap while others love it. If you can taste the fishiness but your partner can’t, neither of you is wrong – you just have different taste sensitivities!

Final Thoughts

Finding that your chicken tastes like fish can be disappointing, but in most cases, it’s fixable! By understanding the causes and implementing proper storage and cooking techniques, you can ensure your chicken always tastes like, well, chicken.

And if all else fails, there’s always the tomato sauce trick – a good marinara sauce can hide a multitude of flavor sins!

Do you have any tricks for dealing with fishy-tasting chicken? Have you tried any of these methods? I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments below!

Remember, good food starts with good ingredients and proper handling. Keep your kitchen clean, your storage methods sound, and your cooking oils fresh, and you’ll be enjoying delicious, chicken-flavored chicken in no time.

Chicken might taste weird due to food spoilage, your own health condition (like a virus, medication, or pregnancy), or even changes in how the chicken was raised or processed. First, check the chicken for signs of spoilage, such as a bad smell or off-color. If the chicken seems fine, consider your health, as conditions like dysgeusia (altered taste) can change food’s flavor. If only you are experiencing the change in taste, focus on health reasons;