How healthy is a bag of guts?

December 26, 2008 2:40 PM

Can I cook a chicken with the giblet bag in?

I bought one of those Perdue Chicken Roasters that comes with the pop-up thermometer and the bag of giblets inside the chicken. I let it defrost overnight in the refrigerator like it tells you to and I always do, but this time I couldn't get the bag of giblets to come out. Usually it slides out nice and easy, but this one was glued in, I swear. I ended up tearing the bag a little, but not terribly.

Anyways, I put it in the oven anyways but I'm anxious now. The bag is made of a material that doesn't seem like it would melt or hurt the chicken in anyway, but the instructions do tell you to take the bag out before you cook it.

So, MeFi, should Mrs. Penguin and I eat it?

posted by InsanePenguin to food & drink (7 answers total)

If the bag melts:

"If giblets were packed in a plastic bag, and the bag has been altered or melted by the cooking process, do not use the giblets or the poultry because harmful chemicals may have leached into the surrounding meat. If the plastic bag was not altered, the giblets and poultry should be safe to use as long as the meat is fully cooked. "
posted by Maisie Jay at 2:47 PM on December 26, 2008

From here:

Accidental Cooking in Packaging
Some giblets are paper wrapped before being inserted into the poultry body cavity. In this case, there would be no concern if the giblets are accidentally cooked inside the bird to a safe temperature.

If giblets were packed in a plastic bag, and the bag has been altered or melted by the cooking process, do not use the giblets or the poultry because harmful chemicals may have leached into the surrounding meat. If the plastic bag was not altered, the giblets and poultry should be safe to use as long as the meat is fully cooked.
posted by nanojath at 2:49 PM on December 26, 2008

JINX
posted by nanojath at 2:49 PM on December 26, 2008

Okay, yeah, the giblets are wrapped in paper, so they should be good then.

I was just unduly worried, I guess.
posted by InsanePenguin at 2:50 PM on December 26, 2008

Once the bird starts cooking, you can reach in with some tongs and take the giblet bag out so that you won't have to deal with it when you're ready to eat. No harm done and no one will be the wiser. Also, the neck might be inside, separate from the bag, so you'll want to get it out too.
posted by amyms at 3:39 PM on December 26, 2008

Next time, put the bird in a bowl and run cool water until you can remove the bag easily.
posted by Lesser Shrew at 3:48 PM on December 26, 2008 [1 favorite]

Wolfgang Puck just told Craig Ferguson that leaving the innards in a duck will cause the meat to taste bitter. YPoultryMV.
posted by acorncup at 12:09 AM on December 27, 2008