If the livers have turned green, gray, or chalky in appearance, it’s time to toss them out. Then there’s smell. Fresh chicken livers have a clean, slightly metallic smell with no overpowering odors. If they smell sour, musty, or intensely metallic, they’ve likely spoiled.
StepsMethod
-
1 Lay out the livers. Lay out all of the livers you’re trimming so that they are flat. This might require that you unfold the livers, as they often come out of the container balled up.[5] - 2 Look for connective tissue. Livers have connective tissue running through them, similar to what you might find on a chicken breast. This tissue is usually white or pink and is stringy.[6]
- You should also look for any greenish parts on the liver, as these will cause the liver to taste bitter.[7]
- 3 Trim the meat away from the connective tissue. Using a sharp knife or scissors, trim the meat away from the connective tissue. This might take more than one or two passes with the knife, since each liver can have multiple areas with connective tissue.[8]
Advertisement Method
Buying, Storing, and Cooking Chicken Livers
- 1 Collect chicken livers from whole chickens. If you are in the habit of buying whole chickens, youll actually be purchasing livers at the same time. Some chickens have multiple hearts and multiple livers, so you might get more than one per chicken.[9]
- Dont use livers in giblet gravy – it can give the gravy a bitter taste.
- 2 Buy the livers from a butcher. You can buy whole livers from the butcher or the meat department of your local grocery store. These livers tend to be of a better quality than what youd get in a whole chicken, since the processing of whole chickens means the livers might be mangled.[10]
- Livers from the grocery store or butcher may come in a jar, or they might be fresh. Ask your butcher how they package them.
- 3 Clean and freeze the chicken livers. Before you store the chicken livers, you should clean them so that theyre ready to be used when you want them. Once youve cleaned them, lay them flat in a freezer storage bag and lay the bag flat in your freezer.[11]
- Use the livers within three to four months of freezing them.
- 4 Make chopped liver. The most popular way to prepare chicken livers is by making chopped liver. Melt 5 tablespoons (2.5 ounces) of fat (either chicken fat or butter) in a pan, then sauté 2 cups (16 ounces) of sliced onions in the fat. Remove the onions, but pour the fat back in the pan, and sauté 1 pound of chicken livers until theyre brown on the outside and no longer pink on the inside. Mix the livers, onions, and 3 hard-boiled eggs together and chop them finely. Season with salt and pepper and either serve within two hours or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.[12]
Advertisement
Eating LIVER (7 Myths BUSTED) 2024
FAQ
What does a bad chicken liver look like?
When should you not eat chicken livers?
How long do chicken livers last in the fridge?
What color should chicken livers be?
How do you know if chicken liver is bad?
Fortunately, there are several ways to tell if your chicken liver is bad without eating it. You should rely on your senses of smell, sight, and feel. If your container of cooked chicken liver smells “off”, has visible signs of mold, has color changes, or feels slimy, toss the livers immediately.
What are the signs of a bad liver?
There are several signs of liver failure which includes hair fall, generalized edema, spooning of nails, itchy skin, weakness, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting.
Can chicken liver go bad?
It’s important to store chicken liver properly to prevent it from going bad. Make sure to keep it in a cool, dry place and away from direct sunlight. If you’re storing it in the refrigerator, make sure to keep it in a sealed container or bag to prevent it from absorbing any other odors in the fridge.
Does chicken liver taste good?
In short; organ meats may be more nutritious than regular meat, but they don’t taste as good. However, chicken liver has one of the mildest flavors among organ meats, so it could be a good option for people who dislike the taste of beef liver. Furthermore, there are a few cooking methods and recipes we can use to improve the taste.