I thawed chicken breasts and noticed purple spots under the skin. Are they safe to cook, or should I throw them away?

Many people notice unusual purple or dark spots under the skin after thawing chicken breasts. Such a sight can be alarming and immediately raises the question: is this meat still safe to cook, or should it be thrown away? Before making a decision, it’s worth understanding the possible causes of this phenomenon.

Where do the purple spots on chicken come from?

Most often, purple or purplish discoloration is the result of:

blood accumulation or bruising that occurred before the poultry was slaughtered,

damage to blood vessels during transport or packaging,

the freezing and thawing process, which causes fluids to shift within the meat.

Such color changes do not always mean the meat has gone bad.