Which rotten food smells the worst

Vieux Boulogne In , a panel of expert olfactory researchers and one specially created electronic nose at Cranfield University in Bedfordshire, UK, deemed this soft, creamy cheese the stinkiest in the world. Its aroma is often compared to rot or dung. This sour, fermented herring is so noxious that even Sweden's official government website refers to it as having a "pungent smell of rotting fish.

Durian This southeast Asian fruit, often used in smoothies or as the stuffing in sweet buns, is revered by some for its ripe, nutty, pungent flavor. But, for others, the fruit is reviled for an odor that 19th-century naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace said called "to mind cream-cheese, onion-sauce, sherry-wine, and other incongruous dishes. Kitchen Tips and Tools. Delish Shop. United States. Type keyword s to search. Today's Top Stories.

The humble potato really shouldn't be stored in a fridge, but rather in a dark environment of around 50 degrees Fahrenheit, where it'll last for months and improve in flavor over time. That temperature is absolutely crucial in preventing spoilage. If you don't treat them right, your spuds may actually start sprouting, and then rotting. It's easy to cut away the affected areas from an individual potato, but after a while all the flesh will turn black and start to stink up your house in a bad, bad way.

In our unfortunate experience, you'd be particularly well-advised to avoid leaving potatoes to rot in a cupboard; once the stench soaks in, it's virtually impossible to exorcise.

Whether cooked or raw, our favorite food group doesn't last very long in the fridge. Meaty leftovers should only be stored for three or four days, while raw meat shouldn't be in there for more than a day or two.

Now, when leftover beef, chicken, or fish goes bad, things can get pretty nasty. But in our experience, spoiled raw meat presents an uglier situation by far. Evolutionary biologists attribute our disgust at the smell of rotting meat to a deep-rooted self-preservation instinct. Humans, the theory goes, should simply have no interest in hanging around things potentially contaminated with dangerous pathogens.

Whatever the real cause, spoiled meat is one of the worst smells you can possibly encounter, and one you should definitely try to keep out of your fridge. Virginia Barry, Managing Editor of Reviewed.

Durian doesn't need to go bad to stink out the refrigerator; this south-Asian tropical fruit smells terrible from day one. You might stumble across durian at an Asian market or, more likely, a friend might pass you some as a dare. If that happens, you might as well try it. Even some who think the fruit smells terrible have enjoyed the taste. Either way, durian flesh that has been removed from its thorny shell should be wrapped in plastic and frozen until you're ready to eat it.

Refrigeration will only be good for two days or so, and freezing help keeps the scent down. We've never experienced a rotten durian, but we have to assume the already noxious smell would only intensify.

You've been warned. Despite durian's repulsive odor, the New York Times reported in that attempts to develop an odorless cultivar were met with surprising resistance from "durian enthusiasts" and traditionalists. By making food unappealing to us, the microbes are stealing our resources for their own survival.

While we tend to think of rotting food as a bad thing, humans have figured out how to intentionally rot foods to give them unique flavors. In fermented foods, desirable microbes are encouraged to grow on raw materials like cabbage, milk or meat to create products such as sauerkraut, cheese or salami.

Some of these fermentation microbes—which we study in my lab —are quite similar to or even the same as microbes that can cause spoilage. Many of the microbes that can cause food-borne illness do not produce detectable odors when they grow in food. When in doubt, throw it out. Is buying pet insurance a good idea? Why is it important to learn handwriting? How can I control my appetite?

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