Chicken is a versatile and popular meat that is a staple in many households. However, raw chicken is highly perishable and must be stored properly to prevent foodborne illness. This article provides comprehensive guidelines on how long you can safely keep raw and cooked chicken in the fridge or freezer.
How Long Does Raw Chicken Last in the Fridge?
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), raw chicken can be kept in the fridge for 1-2 days This applies to whole chickens as well as chicken pieces, legs, breasts, wings, etc Here are some tips for maximizing fridge life
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Store raw chicken in a sealed container or resealable plastic bag to prevent juices from leaking and contaminating other foods
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Place the chicken on a plate or bowl before refrigerating, to catch any leaks.
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Store chicken on the bottom shelf of the fridge, where temperatures are coldest.
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Wash hands, utensils, and surfaces after handling raw chicken to prevent cross-contamination.
How Long Does Cooked Chicken Last in the Fridge?
Cooked chicken will last 3-4 days in the fridge, according to the USDA. To maximize freshness:
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Allow cooked chicken to cool before refrigerating. Divide into shallow containers for fast cooling.
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Store cooked chicken in airtight, sealed containers. This prevents drying out and limits exposure to contaminants.
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Place cooked chicken on lower fridge shelves. The top shelf sees more fluctuations in temperature as the door opens.
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Use cooked chicken within 3-4 days for maximum freshness and food safety.
Identifying Spoiled Raw Chicken
Check for these signs that indicate raw chicken has gone bad:
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Slimy or sticky texture and dull or slippery exterior
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Grayish, greenish, or translucent colors
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Strong, unpleasant sour or ammonia-like smell
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Expired sell-by or use-by date
Raw chicken with any of these characteristics should be discarded. Do not taste raw chicken to determine if it is spoiled.
Identifying Spoiled Cooked Chicken
Look for these signs that cooked chicken has spoiled:
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Dry, shriveled texture
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Dull coloration
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Sour odor
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Mold growth
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Expired use-by date
Discard cooked chicken immediately if it exhibits any odd textures, colors, or smells. Do not taste cooked chicken if you suspect it is spoiled.
How Long Does Chicken Last in the Freezer?
Freezing is the best method for long-term storage of fresh chicken. Here are USDA guidelines:
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Raw chicken pieces or boneless breasts: 9 months
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Whole raw chicken: 12 months
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Cooked chicken: 2-6 months
For best quality, freeze chicken soon after purchasing or cooking. Portion chicken into sealed freezer bags or airtight containers before freezing. Minimize exposure to air.
Thawing Chicken Safely
Always thaw frozen chicken properly in the fridge, cold water, or microwave:
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Fridge: Place chicken in fridge 24 hours before cooking.
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Cold water: Submerge sealed chicken in cold water, changing water every 30 mins. Cook immediately.
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Microwave: Cook chicken immediately after microwaving to prevent bacterial growth.
Never thaw chicken at room temperature or in hot water. This promotes rapid bacterial growth.
General Food Safety Tips
Follow these guidelines when handling, prepping, and storing chicken:
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Store chicken in the coldest part of the fridge, below 40°F.
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Freeze chicken if not using within 1-2 days.
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Marinate chicken in the fridge, not on the counter.
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Don’t rinse raw chicken. This spreads bacteria everywhere.
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Use separate cutting boards and utensils for raw chicken.
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Wash hands and surfaces after handling raw chicken.
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Cook chicken to an internal temperature of 165°F to kill bacteria.
Following proper storage times, temperatures, and food safety practices will ensure chicken stays fresh and reduces the risk of foodborne illness. Trust your eyes and nose – if chicken looks or smells off, play it safe and throw it out.
How long does raw chicken last in the fridge?
The USDA recommends cooking chicken one or two days after you buy it. If that seems conservative and sooner than the sell-by date on the package, thats because it is — but theres a reason for that. The sell-by, use-by or freeze-by date may be as long as a week from when you bought it, but thats just the chicken producers guess as to how long the chicken will be at optimal taste before it starts deteriorating in quality.
As many in this Reddit thread and others assert, you can probably split the difference without serious ramifications, but you should never eat chicken thats been in the fridge for more than three or four days. The reason why chicken isnt necessarily safe to eat until that sell-by date is two-fold:
For one, that date isnt issued by a regulating body, but rather by the brand. While poultry brands do have to consider consumer safety, their chief goal is enticing retailers to buy their product. The longer its “good for,” the better chance theyll have of making a larger sale.
The other reason is that grocery store meat fridges and coolers are usually colder than your average home refrigerators. A normal fridge has to keep meat cold without freezing delicate vegetables and other groceries. Supermarket meat coolers only need to keep meat cold, so they can be at lower resting temperatures. Chicken kept at a colder temperature is naturally going to last longer.
Can I eat chicken that’s been in the fridge for more than two days?
The USDA recommends not storing raw chicken in the fridge for more than two days. From our experience, three to four days should be OK, provided youre within the use-by or sell-by date. Beyond this, avoid consuming the chicken.
How long can you keep raw chicken in the fridge?
FAQ
Can raw chicken last 5 days in the fridge?
Raw chicken can be safely stored in the fridge for up to 2 days. It is important to store it at a temperature of 40°F (4°C) or below and to cook it to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) before consuming.
Can I eat cooked chicken after 5 days?
How long will it take for raw chicken to spoil?
Fresh, whole chicken or chicken parts will last for 1 to 2 days when stored in the refrigerator, according to FDA guidelines. “Once you cook chicken or chicken dishes, your food should not sit out at room temperature for over 2 hours—or over 1 hour if the temperature is 90 degrees F or above,” Amidor says.
Is chicken ok after 7 days?
USDA recommends using cooked chicken within three to four days, kept refrigerated (40°F or less). Refrigeration slows but does not stop bacterial growth. USDA recommends using cooked leftovers within three to four days.
How long can you keep cooked chicken?
Leave it to cool down for around an hour before putting it away. 8) Leftover chicken should be safe to eat for two to three days – but use your brain. If it smells off, it probably is. 9) if you are reheating cooked chicken, make sure the chicken is piping hot throughout.
How long does chicken last?
Whole chicken can last up to one year, chicken pieces up to 9 months, and ground chicken three to four months, says Boyd. Jonathan Deutsch, a food and hospitality management professor at Drexel University in Philadelphia, suggests not storing your poultry for that long.
How long does chicken last in the fridge?
You should store it in an airtight container in a fridge that’s set at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below. When the chicken is refrigerated in the proper conditions, it can last for three to four days, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.