Chicken is a dietary staple for many. It’s versatile, nutritious, and relatively inexpensive compared to other meats. But like all raw meats, chicken is highly perishable and must be stored properly to avoid spoilage and foodborne illness. So how long can you actually keep raw chicken in the fridge before it goes bad?
The Short Answer
According to the USDA, raw chicken can be kept in the fridge for 1-2 days. To maximize freshness and food safety, it’s best to cook or freeze chicken within this timeframe. After 2 days, raw chicken is not guaranteed to be safe or good quality.
The Long Answer
Let’s dive deeper into specifics on storing raw chicken:
Factors That Impact Raw Chicken’s Fridge Life
Several key factors determine how long raw chicken lasts in refrigeration:
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Storage temperature – Chicken stored at 40°F or below will last longer than chicken left above 40°F.
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Packaging – Chicken stored in airtight packaging or bags with all air pressed out will maintain quality longer
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Chicken part – Whole chickens last longer than chicken parts like breasts or thighs
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Freshness when purchased – The fresher chicken is when bought, the longer it will last in the fridge.
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Freezer burn or thawing/refreezing – Chicken with freezer burn or that’s been thawed and refrozen won’t keep as long.
USDA Recommendations
The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) provides these raw chicken fridge life guidelines:
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1-2 days for raw chicken parts like breasts, thighs, drumsticks etc.
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1-2 days for giblets like livers, hearts, gizzards, necks
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1-2 days for ground chicken and chicken patties
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1-2 days for marinated raw chicken
Signs Chicken Has Gone Bad
Watch for these signs that indicate raw chicken has spoiled and should be discarded:
- Unpleasant sour, ammonia-like smell
- Grayish, greenish, or yellowish discoloration
- Slimy or sticky texture
- Dull, tacky flesh rather than glossy and firm
Don’t risk eating chicken with those characteristics – safety comes first!
Proper Raw Chicken Fridge Storage
Follow these tips to help raw chicken last as long as possible in the fridge:
- Refrigerate chicken in original packaging/wrapping
- If repackaging, use air-tight containers or bags
- Store chicken on bottom shelf to contain leaks/juices
- Place chicken on plate/tray to catch leaks
- Keep chicken furthest away from ready-to-eat foods
- Ensure fridge temperature is 40°F or below
The Takeaway
The USDA recommends using raw chicken within 1-2 days for food safety and quality. Monitor chicken for signs of spoilage like smell and sliminess. With proper refrigeration and storage, raw chicken can stay fresh for the recommended timeframe before cooking or freezing is required. Trust your senses – when in doubt, 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
Is raw chicken ok in the fridge for 5 days?
Is 3 days too long for raw chicken?
Key Takeaways: Fridge Storage: Raw chicken can be stored in the fridge for 1–2 days, while cooked chicken lasts 3–4 days. Freezer Storage: Raw chicken pieces last up to 9 months in the freezer; whole chickens up to 1 year.
Can I eat chicken after 7 days in the fridge?
It’s generally not recommended to eat cooked chicken that has been stored in the refrigerator for more than 3 to 4 days. After this time, the risk of foodborne illness increases due to the growth of bacteria.
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.
How long can you keep raw chicken in the fridge?
Note that the USDA recommends using raw chicken within 1 to 2 days of purchase. “I always store uncooked chicken on the bottom shelf in the refrigerator,” says First for Women test kitchen manager Susan Chiusano. “That’s the coldest spot in the fridge, which helps the meat stay fresh longer.”
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.
Can you eat raw chicken after 3 days in the fridge?
Unfortunately, the answer isn’t straightforward. The safety of raw chicken after 3 days in the fridge depends on several factors, including the storage temperature, the condition of the chicken when it was initially purchased, and the overall freshness of the chicken. Generally, raw chicken is safe to consume within 1-2 days of refrigeration.