Investing in a meat delivery service has made it easy to have everything I need for cooking dinner delivered right to my door. But there are still times when I don’t always finish — or even cook — everything I’ve ordered right away. I’ve found myself eating leftovers for lunch the next day. Although I knew that chicken (even cooked) didn’t have a long shelf life, I didn’t realize I might have been flirting with food poisoning by eating poultry that had already started to turn.
Poultry is a higher-risk meat than beef due to its propensity to develop E. coli and other food-borne illnesses. That’s why you never want to eat spoiled chicken, and storing it properly is the key to avoiding sickness.
The USDA gives chicken just 48 hours to be cooked and consumed after purchase, but that timeframe errs on the safe side and isn’t the final word on when a bird goes bad.
If you’re wondering whether or not your chicken is bad or how long it is good for in the fridge, we have answers. Here, we explain how long chicken typically lasts in the fridge and freezer — both cooked and uncooked — and how to know when it’s time to put that poultry out to pasture.
How long does raw chicken last in the fridge?
Cooked chicken is good in the fridge for up to four days. After that, it should be frozen or thrown away.
Cooked chicken has a far lower likelihood of developing bacteria, but it can still make you sick if you wait too long to eat it, even if it has been stored in the fridge. The USDA recommends you eat chicken within four days of cooking it. Like raw chicken, it should also be stored at under 40 degrees F to avoid rapid spoiling.
How long can you store chicken in the freezer?
When in doubt, give your chicken a whiff. Some ground poultry may be infused with rosemary extract. Otherwise, it shouldn’t smell like much.
While the sell-by date and USDA recommendations are good guideposts for eating chicken safely, the smell test should always be employed as a backup. Chicken can encounter all kinds of storage mishaps and irregularities in its journey to your kitchen. If you’re chicken smells foul, acrid or rotten, it’s probably time to chuck it.
Also, keep a close eye on any changes in the meat’s appearance. Chicken that appears slimy or discolored in any way (yellow, brown or green) should be discarded immediately.
Does raw chicken have a natural smell?
Can I eat chicken that’s been in the fridge for more than two days?
Once cooked, your chicken will definitely have a higher chance of not spoiling. However, based on USDA recommendations and our own experience, do not eat cooked chicken after storing it for more than four days.
What are the best ways to tell my chicken has gone bad?
