How Long Does Chicken Last in the Fridge? (2024)

FAQs

How Long Does Chicken Last in the Fridge? ›

Raw chicken lasts in the fridge for 1–2 days, while cooked chicken lasts 3–4 days. To detect if chicken has gone bad, check the “best if used by” date and look for signs of spoilage like changes in smell, texture, and color. Avoid eating spoiled chicken, as it can cause food poisoning — even if you cook it thoroughly.

You can keep raw chicken in the fridge for one to two days at most. 1 The “best if used by” date printed on the package is for quality assurance purposes, so you should only eat raw chicken within a day or two, even if its printed expiration date hasn't passed yet.

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.

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.

Packaged, raw chicken can be refrigerated in its original wrapping in the coldest part of the refrigerator for 48 hours after purchase. If it is not to be used in 48 hours, freezing is recommended. See table below.

Fresh raw chicken is usually a light pink color with white pieces of fat, has little to no odor, and is soft and moist. If your chicken is slimy, has a foul smell, or has changed to a yellow, green, or gray color, these are signs that your chicken has gone bad.

Surprisingly or not, raw chicken, whether it's whole or cut into parts (breasts, thighs, drumsticks, wings), lasts in the fridge between one to two days, according to the Cold Food Storage Chart from FoodSafety.gov, one of the federal consumer resources for food safety.

Poultry and Meat Meat and poultry typically have a Sell-By date. You should use or freeze your chicken within one to two days of purchasing and meat within three to five days of purchasing. Freezing your poultry and meat can make these proteins last anywhere from nine to 12 months.

Chicken broth can be refrigerated for 3-4 days and frozen (for best quality) for 2-3 months.

The USDA guidelines clearly state that rotisserie chicken is good for 3-4 days when stored in the refrigerator. Additionally, rotisserie chicken can be stored in the freezer where it will be good for a longer period of time. If frozen it will keep best, maintaining its optimal flavor and texture, for 4 months.

How long do grocery stores keep raw chicken? ›

Fresh meat is typically kept in grocery stores for 10-14 days. Frozen meat, on the other hand, can be stored for up to a year.

If kept frozen continuously, it will be safe indefinitely. Chicken may be frozen in its original packaging or repackaged. If freezing longer than two months, over wrap the porous store plastic packages with airtight heavy-duty foil, plastic wrap or freezer paper, or place the package inside a freezer bag.

Information. While foods are in the process of thawing in the refrigerator (40 °F or less), they remain safe. After thawing, use ground meats, poultry, and fish within one or two additional days, and use beef, pork, lamb or veal (roasts, steaks, or chops) within three to five days.

The USDA recommends you eat chicken within four days of cooking it.

At home, immediately place chicken in a refrigerator that maintains a temperature of 40°F or below. Use it within 1 or 2 days, or freeze it at 0 °F. If kept frozen continuously, it will be safe indefinitely.

The Bottom Line. You can refreeze chicken that's been thawed, but it must be cooked first if it has been thawed in the microwave or in cold water. But if the chicken has thawed in the refrigerator, then it can be refrozen raw within two days of thawing.

A general rule of thumb is nothing longer than 4 days in the fridge — you CAN mix chicken and marinade then freeze it for up to 4 months - it keeps “Marinating” in the freezer.

Once it's defrosted, chicken will be good in the fridge for up to 2 days. Store in an airtight container on the lowest shelf of your refrigerator to prevent what food safety experts call cross-contamination, or when bacteria travels from one food to another.