How Long Can Raw Chicken Stay in the Fridge?
Don’t let that chicken go to waste.
How long can raw chicken stay in the fridge, or cooked chicken—and can you freeze raw or cooked chicken so it lasts longer? You don’t want to mess around with poultry and other animal products that start to spoil. Equally, you don't want to waste food if you can preserve it. Here are some food storage and preserving tips for raw and cooked chicken.
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How Long Raw Chicken Keeps in the Fridge
How long raw chicken can last in the fridge first depends on its condition when you buy it. When buying raw poultry, look for plump, springy chicken. It should feel firm and be free of any cosmetic flaws. Fresh chicken will have pink flesh with white or yellow fat. (If it looks pale or gray, that’s a hard pass.) Inspect the packaging while you’re at it. You don’t want it to be filled with air (aka bloated packaging), and you don’t want to choose the package closest to its expiration date.
Once you get it home, note that raw chicken is highly perishable, even in the refrigerator. You can keep raw chicken in the fridge for one to two days at most. 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.
If you buy raw chicken at the supermarket, plan on cooking it that night or the next day. This applies to whole chicken, or various cuts like chicken breast, thighs, and drumsticks. It also applies to raw turkey.
Tip
Store chicken wrapped in a plastic bag or in an air-tight container on the bottom shelf of your fridge in case it leaks.
As you may already know, the guidelines are a bit different when storing chicken that has already been cooked. In fact, if you cooked your raw chicken within the recommended two-day window, a new countdown begins. Cooked chicken stays fresh in the refrigerator for up to four days.
What to Do With Raw Chicken at Risk of Going Bad
If raw chicken is at risk of going bad, you should assess the condition of it to decide whether or not you should eat it right away or toss it. If the chicken is not yet showing any signs of spoilage (poor smell, slime, or discoloration), you may still be able to eat it or freeze it to preserve it longer. If it is nearing the expiration date, it's worth eating it sooner rather than later. However, if the chicken does show signs of spoilage, it's best to toss it.
If it hasn't yet gone bad, be sure to thoroughly cook the chicken to an internal temperature of 165°F in order to make sure that it's safe to eat. If you plan on leaving any leftovers in the fridge, allow the chicken to cool before refrigerating it. This can help prevent the growth of bacteria.
Once two days have passed, the USDA would recommend throwing it out to be on the safe side.
Tip
You can identify spoiled chicken by smelling and looking at it. Spoiled chicken will have a noticeable and unpleasant smell, and it may appear slimy. Color changes, such as turning gray or green, are also signs that chicken has gone bad. When in doubt, throw it out.
How Long Raw Chicken Lasts in the Freezer
If you’re afraid your chicken will go bad before you get the chance to use it, freezing it is an option. Raw chicken can be stored in the freezer longer than you can store it in the fridge. Frozen chicken cuts or pieces last for about nine months. Just be sure to freeze chicken within a day or two of bringing it home.
It's important to properly package it, however, to maintain the quality. You should store chicken in the freezer in an air-tight container or vacuum-sealed bag to prevent air exposure and freezer burn. It's worth labeling the chicken with the date of freezing to be mindful of how long it has been left.
Unlike raw chicken, you can keep cooked chicken in the freezer indefinitely (though it may lose its freshness as time goes on).
Bottom Line
Cooked chicken is a versatile ingredient, and it’s nearly everyone’s favorite source of quick and tasty protein. You should have no problem using it up within a few days, but if you need some inspiration, try adding leftover chicken to Chicken-Pesto Flatbread Sandwiches, Baby Kale and Chicken Caesar Salad, and Southwestern Chicken Soup.
Related: 22 No-Fail Chicken Dinner Ideas The Whole Family Will Love
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