How Long Do Chickens Last in the Fridge
Many families consider chicken to be a staple meal.
This healthy and delicious source of protein is prone to bacterial contamination. This is the reason why preparing, keeping and cooking it correctly is crucial. Otherwise it could be an outbreak of food-borne illness.
While it is convenient to keep chicken in your fridge, many people are unsure how long they can keep the meat from being frozen.
This article will help you know how long chicken will keep in your fridge.
How long does chicken stay at room temperature?
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, raw chicken can last up to a couple of days in the refrigerator. The same applies to raw turkeys and other birds.
The Chikem that you have cooked in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
The refrigerator can reduce the growth of bacteria as bacteria grows slower when temperatures fall below 40 degrees F (4 degrees Celsius).
Also, keep fresh chicken in a closed container to prevent any liquids from leakage and contamination of other food items. It is recommended to store cooked chicken in an airtight container.
If your chicken has to be stored for more than a few hours, it is best to put it in your freezer.
A whole chicken or even pieces of chicken in raw form can be kept in the freezer for up to nine months. For 2-6 months, you can store the chicken that you have cooked in your freezer.
Summary
Chicken that is raw can be kept in the refrigerator for 1 or 2 days, while cooked chicken will last around 3-4 days.
How can you identify if your chicken is bad
There is a risk of chicken going bad if you leave it in the refrigerator longer than several weeks.
Below are a few ways to tell if the bird in your fridge has gone bad:
past its "best-if-used before/before date" This means that the chicken could be decaying.
Changes the color. Raw, cooked chicken that is starting to change color from grey-green is bad. The spots of gray-green mold are a sign of the growth of a bacterium.
Smell. Both chicken cooked and raw emit an acidic scent that resembles ammonia. However, this scent can be difficult to notice in the event that the chicken has been marinated in sauces, herbs, or spices.
Texture. Chicken with a slimy texture is bad. Rinsing chicken is not a way to eliminate bacteria. Instead, it spreads bacteria from the chicken to other foods and surfaces, leading to cross-contamination.
If you think that the chicken you have in your fridge is rotten, discard it.
Summary
If the chicken is old, its color will begin to fade, it will exhibit an acidic, sour or slimy scent.
Risques of eating spoiled or rotten chicken
Foodborne illness can be triggered by eating spoiled chicken or other food items. It is also known as food poisoning.
The risk of food poisoning in chicken is due to the possibility that it has been infected by bacteria, like Campylobacter, Salmonella and many more.
This bacteria is usually eliminated through cooking fresh chicken.
However, you still need to be careful not to cook and eat cooked chicken that has been spoiled. Reheating or baking could eliminate the bacteria in the chicken's surface. However, it doesn't remove certain toxins produced by bacteria. These toxins can cause food poisoning.
How to keep leftover chicken without going bad may cause discomfort and even hazardous symptoms, including high fever (above 101.5degF or 38.6degC) nausea, chills diarrhea, bloody stools, and dehydration.
Sometimes, severe food poisoning can require hospitalization, and sometimes even death.
You should not eat your chicken if you suspect it is spoilt. It is always better to throw away any chicken that is going bad.
Summary
Even if the chicken has been cooked well, eating spoiled chicken may cause food poisoning.
The bottom line
Raw chicken lasts in the fridge for 1-2 days, while cooked chicken is good for 3-4 days.
You can determine if your chicken is rotten by examining the "best before" date. Look out for signs like changes in color, smell, texture, or taste.
Avoid eating rotten chicken.
