ShelfLife
How long does chicken last in the fridge?
Raw chicken keeps only 1 to 2 days in the fridge after you buy it, whether whole, in pieces or ground. Cooked chicken keeps 3 to 4 days. In the freezer, raw pieces keep their quality for about 9 months and a whole chicken for 12.
| Food | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|
| Whole raw chicken | 1–2 daysfrom purchase | 12 monthsfrom purchase |
| Boneless chicken breasts | 1–2 daysfrom purchase | 9 monthsfrom purchase |
| Bone-in chicken breasts | 1–2 daysfrom purchase | 9 monthsfrom purchase |
| Chicken legs or thighs | 1–2 daysfrom purchase | 9 monthsfrom purchase |
| Ground chicken or turkey | 1–2 daysfrom purchase | 3–4 monthsfrom purchase |
| Cooked chicken dishes | 3–4 days | 4–6 months |
| Rotisserie chicken | 3–4 daysfrom purchase | 4 monthsfrom purchase |
Fridge at 4 °C (40 °F) or colder, freezer at −18 °C (0 °F). Freezer times are for best quality: food kept frozen stays safe, but slowly loses taste and texture. These times are USDA guidance, not a guarantee. When in doubt, throw it out.
How to tell if chicken has gone bad
- A sour, sulfur or ammonia smell, even a faint one. Fresh raw chicken has almost no smell.
- A slimy or sticky surface.
- Gray or greenish color instead of pink. Cooked chicken that turns gray-green or grows mold should go straight in the bin.
- A bloated package, or a raw chicken past its 1 to 2 days in the fridge. Don't taste chicken to check it.
How to store chicken
- Make chicken one of the last things in your cart and put it in the fridge as soon as you get home.
- Keep raw chicken in its package on the bottom shelf, on a plate or in a container, so juices can't drip onto other food.
- Cook or freeze it within 1 to 2 days of buying it.
- Don't wash raw chicken: it splashes bacteria around the sink without making the meat any safer. Cooking does that.
- Refrigerate cooked chicken within 2 hours, in shallow containers so it cools quickly.
Can you freeze chicken?
Yes, and it's the best way to keep it longer than 2 days. Freeze it in its original package wrapped in an extra layer of foil or a freezer bag, or split it into meal-sized portions first. Raw pieces keep their best quality for about 9 months, a whole chicken for 12, and cooked chicken for about 4 months. Thaw it in the fridge (about a day for pieces, a day per 2 kg (4 to 5 lb) for a whole bird) and cook it within 1 to 2 days.
Questions
Can you cook chicken after the sell-by date?
Go by the day you bought it rather than the label: the USDA's guidance is to cook or freeze raw chicken within 1 to 2 days of purchase. If it smells off or feels slimy, throw it out whatever the date says.
What temperature should chicken be cooked to?
74 °C (165 °F) in the thickest part, measured with a food thermometer. Color isn't a reliable sign that chicken is done.
How long does cooked chicken last in the fridge?
3 to 4 days, including rotisserie and fried chicken. Reheat leftovers until steaming hot, 74 °C (165 °F).
Can you refreeze chicken?
Yes, if it was thawed in the fridge, though it loses some quality. Chicken thawed in cold water or in the microwave should be cooked before you freeze it again.
With only 1 to 2 days in the fridge, raw chicken is easy to forget. Add it to ShelfLife when you unpack your shopping and get a reminder in time.
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Storage times: USDA FoodKeeper (Food Safety and Inspection Service), public domain. Text by ShelfLife.