Raw chicken is only good for two days according to the USDA. Heres what you need to know.
Im a big fan of using meat delivery services to have the fixings for dinner delivered right to my door. Getting fresh chicken has made it easier for me to decide what to cook on weeknights. I don’t eat everything, though, and often pack the leftovers for lunch. However, I know chicken doesnt have a long shelf life, even after cooking. I just recently realized that eating chicken that had started to turn brown could have put me at risk of getting food poisoning.
This is especially important because summer is almost here, and poultry is a higher-risk meat than beef due to its propensity to develop E. coli and other food-borne illnesses. Thats why you never want to eat bad chicken, and storing it properly is 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 isnt the final word on when bird goes bad.
If you want to know if your chicken is bad or how long it will stay good in the fridge, we can help. Here, we explain how long chicken typically lasts in the fridge and freezer — both cooked and uncooked — and how to know when its time to put that poultry out to pasture.
Since I have a food blog, I get asked a lot about how to keep food safe and how to store it. People often want to know how long they can keep a raw whole chicken in the fridge before it goes bad. This article will tell you everything you need to know about how long raw chicken can stay in the fridge so you can store it correctly and avoid food waste and illness.
Overview
Raw chicken goes bad very quickly if it is not stored properly, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and US FDA says that raw chicken should only be kept in the fridge for one to two days before it is cooked or frozen.
For food safety, it’s important not to exceed this timeframe. Contaminants like Salmonella and E. coli can grow rapidly on raw chicken over time, increasing your risk of foodborne illness. Proper storage helps slow this growth.
Here are more details on how to keep your raw chicken fresh for as long as possible: signs that it’s going bad, how to store it in the fridge, and how to freeze it.
How Long Raw Chicken Lasts In The Fridge
The shelf life of raw chicken depends on the type of cut:
- Whole chicken: 1-2 days
- Chicken breasts: 1-2 days
- Chicken thighs/drumsticks: 1-2 days
As you can see, the recommended fridge life is quite short across the board. The clock starts as soon as you bring the raw chicken home from the grocery store.
USDA and FDA guidelines state raw chicken should be cooked within 1-2 days, even if the sell-by or use-by date hasn’t passed yet. Chicken is highly perishable so don’t rely on those dates as an indicator of safety.
Keep the chicken on the bottom shelf of the fridge at 40°F or below to keep it as fresh as possible. Seal it up or put it in a plastic bag that you can close again and again to stop any leaks. Raw chicken juices can contaminate other foods and spread bacteria.
Signs Of Spoiled Raw Chicken
Don’t risk eating raw chicken that may have spoiled. Look for these signs before cooking it:
-
Slimy texture – Fresh raw chicken feels firm and moist. Discard if it’s sticky, tacky, or slimy.
-
Grayish color – Raw chicken should be pink, white or yellow. Gray, green or blue tones indicate spoilage.
-
Off odors – Raw chicken has a mild odor. A sour, ammonia-like or bad egg smell means spoilage.
-
Discoloration – Yellowing fat or bruising also indicates the chicken is past its prime.
If in doubt, throw it out! Food poisoning from chicken isn’t worth the risk.
Proper Raw Chicken Fridge Storage
Storing raw chicken properly helps maximize its fridge shelf life:
-
Refrigerate promptly – Refrigerate chicken within 2 hours of purchasing it. Don’t leave it at room temperature.
-
Use clean containers – Store chicken in a clean, sealed container or resealable bag. This prevents leaks.
-
Place on bottom shelf – Store chicken on the bottom shelf where temps are coldest.
-
Keep raw chicken separate – Store raw chicken away from ready-to-eat foods like produce to avoid cross-contamination. Place chicken on bottom shelves.
-
Watch fridge temperature – Maintain your refrigerator at 40°F or below. Use a fridge thermometer to monitor.
Following these simple fridge storage guidelines can help keep your raw chicken fresh and safe to eat within the recommended 1-2 day timeframe.
Freezing Raw Chicken For Longer Storage
If you don’t plan on cooking your raw chicken within 1-2 days of purchasing, freeze it right away for longer storage.
Here are some freezing tips:
-
Freeze immediately – For best quality, freeze chicken within 1-2 days of buying it.
-
Use air-tight packaging – Place chicken in freezer bags, plastic wrap or air-tight containers. This prevents freezer burn.
-
Label packages – Include the freeze date so you know how long it’s been stored.
-
Max storage times:
-
Whole chickens: 1 year
-
Chicken breasts/cut-up parts: 9 months
Properly frozen, raw chicken will retain quality for max storage times. Thaw in the fridge before cooking.
The Takeaway
Follow the 1-2 day USDA/FDA recommendation for fridge storage. Cook or freeze chicken within this timeframe. Also, inspect chicken for signs of spoilage before cooking. With proper storage and handling, you can enjoy delicious chicken dishes without the worry of foodborne illness.
Does raw chicken have a natural smell?
Not usually. Most raw chicken doesnt smell like much and if it does have a strong odor, it could be a sign that something is amiss. That said, some chicken farms and poultry producers add rosemary extract to ground chicken and turkey to reduce lipid oxidation in meats. If you smell a faint herby smell in your ground chicken or turkey, but its been stored properly and is within the sell-by dates and also within one or two days since you bought it, it may be the rosemary youre smelling and not spoiled chicken.
How long is cooked chicken good for in the fridge?
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 keep raw chicken in the fridge?
FAQ
Is raw chicken ok in the fridge for 5 days?
No, raw chicken is generally not safe to eat after being refrigerated for 5 days. The USDA recommends refrigerating raw chicken for only 1-2 days.
How long can I leave a whole raw chicken in the fridge?
Raw chicken lasts in the fridge for 1–2 days, while cooked chicken lasts 3–4 days. To tell if chicken has gone bad, look at the “best if used by” date and notice changes in the way it smells, feels, and looks. Avoid eating spoiled chicken, as it can cause food poisoning — even if you cook it thoroughly.
Can I eat a rotisserie chicken after 5 days?
It is generally not recommended to eat rotisserie chicken after 5 days. The USDA recommends using cooked chicken within 3 to 4 days when properly refrigerated.
Is 3 days too long for raw chicken?
Key Points: Raw chicken can stay in the fridge for one to two days, but cooked chicken can stay there for three to four days. Freezer Storage: Raw chicken pieces last up to 9 months in the freezer; whole chickens up to 1 year.