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 recently realized that I might have been flirting with food poisoning by eating chicken that started to turn.
It is especially important to do this now that summer is almost here, since chicken is more likely to get E than beef. 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 says that chicken can only be cooked and eaten 48 hours after it is bought, but that’s just a safety measure and doesn’t mean that the bird is bad.
If youre wondering whether or not your chicken is bad or how long it is good for in the fridge, we have answers. 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.
People often eat chicken that has passed its sell-by date. A lot of people eat chicken days after the date on the package because they think it’s still fresh. Really, though, is this safe? How long after the date it goes bad can you still eat chicken?
I decided to dig into this topic to provide a definitive guide on determining chicken freshness and safety beyond the sell-by date Here’s everything you need to know.
Understanding Sell-By, Use-By, and Best-By Dates
First, it’s important to make sure everyone knows what each of those dates means. A lot of people don’t understand the dates on food packages, especially when it comes to meat and poultry.
Sell-By Date
The sell-by date is meant to inform retailers for inventory management. It indicates the last recommended day a store should display the product for sale. It is not an expiration date or safety indicator. Chicken is usually still fine to eat for a reasonable period beyond the sell-by date.
Use-By Date
The use-by date is more directly related to safety. For quality control, it says the last day a product should be eaten. But this kind of date label isn’t often seen on packages of raw chicken.
Best-By Date
The best-by date refers to optimal quality rather than safety. It tells you when the chicken is at its best and tastes the freshest. After this date, chicken is still safe to eat, but the taste and texture may start to get worse.
Factors That Affect How Long Chicken Stays Fresh
The shelf life of chicken depends on several influencing factors:
Proper Temperature Control
Temperature is the most crucial factor. Chicken needs to be continuously stored at 40°F or below to slow bacteria growth. Use a refrigerator thermometer and avoid leaving chicken out at room temperature unnecessarily.
Adequate Packaging
Keep chicken tightly wrapped in its original packaging or an airtight container. This prevents premature spoilage.
Sanitation
Practice good hygiene and food safety habits, like cleaning surfaces chicken touches immediately and not allowing raw chicken juices to drip on other foods.
Freshness Level When Purchased
Chicken that’s already near or past its sell-by date when bought will have a shortened usable life at home. Inspect quality before purchasing.
Cooking Method
Raw chicken that is partially cooked during the thawing process is more perishable. Cook chicken immediately after microwave thawing.
By controlling these factors appropriately, you can maximize chicken’s shelf life beyond the sell-by date.
How to Tell If Chicken Has Spoiled
Monitoring for visual and olfactory signs of spoilage is crucial. Here’s what to look out for:
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Slimy texture – Fresh chicken should be moist but not overly slimy or sticky feeling.
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Discoloration – The skin or flesh appears grayish, greenish or yellowish instead of white or pink.
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Dull or tacky appearance – The chicken looks slightly dried out or tacky rather than smooth and glossy.
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Off smell – Raw chicken gives off a distinct sour/ammonia-like odor when spoiled. Trust your nose!
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Off flavors – Cooked spoiled chicken will taste rancid rather than juicy and flavorful.
Don’t risk eating chicken with any of these red flags. Play it safe and throw it away.
How Many Days After Sell-By Date Is Chicken Still Good?
Here are general guidelines for how long chicken stays usable after the printed sell-by date:
- Raw whole chicken – 1 to 2 days
- Raw chicken pieces – 1 to 2 days
- Cooked chicken – 3 to 4 days
- Thawed frozen chicken – 1 to 2 days
Note that these are conservative estimates, assuming proper continuous refrigeration at 40°F or below. Many people safely consume chicken for longer, but quality and safety risk increase over time. It’s better to err on the side of caution.
Tips for Safely Keeping Chicken Longer
Here are some additional tips for maximizing chicken freshness:
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Freeze chicken if you don’t plan to use within a couple days of purchasing.
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Portion into freezer bags to thaw only what you need at a time.
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Don’t rinse raw chicken, which can spread bacteria.
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Marinate chicken in the fridge, not on the counter. Discard used marinade.
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Cook chicken to an internal temperature of 165°F to kill bacteria.
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Refrigerate cooked chicken within 2 hours, or 1 hour if weather is hotter than 90°F.
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Store chicken on bottom shelf of fridge to prevent raw juices from dripping on other food.
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Look for odor and slime signs of spoilage before consumption, even if chicken still looks normal.
Following proper food safety protocol is the best way to maximize chicken freshness and minimize risk when eating it past the sell-by date. Trust your senses, monitor for spoilage carefully, and don’t take unnecessary chances. Stay healthy!
When in doubt, employ the smell and eye test
While the sell-by date and USDA recommendations are good guideposts for eating chicken safely, the smell test should always be employed as a backup. Chicken can encounter all kinds of storage mishaps and irregularities in its journey to your kitchen. If youre chicken smells foul, acrid or rotten, its probably time to chuck it.
And keep a close on eye on any changes in the meats appearance. Chicken that appears slimy or discolored in any way (yellow, brown or green) should be discarded immediately.
Does raw chicken have a natural smell?
Not usually. Most raw chicken doesn’t have a strong smell, and if it does, it might mean that something is wrong. 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 Chicken Good After Sell By Date? GUIDE
FAQ
How long does chicken last after sell-by date?
If you store it right, raw chicken can stay in the fridge for up to two days after the sell-by date. It can last up to 9 months in the freezer, if you want to make it last longer. Cooked chicken will last 3 to 4 days in the fridge or up to 4 to 6 months in the freezer. Can you eat chicken 3 days after the sell-by date?.
Can you eat chicken after a sell-by date?
It is not a safety date or an expiration date. After the sell-by date, the chicken will eventually start to decline in taste and texture, but it can still be safe to eat (provided it’s been stored properly in the fridge). How long is chicken good for after the sell-by date?.
Can chicken be refrigerated after a sell-by date?
Chicken that has been bought may be kept in the fridge for one or two days, but after that, the “sell-by” date may have passed. In this case, it will remain safe to use after the sell-by date if it is stored properly.
When is a chicken sold by date?
The sell by date is the 20th and its been in the fridge since, it’s now the 25th.. is it still good to eat? If this is an accidental habit you should get into the habit of freezing your chicken the day that you buy it and then plan when you’re going to use it and defrost the night before.
How long after buying chicken should you cook it?
The USDA recommends cooking chicken one or two days after you buy it. If that seems conservative and sooner than the sell-by date on the package, that’s because it is — but there’s a reason for that.
Can you freeze chicken after sell-by date?
In order to enjoy the freshest chicken, it is recommended that you buy your chicken before or on the sell-by date. It remains safe for consumption for up to 2 days after the sell-by date. However, if you do not intend to use it within 1-2 days of purchasing it, it is best that you freeze it.
Is chicken still good 5 days after the sell-by date?
Can I eat chicken 4 days after the sell-by date on Reddit?
It should be fine by the sell by date. That being said, if you open it then and it’s really sticky and/or smells funky, throw it away immediately.
Is chicken still good after 7 days in the fridge?
The USDA recommends that cooked chicken be consumed within 3-4 days when refrigerated. After that, the risk of bacterial growth and potential food poisoning increases. Heat can’t kill the toxins. If you ever need food call 2-1-1. I’m not a doctor but you can call ask your nurse 2-1-1 can help you with that also.
Is uncooked chicken okay in the fridge for 5 days?
Uncooked chicken can typically stay in the fridge for 1 to 2 days. To ensure safety, keep it in its original packaging or place it in an airtight container. If you need to store it for a longer period, consider freezing it, where it can last for several months.