How long is chicken good for?

Question

Please tell me how long raw chicken is good for, and also how long it's good after I've baked it. I bought several pounds because it's a major staple in my diet, but I'm afraid it won't thaw out in time to prepare for lunch/work if I freeze it. Also, please include where you got your information from! I've seen a lot of variations, from 2 days to a week. I like the sound of a week, but I don't want to get sick, either. Thanks a lot.

Answer 1

raw uncooked chicken if still wrapped or sealed has a shelf life of 4 days cooked can easily go a week.

Answer 2

Fresh raw chicken will have varying amounts of shelf life, most importantly, it depends on the day that it was killed! If you go organic or free range, I find that it has less time before it goes bad. I think the regular store bought chickens have been modified for breast size and longevity, therefore, it lasts longer! I have yet to find a fresh chicken that really lasts for a week or more, which is what the producers would like you to believe. To really determine the freshness of your chicken, smell it! Fresh chicken has almost no smell, as it gets a little older, it will develop an almost yeasty smell (dark meat will deteriorate quicker because of the blood), and when it is bad, you'll know! It does not smell very appetizing! I agree with some of the above users on portioning and freezing as that is the best method, although, you should never thaw it at room temperature, it should be done in the refrigerator! All chicken has bacteria (Salmonella etc.) so the room temperature will promote the growth of these potentially fatal bacteria! If you really have to, find a method to cook your chicken from the frozen state (baking or microwave) if you don't have the time to thaw properly, It would also be a good idea to slice or cube some portions so that you have a varying assortment instead of the same old thing. You could take one whole chicken and make several different cuts for whatever your heart (I mean tummy) desires! Just remember to cook it thoroughly and wash/disinfect everything that raw chicken has come into contact with! Cooked chicken is also at risk for bacteria, so if you are not freezing it right away, eat it within 2 days, providing that it has been refrigerated and not been left at room temperature for any length of time!

Answer 3

At home, immediately place chicken in a refrigerator that maintains 40 °F, and use within 1 or 2 days, or freeze at 0 °F. If kept frozen continuously, it will be safe indefinitely.

Fresh or Frozen
The term fresh on a poultry label refers to any raw poultry product that has never been below 26 °F. Raw poultry held at 0 °F or below must be labeled frozen or previously frozen. No specific labeling is required on raw poultry stored at temperatures between 0-25 °F.

Dating of Chicken Products
Product dating is not required by Federal regulations, but many stores and processors voluntarily date packages of chicken or chicken products. If a calendar date is shown, immediately adjacent to the date there must be a phrase explaining the meaning of that date such as sell by or use before.

The use-by date is for quality assurance; after the date, peak quality begins to lessen but the product may still be used. It's always best to buy a product before the date expires. If a use-by date expires while the chicken is frozen, the food can still be used.

Foodborne Organisms Associated with Chicken
As on any perishable meat, fish or poultry, bacteria can be found on raw or undercooked chicken. They multiply rapidly at temperatures between 40 °F and 140 °F (out of refrigeration and before thorough cooking occurs). Freezing doesn't kill bacteria but they are destroyed by thorough cooking.

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/Chicken_Food_Safety_Focus/index.asp

Answer 4

Shelf Life Of Raw Chicken

Answer 5

If you are sngle, and this is a worry, here's a tip:

When buying chicken, find out from the butcher if it has already been frozen. (Like almost all other meats, it's bed to re-freeze.)

If it is fresh, buy the meats in smaller protions, or portion them out when you get home.

I used to buy 4 chicken breasts, and when I got home, I would seperate them, and put one each in a freezer bag, and then throw it in the freezer.

When you are ready to thaw it out, it should take over night, or you can use the "defrost" on your microwave, or soak the chicken (still in the wrapper) in a warm container of water.

OR...

Make your meals ahead of time, and freeze the whole meal i portioned sizes. ((This is also a great tip for those who are dieting.))

Answer 6

Fresh chicken can be kept in a refrigetator for 3-5 days before going bad. You can always check the "best used by" date on the packaging. You can freeze fresh chicken for several months, and it will still be good. However, if freezing, make sure it is sealed properly in a freezer-safe package to avoid freezer burn.

Answer 7

Consumers should use or freeze products with a "sell-by" date within 1 or 2 days of purchase. If a date expires after the chicken is frozen, the food can still be used. Think of freezing as stopping the clock on rotting. Please check this website out for more info: http://www.cci.unl.edu/Teacher/NSF/C10/C10Links/www.fsis.usda.gov/OA/pubs/chicken.htm

Answer 8

most websites say 1-2 days, but realistically, a maximum of 4 day is fine.

if cooked, it can be stored a bit longer.

Answer 9

Here's the U.S. Department of Agriculture site on chicken, which should answer all your questions: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/Chicken_Food_Safety_Focus/index.asp

Hope that helps!

Answer 10

IF U LEAVE IT IN THE REFIGRATER I SHOULD BE GOOD FOR 3 DAYS