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.
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 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 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.
As a busy home cook, I often wonder how long I can keep those chicken thighs in the fridge before they go bad. This is a problem that many people who like to plan their meals ahead of time face. I will show you how to keep your chicken thighs fresh and safe to eat.
Understanding How Long Raw Chicken Thighs Last Refrigerated
Experts say that raw chicken thighs can be kept in the fridge for one to two days after buying them at the store. Here are some important points:
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For safety and quality reasons, the USDA says that raw chicken thighs should be used or frozen within one to two days of the date they were bought.
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If the thighs are nearing their expiration date when you buy them, cook or freeze them as soon as possible. Don’t wait until the use-by date.
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Keeping food cool, at 40°F or less, keeps it fresh and slows the growth of bacteria. Use a fridge thermometer and maintain consistent temperature.
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Raw chicken is highly prone to bacterial contamination like Salmonella and Campylobacter, Follow the 1-2 day rule to avoid foodborne illness
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Consider vacuuming sealing the thighs to remove air and extend shelf life slightly, but don’t push beyond the recommended window.
How Long Cooked Chicken Thighs Last in the Fridge
Chicken thighs that have already been cooked have a slightly longer fridge life. Here’s what the experts say:
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Cooked chicken thighs can be stored in the fridge for 3-4 days maximum. The heat from cooking destroys some bacteria.
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Keep cooked thighs in a sealed container or heavily wrapped in foil/plastic to prevent drying out.
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Any leftovers should be refrigerated within 2 hours of cooking. Don’t leave them out too long.
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Refrigeration pauses bacteria growth but doesn’t stop it fully. Observe the 3-4 day limit for safety.
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Freeze any cooked chicken you won’t use within 3-4 days. It will keep for 4 months frozen.
Identifying Spoiled Chicken Thighs
Even when still within the recommended fridge time, inspect chicken thighs carefully for any signs of spoilage. Rely on your senses for these clues:
Visual Red Flags
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Gray, dull or unusual color instead of pinkish hue
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Slime, stickiness or shiny appearance
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Unnatural darkening of cooked chicken
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Mold presence
Smell Warnings
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Foul, sour or ammonia-like smell
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Any unusual odor is a red flag
Texture Changes
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Unnaturally soft or slimy feel
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Stiffness with indentations that don’t bounce back
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Very slippery/sticky surface
If you notice any of these signs, throw the chicken thighs out immediately. Don’t risk getting sick.
Freezing Chicken Thighs for Long-Term Storage
Freezing is great for storing chicken thighs safely for extended periods. Here are some tips:
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Wrap thighs tightly in freezer bags or airtight containers, removing excess air.
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Label packages with freeze dates and thigh type (raw/cooked).
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Maintain 0°F or below freezer temperature.
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Raw thighs keep 9 months frozen, cooked thighs 4 months.
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Thaw in the refrigerator over 24 hours. Don’t thaw at room temperature.
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Refreezing thawed chicken lowers quality. It’s safest to cook thawed thighs immediately.
Preventing Cross-Contamination
Raw chicken can harbor Salmonella, Campylobacter and other bacteria that cause foodborne disease. Stop it from spreading:
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Use separate cutting boards for raw chicken and other foods.
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Wash hands and surfaces thoroughly after handling raw chicken.
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Keep raw chicken sealed and store it on the bottom fridge shelf.
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Don’t reuse platters, utensils etc. that touched raw chicken.
How long is cooked chicken good for in the fridge?
Even though cooked chicken is much less likely to get bacteria, if you wait too long to eat it, it can still make you sick, even if it has been 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 does raw chicken last in the fridge?
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, thats because it is — but theres a reason for that. The sell-by, use-by or freeze-by date may be as long as a week from when you bought it, but thats just the chicken producers guess as to how long the chicken will be at optimal taste before it starts deteriorating in quality.
As many in this Reddit thread and others assert, you can probably split the difference without serious ramifications, but you should never eat chicken thats been in the fridge for more than three or four days. The reason why chicken isnt necessarily safe to eat until that sell-by date is two-fold:
For one, that date isnt issued by a regulating body, but rather by the brand. Even though chicken brands have to think about safety for customers, their main goal is to get stores to buy their product. The longer its “good for,” the better chance theyll have of making a larger sale.
The other reason is that grocery store meat fridges and coolers are usually colder than your average home refrigerators. A normal fridge has to keep meat cold without freezing delicate vegetables and other groceries. Supermarket meat coolers only need to keep meat cold, so they can be at lower resting temperatures. Chicken kept at a colder temperature is naturally going to last longer.
How long does cooked chicken last in the fridge safely?
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 raw chicken thighs last in the refrigerator?
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) says that raw chicken can be kept in the fridge for about one to two days. The same applies to raw turkey and other poultry (1). Meanwhile, cooked chicken can last in the refrigerator approximately 3–4 days (1).
Is chicken ok after 4 days in the fridge?
No, raw chicken is generally not safe to eat after 4 days in the fridge. The USDA says that you should eat raw chicken within one to two days of buying it. Cooked chicken, on the other hand, can be kept for three to four days.
How do I know if chicken thighs have gone bad?
If you think a chicken is bad, look for changes in color, a bad smell, or a slimy feel. Always check the expiration date and consider how it’s been stored. If you notice any of these signs, it’s best to avoid eating it to prevent foodborne illness.