Raw chicken is only good for two days according to the USDA. Heres what you need to know.
I really like using meat delivery services to get everything I need for dinner brought 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 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.
Eating chicken that’s past its sell-by date is a common occurrence. Many people routinely consume chicken for days after the printed date, assuming it’s still fresh. But is this actually safe? How long is chicken still good to eat after the expiration date?
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
To start it’s important to clarify what those different dates actually mean. There’s a lot of confusion around food package date labels 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. It specifies the final day a product should be eaten by for quality assurance. However, this type of date label is not commonly seen on raw chicken packaging.
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 in a container that won’t let air in. 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
It’s more likely to go bad if you thaw raw chicken that has been partially cooked. 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
Is chicken still good 5 days after the sell-by date?
It’s not safe to eat raw chicken five days after the sell-by date, even if it’s been kept cold. Real Simple says. The “sell-by” date indicates the last day it should be sold, and raw chicken is highly perishable. It’s recommended to cook or freeze it within one to two days of purchase.
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.
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 can be kept in the fridge for three to four days or frozen for up to six months. 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?
After purchasing chicken, it may be refrigerated for a day or two, during which the sell-by date may expire. 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.