This Is How Long Cooked Chicken Lasts in the Fridge (2024)

FAQs

This Is How Long Cooked Chicken Lasts in the Fridge? ›

USDA recommends using cooked chicken within three to four days, kept refrigerated (40°F or less). Refrigeration slows but does not stop bacterial growth. USDA recommends using cooked leftovers within three to four days.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) says that cooked chicken can last three to four days in the refrigerator, if stored at 40°F or less. 1 And that goes for any type of cooked chicken—store-bought, homemade, or restaurant leftovers.

Raw chicken lasts in the fridge for 1–2 days, while cooked chicken lasts 3–4 days. To detect if chicken has gone bad, check the “best if used by” date and look for signs of spoilage like changes in smell, texture, and color. Avoid eating spoiled chicken, as it can cause food poisoning — even if you cook it thoroughly.

According to the USDA, cooked chicken will last three to four days in the refrigerator, and two to three months in the freezer. Eating cooked chicken after this point can result in foodborne illness — even at refrigerated temperatures, bacteria can still grow.

The USDA guidelines clearly state that rotisserie chicken is good for 3-4 days when stored in the refrigerator. Additionally, rotisserie chicken can be stored in the freezer where it will be good for a longer period of time. If frozen it will keep best, maintaining its optimal flavor and texture, for 4 months.

You'll know it's gone bad if it has a slimy texture or is soft to the touch. The USDA states that spoilage bacteria can also cause poultry to turn a dark color or develop an objectionable odor, so toss it if it smells bad or darkens (or develops a greenish or yellowish cast).

From a food safety perspective, raw chicken in the fridge has a short shelf life and is best if used within one to two days of purchase, regardless of the "best if used by date."

If kept frozen continuously, it will be safe indefinitely. Chicken may be frozen in its original packaging or repackaged. If freezing longer than two months, over wrap the porous store plastic packages with airtight heavy-duty foil, plastic wrap or freezer paper, or place the package inside a freezer bag.

It may be hard to tell if the chicken meat has gone bad if it was marinated or made with herbs, spices or sauces. Sometimes, spoiled chicken meat may not give any hints of spoilage. It may look, smell and taste the same. Your best bet is to use the three- to four-day timeline as your guide.

Can you reheat cooked chicken? ›

Can You Reheat Chicken Twice? Chicken is no different from other meats, and you can reheat it safely two or more times. When you reheat chicken, it is important that you properly heat it the whole way through. Pieces of chicken must be steaming in the middle.

The Bottom Line. You can refreeze chicken that's been thawed, but it must be cooked first if it has been thawed in the microwave or in cold water. But if the chicken has thawed in the refrigerator, then it can be refrozen raw within two days of thawing.

Yes, you can freeze almost any kind of cooked chicken! Whether it's roasted, grilled, poached, or sautéed, as long as it's cooked thoroughly, you can preserve its flavour in the freezer. You can freeze the whole bird – chicken thighs, breasts, wings and drumsticks.

Fresh, whole chicken or chicken parts will last for 1 to 2 days when stored in the refrigerator, according to FDA guidelines. “Once you cook chicken or chicken dishes, your food should not sit out at room temperature for over 2 hours—or over 1 hour if the temperature is 90 degrees F or above,” Amidor says.

You can keep raw chicken in the fridge for one to two days at most. 1 The “best if used by” date printed on the package is for quality assurance purposes, so you should only eat raw chicken within a day or two, even if its printed expiration date hasn't passed yet.

Leftovers can be kept for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. After that, the risk of food poisoning goes up. If you don't think you'll be able to eat leftovers within four days, freeze them right away.

How long is cooked chicken good for in the fridge? Cooked chicken is good in the fridge for up to four days. After that, it should be frozen or thrown away. Cooked chicken has a far lower likelihood of developing bacteria but it still can make you sick if you wait too long to eat, even when it's stored in the fridge.