How Long Does Cooked Chicken Last in the Fridge?

You’ve come to the correct place if you’ve been examining that week-old chicken and wondering if it’s still OK to eat. There is a significant chance of bacterial contamination in this nutritious and delectable source of protein. Preparing, storing, and cooking it correctly is crucial because doing otherwise could result in a foodborne illness. Although it is handy to keep chicken in the refrigerator, many people are unsure how long this practice is safe.

For 1-2 days, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), raw chicken can be kept in the refrigerator. The same holds for poultry, including raw turkey. Experts and government agencies generally agree that cooked chicken should only be stored in the refrigerator for three to four days. What if it had been more time—say, five days? It’s then up to you. Infections can develop in chicken that doesn’t affect the bird’s flavor or appearance. Make the best decision you can.

Is Cooked Chicken Safe to Consume After 7–10 Days?

Even if cooked chicken in the refrigerator appears to be fine after 3–4 days, it is not advised to eat it. Consider freezing the meat if you won’t eat it right away.

For a very long period, cooked chicken can be frozen. But the flavor will be the best if you eat it within three to six months. In that case, you should prefer to add it to a soup or curry so that it stays wet. If frozen for longer, it will still be safe to consume, but the texture may have altered significantly.

The Dangers of Consuming Spoiled Chicken

Food poisoning, or a foodborne sickness, can be contracted by eating rotten chicken. Chicken may be contaminated with bacteria like Campylobacter, Salmonella, and more, increasing the risk of food poisoning. These bacteria are typically destroyed when fresh chicken is completely cooked.

Eating rotten chicken must be avoided. While reheating can eradicate surface germs, it won’t eliminate some toxins that bacteria create, which might cause food poisoning if consumed. High fevers (over 101.5°F or 38.6°C), chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bloody stools, and dehydration are among the painful and occasionally severe symptoms of food poisoning.

Severe food poisoning occasionally necessitates hospitalization and can potentially be fatal. If you suspect that your chicken is ruined, do not consume it. It’s advisable always to throw away chicken you think has gone rotten.

How Can I Tell If Cooked Chicken Isn’t Safe to Eat Anymore?

Aside from timing, there are a few other warning indicators that cooked chicken should not be consumed.

Expiry date: The first is the expiration date; if the chicken is past its expiration date, err on caution and do not cook it.

Color changes: A grey or green tinge may signify the presence of germs.

Changes in texture: Your chicken is no longer safe to eat if it has a slimy texture.

Changes in smell: Your chicken has gone bad if it starts to smell sour or ammonia-like.

If you notice any of those above, throw the chicken away.

How Should I Store Cooked Chicken?

You can store the chicken in just three simple steps.

1. Let the Chicken Cool for Two Hours

After the chicken has finished cooking, it should cool for no more than two hours at room temperature. Food should not be left out past this point because pathogenic germs quickly multiply at this temperature. After this period, the chicken might appear and smell OK, but don’t be fooled—it is not recommended to eat it. Health organizations from all across the world concur with this advice.

To reduce the likelihood of contamination, wait until the steam has stopped rising before putting it in a reliable, airtight container after the meat has finished cooking.

2. Mark Up the Leftover Chicken

Make sure you record when the chicken was placed in the refrigerator or freezer and when it should be eaten, either on the container itself or on a calendar.

3. Retain It Off

Keep cooked meat separate from raw meat when storing leftover meat in the refrigerator or freezer. If you’re keeping the cooked meat in the refrigerator, make sure it’s on the top shelf. Both circumstances require that it be covered. This will also reduce the likelihood of infection.

How should cooked chicken be frozen and thawed?

The best course of action is to freeze your chicken if you don’t think you’ll be able to eat it within three to four days. Transferring cooked chicken to a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag, marking it with the date, and freezing it for up to three months is how you freeze it. Never freeze the chicken in the refrigerator for more than four days or at room temperature for longer than two hours.

The chicken should be refrigerated overnight to defrost after being moved from its storage container. You can also use the defrost setting on your microwave.