How long can chicken stay in the Fridge for

Chicken is an essential ingredient of many households.



However, this healthy and delicious source of protein is at risk of bacterial contamination. You must prepare it in advance, store it and cook it properly to prevent food-borne illness.



It's simple to keep chicken in the fridge but many people wonder how long chicken can be safely stored in the refrigerator.



This article will tell you the length of time chicken can last in your fridge.





How long does chicken keep in the refrigerator?





The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), states that you can store raw chicken in your refrigerator up to 2 days. Similar is true for turkey that is raw or any other birds.



While you wait, chikem cooked should keep for about 3-4 days in the refrigerator



Refrigerating chicken can help slow bacterial growth. Bacteria grow slower when temperatures fall below 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees C).



To stop raw chicken from leakage or contamination of other food items It is recommended to store the chicken in a leak-proof container. The chicken that is cooked must be refrigerated in an airtight container.



If chicken needs to be stored for more than a few hours, it is recommended to store it in your freezer.



Raw chicken pieces can keep in the freezer for as long as nine months. Whole chickens, however, can be frozen for as long as one year. For How long can you keep cooked chicken in the fridge to 6 months, you are able to store frozen chicken pieces that have been cooked.



SUMMARY



Raw chicken could last for up to two days in the refrigerator, while cooked poultry can last up to 3-4 weeks in the refrigerator.





What can you tell when chicken is rotten





Chicken can spoil when it is kept in the fridge for longer than two days.



Below are a few ways to tell if the chicken in your refrigerator has gone bad:





It's beyond the "best before" date. Cooked or raw chicken that isn't consumed before or prior to its "best by" dates is more likely to spoil.





Color alters. Raw chicken or cooked chicken is changing to grayish-green. A few spots of gray-to-green mold signify an increase in bacterial activity.





The smell. Both raw and cooked chickens emit an acidic scent that is similar to ammonia when it is rotting. However, this scent may be difficult to detect when the chicken is marinated in herbs, sauces, or spices.





Texture. Chicken with a slimy texture is not good. The chicken can be rinsed to kill any bacteria. Rather, doing so can spread the bacteria from poultry to other foods as well as utensils and surfaces and cause cross-contamination.





If you think that your chicken is going bad in your fridge, throw it out.



A SUMMARY



You can tell when chicken is in a bad state the moment its color begins to fade, it has acquired an acidic or sour scent, or it has become slimy.





How to avoid eating spoiled meat





Foodborne illnesses can be caused through eating chicken that has been spoiled or other food items. It is also known be food poisoning.



The high risk of food poisoning in chickens is due to the possibility that it has been infected with bacteria like Campylobacter, Salmonella and many more.



These bacteria can be eliminated if you cook fresh chicken properly.



However, it's still best to stay clear of cooking and eating spoiled chicken. Although re-heating or cooking can destroy surface bacteria, it won't eliminate some of the toxins that are produced by bacteria, which can cause food poisoning if you consume them.



Food poisoning may cause unpleasant and potentially dangerous symptoms such as a high temperature (above 101.5" or 38.6degC) nausea vomiting, diarrhea bloody stooland dehydration.



Sometimes severe food poisoning may require hospitalization, and sometimes even death.



Avoid eating chicken that is suspected to be rotten. It is best to throw away the chicken you suspect be spoiled.



Summary



The consumption of spoiled meat can lead to food poisoning, even if it's cooked well.





The bottomline





The raw chicken will last 1 to 2 days in the fridge The time for cooking poultry is 3-4 days.



To detect if chicken is rotten To determine if the chicken is rotten, look up the "best for use before" date and look for signs of spoilage like changes in the texture, smell and color.



Don't eat chicken that is rotten in case it causes food poisoning even in the event that you cook it well.