Poultry: Cooked or Processed
Cooked or processed poultry, like rotisserie chicken, chicken sausage or deli turkey, is more perishable than most people expect once it leaves the oven or the package is opened. It should go into the fridge quickly and get eaten within a few days.
| Food | Pantry | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken nuggets, patties | 1 to 3 months | ||
| Cooked poultry dishes | 3 to 4 days | 4 to 6 months | |
| Fried chicken | 3 to 4 days | 4 months | |
| Pate(3 kinds) | 7 days | ||
| Rotisserie chicken | 3 to 4 days | 4 months | |
| Turkey bacon | 2 weeks | 2 to 4 months |
Signs poultry: cooked or processed have gone bad
- Sour or sulfur-like smell replacing the usual roasted scent
- Slimy or tacky film on the surface of sliced poultry
- Dry, greyish patches on meat left uncovered in the fridge
- Mould spots, often white or greenish, on cut edges
- Juices that look cloudy or smell off when reheating
Storage habits
Refrigerate cooked or processed poultry within two hours of cooking or opening, in a shallow covered container. Use within three to four days, or freeze for longer storage in an airtight bag. Reheat leftovers until steaming hot all the way through before serving.