How long does chicken last?
In the fridge, chicken keeps for 1 to 2 days from the package date. All 2 kinds are below.
No guideline
1 to 2 days
from the package date
No guideline
By kind
| Kind | Pantry | Fridge | After opening | Freezer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| whole | no guideline | 1 to 2 days | no guideline | 12 months |
| pre-packaged, luncheon/deli meat | no guideline | 2 weeks | 3 to 5 days | Not recommended |
No guideline: USDA gives no time for that place, usually because the food is not stored that way.
Does chicken go bad?
Yes. The fridge time above is the window USDA gives for good quality; after it, chicken may still be safe for a short while but quality drops and spoilage signs start. The date on the package is the maker's quality promise; the times here count from purchase unless marked "from the package date".
Two numbers to keep in mind: a fridge at 40 F (4 C) or below, and no more than 2 hours at room temperature (1 hour above 90 F / 32 C) for anything perishable.
How to tell chicken has gone bad
- Spoiled raw chicken has an off odour, feels sticky or tacky, or is slimy. Any one of these is enough to throw it out.
- Colour alone is not the test. Raw chicken ranges from bluish-white to yellow depending on breed, age and feed, and USDA says all of those shades are normal.
- With spoilage the colour may fade or darken, but the smell and the sticky surface are the signs to trust.
- Raw chicken keeps 1 to 2 days in the fridge and cooked chicken 3 to 4 days. Past that, do not rely on look or smell: the bacteria that cause illness do not always change either.
Sources: The Color of Meat and Poultry (USDA FSIS); Chicken from Farm to Table (USDA FSIS). The times on this page are quality guidelines, not safety limits; food that shows these signs goes out regardless of the date.
How long do other poultry: fresh last?
Source: USDA FSIS FoodKeeper dataset (public domain). How we decode the data.