How long do chicken nuggets, patties last?
USDA lists chicken nuggets, patties with freezer guidance only; see the table.
No guideline
No guideline
No guideline
Do chicken nuggets, patties go bad?
Yes. The fridge time above is the window USDA gives for good quality; after it, chicken nuggets, patties 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 nuggets, patties have gone bad
General signs for poultry: cooked or processed, the group USDA lists chicken nuggets, patties under.
- 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
More on poultry: cooked or processed. The times above are quality guidelines, not safety limits; food that shows these signs goes out regardless of the date.
How long do other poultry: cooked or processed last?
Source: USDA FSIS FoodKeeper dataset (public domain). How we decode the data.