How long do chicken parts last?
In the fridge, chicken parts keep for 1 to 2 days from the package date. All 3 kinds are below.
No guideline
1 to 2 days
from the package date
No guideline
By kind
| Kind | Pantry | Fridge | After opening | Freezer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| breast halves, bone-in | no guideline | 1 to 2 days | no guideline | 9 months |
| breast halves, boneless | no guideline | 1 to 2 days | no guideline | 9 months |
| legs or thighs | no guideline | 1 to 2 days | no guideline | 9 months |
No guideline: USDA gives no time for that place, usually because the food is not stored that way.
Do chicken parts go bad?
Yes. The fridge time above is the window USDA gives for good quality; after it, chicken parts 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 parts have gone bad
General signs for poultry: fresh, the group USDA lists chicken parts under.
- Slimy, tacky or sticky texture on the skin or flesh
- Strong sour, sulfur-like or ammonia smell
- Grey tint spreading across the whole surface, not just one spot
- Packaging that is puffy, leaking or torn
- Sticky residue left behind on a cutting board after rinsing
More on poultry: fresh. 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: fresh last?
Source: USDA FSIS FoodKeeper dataset (public domain). How we decode the data.