Raw chicken keeps 1 to 2 days in the fridge, cooked 3 to 4 days
Quick answer
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Fridge
Keeps for 1-2 days
Keep raw chicken in its package at 40°F (4°C) or below and use it within 1 or 2 days, while cooked chicken keeps 3 to 4 days.
Watch out Refrigerate cooked leftovers within 2 hours, or within 1 hour if it's above 90°F (32°C).
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Freezer
Keeps for up to 1 year
Freeze chicken at 0°F (-18°C) or below, and overwrap the store packaging with airtight heavy-duty foil or plastic wrap if it will stay longer than 2 months.
Watch out Don't freeze chicken salad that contains mayonnaise.
Raw chicken lasts 1 to 2 days in the refrigerator, and cooked chicken, including rotisserie, lasts 3 to 4 days. In the freezer, raw whole chicken keeps 1 year and leftover cooked chicken keeps 4 months for best quality. Frozen chicken stays safe indefinitely at 0°F (-18°C) or below.
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Raw chicken keeps 1 to 2 days in the refrigerator, and cooked chicken keeps 3 to 4 days. In the freezer it stays safe indefinitely, although the quality drops after a few months. The times below follow the USDA’s Chicken from Farm to Table guidance.
Keep your refrigerator at 40°F (4°C) or below and your freezer at 0°F (-18°C) or below. Every time on this page goes with those two temperatures.
How long does chicken last in the fridge?
Raw chicken lasts 1 to 2 days in the refrigerator, and cooked chicken lasts 3 to 4 days. Put chicken in the fridge as soon as you get home, and use it within 1 or 2 days or freeze it.
How long does raw chicken last in the fridge?
Raw chicken lasts 1 to 2 days in the refrigerator. That covers a whole chicken, chicken parts, giblets, and ground chicken.
Keep it in its package until you use it. Once raw chicken has thawed in the refrigerator, it can stay there for another day or two before you cook it.
The date on the package doesn’t tell you how long chicken keeps at home. Buy it before the date expires, and then follow the storage times.
How long does cooked chicken last in the fridge?
Cooked chicken lasts 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. The same goes for chicken pieces covered with broth or gravy, casseroles, other chicken dishes, soup, nuggets, and patties.
Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours of cooking, or within 1 hour if the temperature is above 90°F (32°C). Divide large amounts into shallow containers so they cool quickly, and cover them, wrap them airtight, or seal them in containers.
Chicken salad and deli-sliced chicken luncheon meat last a little longer, 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator.
Is chicken still good after a week in the fridge?
No, a week is longer than the USDA’s refrigerator times for chicken. Raw chicken keeps 1 to 2 days, and cooked chicken keeps 3 to 4 days.
If you won’t use chicken within those times, freeze it. Frozen chicken stays safe indefinitely at 0°F (-18°C) or below.
How long does rotisserie chicken last in the fridge?
Rotisserie chicken lasts 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. Fried chicken and other take-out chicken follow the same rule.
Bacteria grow most rapidly between 40°F (4°C) and 140°F (60°C), so don’t leave a rotisserie chicken on the counter for more than 2 hours. Above 90°F (32°C), the limit is 1 hour.
What color is raw chicken?
Raw chicken can vary from bluish-white to yellow, and all of these colors are normal.
They come from breed, exercise, age, and diet. Younger poultry has less fat under the skin, which can cause a bluish cast, and yellow skin could come from marigolds in the feed. The USDA explains more in The Color of Meat and Poultry.
How to tell if chicken is bad
Chicken has gone bad when it develops an off odor, feels sticky or tacky to the touch, or turns slimy. Chicken with any of these signs should not be used.
Spoiled chicken can fade or darken too, but color changes are normal for fresh chicken. A color change alone doesn’t mean the chicken is spoiled.
How long does chicken last in the freezer?
Raw whole chicken keeps 1 year in the freezer, and leftover cooked chicken keeps 4 months. Freezer times are for quality only, because frozen food stays safe indefinitely.
How long can you freeze chicken?
How long raw chicken keeps in the freezer depends on the cut.
- Fresh whole chicken keeps 1 year.
- Fresh chicken parts keep 9 months.
- Giblets or ground chicken keep 3 to 4 months.
Can you freeze cooked chicken?
Yes, leftover cooked chicken keeps 4 months in the freezer. Fried chicken and take-out chicken such as rotisserie keep 4 months too.
Other cooked chicken foods keep for different times.
- Chicken pieces covered with broth or gravy keep 6 months.
- Casseroles, dishes, and soup keep 4 to 6 months.
- Broth or gravy keeps 2 to 3 months.
- Nuggets or patties keep 1 to 3 months.
- Deli-sliced chicken keeps 1 to 2 months.
Can you freeze chicken noodle soup?
Yes, chicken noodle soup keeps 4 to 6 months in the freezer and 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. Those are the USDA times for cooked chicken soup, casseroles, and other chicken dishes. Use the same times for chicken and dumplings, chicken alfredo, and buffalo chicken dip.
Divide large amounts into shallow containers so they cool quickly, and seal the containers before freezing. You can reheat frozen soup without thawing it, as long as it reaches 165°F (74°C).
How long is frozen chicken good for?
Frozen chicken stays safe indefinitely at 0°F (-18°C) or below, and the times above show how long it keeps its quality. You can freeze chicken in its original packaging.
If you plan to freeze it longer than 2 months, overwrap the store packaging with airtight heavy-duty foil or plastic wrap. Chicken salad is the exception, and you shouldn’t freeze it if it contains mayonnaise.
How to thaw chicken
Thaw chicken in the refrigerator, in cold water, or in the microwave. Never thaw it on the counter.
Thawing in the refrigerator takes 1 to 2 days or longer. Chicken thawed this way can go back in the freezer without cooking it first.
For cold water, keep the chicken in airtight packaging or a leak-proof bag and change the water every 30 minutes. A whole 3 to 4 pound chicken or a package of parts thaws in 2 to 3 hours, and a 1 pound package of boneless breasts in an hour or less. Cook chicken thawed in cold water or in the microwave immediately.
Frozen cooked leftovers can be reheated without thawing.
How to store chicken safely
Chicken should feel cold to the touch when you buy it, so make the store your last stop before going home. Put the packages in disposable plastic bags so leaks don’t reach other food.
Washing raw chicken isn’t recommended, because it spreads bacteria to other food, utensils, and surfaces. Only cooking destroys the bacteria.
Cook chicken to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C), measured with a food thermometer, and reheat leftovers to 165°F (74°C) too. The USDA explains more in Leftovers and Food Safety.
Chicken storage times at a glance
Use this table to check any kind of chicken in the refrigerator or the freezer.
| Chicken | Refrigerator | Freezer |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh whole chicken | 1 to 2 days | 1 year |
| Fresh chicken parts | 1 to 2 days | 9 months |
| Giblets or ground chicken | 1 to 2 days | 3 to 4 months |
| Leftover cooked chicken | 3 to 4 days | 4 months |
| Fried or take-out chicken, such as rotisserie | 3 to 4 days | 4 months |
| Cooked pieces covered with broth or gravy | 3 to 4 days | 6 months |
| Casseroles, dishes, or soup | 3 to 4 days | 4 to 6 months |
| Nuggets or patties | 3 to 4 days | 1 to 3 months |
| Broth or gravy | 3 to 4 days | 2 to 3 months |
| Chicken salad | 3 to 5 days | Don’t freeze if it has mayonnaise |
| Deli-sliced chicken | 3 to 5 days | 1 to 2 months |
Frequently asked questions
Should you wash chicken before storing it?
No. Washing raw chicken isn't recommended, because it spreads bacteria to other food, utensils, and surfaces. Only cooking destroys the bacteria.
Does the use-by date tell you how long chicken lasts?
No. Product dates aren't a guide to how long you can safely store chicken at home. Buy it before the date expires and follow the storage times.
Can you refreeze chicken after thawing it?
Yes, if you thawed it in the refrigerator, and you don't need to cook it first. Leftovers are also safe to refreeze after you reheat them to 165°F (74°C).
How hot should cooked chicken be when you reheat it?
Reheat leftover chicken to 165°F (74°C), measured with a food thermometer. You can reheat frozen leftovers without thawing them first.
How long can chicken sit out at room temperature?
No more than 2 hours, or 1 hour if the temperature is above 90°F (32°C). Bacteria grow most rapidly between 40°F (4°C) and 140°F (60°C), doubling in number in as little as 20 minutes.
How long does canned chicken last?
Canned chicken keeps 2 to 5 years in the pantry. Don't freeze it in the can.
