How long chicken salad lasts in the fridge, plus egg and tuna salad
Quick answer
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Fridge
Keeps for 3-5 days
Keep chicken salad in the refrigerator at 40°F (4°C) or below.
Watch out Discard it after more than 2 hours at room temperature, or 1 hour above 90°F (32°C).
Store-prepared or homemade chicken salad keeps 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator at 40°F (4°C) or below. USDA FoodKeeper doesn't recommend freezing it. Discard it if it has been out for more than 2 hours at room temperature, or 1 hour above 90°F (32°C).
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Store-prepared and homemade chicken salad both keep 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator, according to the USDA’s refrigerator storage chart. USDA FoodKeeper doesn’t recommend freezing it.
Chicken salad also shouldn’t sit out for long. Egg, tuna, ham, pasta, and potato salads follow similar rules, and a table below lists them.
How long does chicken salad last in the fridge?
Chicken salad lasts 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator. The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) gives that time for store-prepared and homemade chicken salad.
Keep it at 40°F (4°C) or below. Cold perishable food, such as chicken salad, should stay at that temperature or colder, according to the USDA’s guidance on leftovers.
How long is homemade chicken salad good for?
Homemade chicken salad is good for 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator, the same time as store-prepared. The FSIS chart lists both together.
Can you freeze chicken salad?
USDA FoodKeeper doesn’t recommend freezing chicken salad. It gives the same answer for egg, tuna, ham, pasta, and potato salads.
Plan to finish chicken salad within the 3 to 5 days it keeps in the refrigerator.
How long can chicken salad sit out?
Discard chicken salad that has been out for more than 2 hours at room temperature, or 1 hour above 90°F (32°C). The USDA names chicken salad as an example of cold perishable food that follows this limit.
What about chicken salad at a picnic?
If cold chicken salad is taken to a picnic and left out at temperatures higher than 40°F (4°C) for more than 2 hours, it should not be eaten. The limit is 1 hour when the temperature is 90°F (32°C) or higher, as the USDA’s Food Product Dating page explains.
How long do egg, tuna, ham, pasta, and potato salads last?
Egg, tuna, ham, pasta or macaroni, and potato salads last 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator too. That comes from the USDA refrigerator chart and FoodKeeper.
USDA FoodKeeper doesn’t recommend freezing any of them, or shrimp, salmon, and mixed seafood salads.
| Salad | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken salad | 3 to 5 days | Not recommended |
| Egg salad | 3 to 5 days | Not recommended |
| Tuna salad | 3 to 5 days | Not recommended |
| Ham salad | 3 to 5 days | Not recommended |
| Pasta or macaroni salad | 3 to 5 days | Not recommended |
| Potato salad | 3 to 5 days | Not recommended |
Frequently asked questions
Does chicken salad need to be refrigerated?
Yes. Cold perishable food, such as chicken salad, should be kept at 40°F (4°C) or below.
Does the 2-hour limit change in hot weather?
Yes. At 90°F (32°C) or higher, cold chicken salad should be out for no more than 1 hour.
How long does store-prepared chicken salad last?
The USDA chart gives store-prepared chicken salad 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator, the same as homemade.
Does chicken salad freeze well?
USDA FoodKeeper doesn't recommend freezing chicken salad, so keep it in the refrigerator and use it within 3 to 5 days.
