cooked chicken, how long can you keep it in the frig?

[Homoerectus]

If I cook chicken today, I use it by tomorrow, in soup the next day and then throw it out. Poultry spoils quickly and easily. I never have intestinal problems such as diarhhea, never. But I am also careful about my food. I never eat poultry unless it is cooked at home. Many friends are always sick with intestinal problems but they eat some foods which are a week old. Then they want to know why I'm never ill. BTW, I wash my hands evry time I use the bathroom, too.

 

[Orlandude]

I will keep COOKED chicken about 5 days. Remember, it is COOKED. All the bacteria has been destroyed. It is the same with turkey, which, like after Thanksgiving, I may have in frig for about 5 days, maybe 6. Make turkey soup, turkey salad, hot turkey sandwiches, etc...Chicken is the same. No I would not leave cooked chicken, or ANY cooked poultry or meat, in the frig much longer than that. If anything, it dries out and loses its flavor from the refrigeration. Poultry only spoils quickly if it is RAW because in a raw state it contains a lot of bacteria, like any other meat. Ask any restaurant owner. Do you think they throw chicken away after one or two days?? NOT! They use it for a lot of things. Restaurants waste nothing. If you think that chicken salad sandwich you just ordered or that hot turkey sandwich is only day-old cooked chicken or turkey, think again.

I've never had health issues from eating cooked chicken that is 4 or 5 days old. That's an old wives tale. If it's COOKED, the bacteria is gone. That is the purpose of COOKING meat. On the other hand, I would not keep any meat, chicken or otherwise, cooked or not, in a frig for longer than 5 days. As I said, it dries out and loses it's flavor. Raw chicken is one thing but I don't understand people who are fussy about cooked chicken then turn around and eat a raw steak.

 

[antdak]

I agree, no more then 5 or 6 days! but food usually does not last that long around here!

 

[gotdimples77]

i got a chicken thats cooked, its about 3 weeks old. it still smells good, i dont want to waste it though.

lol...was it frozen for fifteen days and cooked within the last four? If it isnt good you will know in about half an hour. if its been more than four days since you cooked it i wouldnt probably eat it. if its been 3 weeks since you cooked it probably wont be a) very tasty or b)healthy

 

[sonny10305]

My mom can never come by without a frige inspection
She basically says if I'm not gonna eat it in 3 days, freeze it.
But I have gone 4 days with no problem.
Eating that is

 

[luckotheirish]

I eat A LOT of chicken but I really don't like to cook EVERY day. So... I cook up 2-3 lbs of boneless chicken breasts all at once, refrigerate, and eat over the course of ~ 3 days. So far, I've never had a problem with food poisoning or dryness.

It also matters whether it's on the bone or not. Chicken on the bone stays moist longer but seems to spoil faster.

 

[nijuusei]

hmm... it's a dead animal
please bury it

 

[jockboy01]

haha, I have to say I love reading all of the responses. When it comes to cooked chicken, I generally eat it within a week. I've only thrown it out once when I let it get to ten days. One wiff when I opened the bag and I realized it wasn't a good idea to put it in my mouth. I think about seven days in the refrigerador AFTER cooking it is about the max it can go. Four days and I think you're throwing away good chicken... I've often eaten it past that without problems. However, it does depend on what temperature you keep your 'fridg.... the colder it is, the longer things last.

Uncooked chicken has a "cook or freeze by" date on it. I'd observe that. Frozen chicken can last a VERY long time.

 

[star-warrior]

It really depends on how cool your refrigerator is, and how many times you open your refrigerator door. If it can stay below 8 degrees centigrade, you might be able to keep your cooked chicken for three days or so, providing it is covered. If uncovered, it is likely your chicken will gradually loose moisture, and won't be so nice to eat later.

Personally, I use the old fashioned method of preservation, to cure it with salt (not a great deal, but enough to give it all a light dusting). Later the meat can be washed of the excess, and steamed very gently to bring it up to hot before serving. Cured chicken is way better than any of that tinned crap you get from the supermarket as 'chicken roll' or some rubbish.

As for freezing cooked chicken, you can, but remember to heat until piping hot before eating.

 

[star-warrior]

hmm... it's a dead animal
please bury it

Having killed, let blood, and plucked and gutted my own chickens before, that is an awful waste just to bury it. I guess you don't eat fish either.

 

[nijuusei]

I guess you don't eat fish either.

you guessed?

 

[star-warrior]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/687996.stm

Although your lifestyle choice is admirable, do be aware of the dangers of poor nutrient absorbtion with a vegan diet.

 

[Spiff]

it greatly varies on the temperature you keep your fridge at. if you use lower economy settings, all your parishables will last only about half as long as they will at higher settings.

 

[bluedragon4]

If I don't eat it within 48 hours I pitch it. I'm really careful about meat. I only keep lunch meat for 4 days. I heard you were not suppose to keep it longer than that.I don't keep frozen raw chicken longer than maybe 2-3 months. If it gets the freezer burn I toss it.

 

[drhladnjak]

Raw chicken is one thing but I don't understand people who are fussy about cooked chicken then turn around and eat a raw steak.

The danger from uncooked (or undercooked) chicken is salmonella, which is typically found in poultry products. With a good cut of steak, there's little risk of bacteria growth inside the steak. Apparently, most of the potentially dangerous bacteria lives on the surface of the steak and is quickly killed even by very light cooking.