Crispy fried chicken is a favorite dish of many who love chicken in general. You may want to binge upon them for hours or days together without restriction, as they are mouth-watering and delicious.
However, there is always a constant doubt about how long fried chicken can stay out in general.
Fried chicken is usually coated in batter or eggs with a heavy seasoning of spices and condiments. Hence, the shelf life is a complex solution that also factors in the shelf life of all the other ingredients.
Fried chicken cannot stay out for a longer time. It can only stay for 1 to 2 hours, depending on the room temperature. However, refrigerating fried chicken could prolong its shelf life by a considerable amount.
Usually, fried chicken is recommended to be consumed piping hot as it may lose its texture or freshness when kept outside for a long time.
In this article, we will clearly elaborate on how long the fried chicken can be kept out and what happens if that protocol is not abided by.
How Long Can Fried Chicken Stay Out?
The fried chicken can stay out for one hour on average. However, the indoor temperature is an important factor when it comes to keeping fried chicken out.
The temperature should be at most 85 degrees F. if it is too warm or hot outside, it is better to shove the fried chicken inside the fridge.
Why Should Not Fried Chicken Be kept Out For A Long Time?
Chicken tends to turn bad as much as any other food item. The bacteria and microorganisms can breed on the surface of the chicken and then attract people who eat it.
The moisture in the meat makes it vulnerable to microbial attack, and hence freezing or keeping it in the refrigerator should be safe.
How Long Can Fried Chicken Be Kept In The Fridge?
Fried chicken can be kept in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. However, when you take it out to reheat it, you have to check for eventual spoilage. Fried chicken in the fridge should not be kept near the raw chicken or any other raw item in general.
Raw chicken tends to absorb the microbes from the surrounding air or even from the neighboring meat. It is only safe to refrigerate the raw chicken after it has been cooked so that the bacteria are not easily transferable.
How Do You Store Fried Chicken?
- Fried chicken will last longer if stored in an air-tight container or Ziploc bags.
- Do not seal the chicken when it is piping hot or when the chicken is still warm. It should be allowed to emit steam as much as possible and then be sealed for storage.
- When using sealed bags, try evading out as much air as possible before preserving it.
- Divide the chicken into small portions before sealing it or preserving it. This way, the chicken gets cooler faster and retains its shelf life a little longer.
- Separate the chicken pieces with cling wraps while placing them in the container so they don’t get stuck up or overlap.
Can We Freeze The Fried Chicken?
Fried chicken can be frozen very successfully without any issues. This is the best way to preserve fried chicken, and nothing else works this well. The fried chicken is wrapped in a plastic bag or in an air-tight container before it goes to the freezer.
How Do You Thaw A Fried Chicken?
Fried chicken cannot be kept at room temperature to be thawed. Bacteria multiply on the surface of the fried chicken if it is kept out.
Thawing it in the fridge could be the right way when you have fried chicken. It can be left overnight to be defrosted in the fridge without any problem.
Microwave thawing is another way of defrosting fried chicken, which is a faster result. However, it may lose its flavor or texture and would not be very crispy as you want it to be.
How Do You Reheat A Chicken That Has Been Defrosted?
The chicken can be reheated at 350 degrees F in a microwave for 15 to 20 minutes. However, this is possible only if the chicken is fully defrosted.
Half-thawed chicken is going to take a lot more than 20 minutes. You should be sure when you take out the chicken and see for yourself that it has been reheated properly and evenly.
What Are The Signs Of A Fried Chicken Gone Bad?
Fried chicken is generally crispy and hot. If there is anything off with the fried chicken, you would be able to identify it very obviously.
1. Smell
The fresh fried chicken will have a distinctive smell and look fresh and attractive. The fried chicken that has gone bad will have a very off smell and be repulsive.
2. Color
The color of the fried chicken is slightly tan and white. However, the fried chicken will have patches of grey or green on the surface.
3. Texture
The texture of the bad chicken will be slimy and runny to the touch. It also looks very scratchy on the surface.
How To Store Fried Chicken?
- Just make sure that the cooked fried chicken is not kept at room temperature for a long time.
- Cool off the cooked chicken before it can be frozen or kept in the refrigerator.
- Place it in an airtight container or wrap it in a covered plastic bag, so there is no external air intrusion. Date the bag, so you know when to use it next time.
- Fried chicken can last in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. It can last in the freezer for 6 months.
- Keep the raw chicken and fried chicken separately in the fridge without any mix-up or risk of cross-contamination.
- The fried chicken can be kept on the upper shelf and the raw chicken on the bottom shelf.
Conclusion
Fried chicken is an extravagant meal that can be consumed even after some time or days. However, it has to be preserved right and for the right duration.
If it is also stored in an airtight container or covered plastic bags, it may last longer and probably fresher. Reheating the fried chicken and consuming it would be the right approach after preserving it with the above-mentioned guidelines.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How long can fried chicken stay out?
The fried chicken can stay out for one hour on average. However, the indoor temperature is an important factor when it comes to keeping fried chicken out. The temperature should be at most 85 degrees F.
Why should not fried chicken be kept out for a long time?
Chicken tends to turn bad as much as any other food item. The bacteria and microorganisms can breed on the surface of the chicken and then attract people who eat it.
How long can fried chicken be kept in the fridge?
Fried chicken can be kept in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. However, when you take it out to reheat it, you have to check for eventual spoilage. Fried chicken in the fridge should not be kept near the raw chicken or any other raw item in general.
Can we freeze the fried chicken?
Fried chicken can be frozen very successfully without any issues. This is the best way to preserve fried chicken, and nothing else works this well. The fried chicken is wrapped in a plastic bag or in an air-tight container before it goes to the freezer.
How do you reheat a chicken that has been defrosted?
The chicken can be reheated at 350 degrees F in a microwave for 15 to 20 minutes. However, this is possible only if the chicken is fully defrosted. Half-thawed chicken is going to take a lot more than 20 minutes.
