If you are wondering whether the raw chicken sitting in the fridge is fresh or not, then you are in the right place to find the answer. Especially when the sell-by date has passed, then it becomes difficult to know whether the chicken can be consumed at all.
This article will break down every aspect of the sell-by date and see what qualifies as the right time to keep a chicken.
Usually, the chicken should be cooked and used up within 1 to 2 days of the sell-by date without any failure. However, the signs of spoilage have to be checked prior to using that chicken by all means.
We will also see signs of spoilage in the chicken and get to know when you can not touch a chicken at all. This would help clear up any doubts about how long you can consume it and how to store it.
What Does A Sell-By Date Mean On The Chicken?
The sell-by date is mainly notified for the retailers rather than for the consumers. It is to indicate to the shopkeepers the maximum time you can sell the chicken to retain its freshness.
This product can be kept for display only until that time and not more than that. So buying the chicken past the sell-by date is not recommended and would not serve the purpose.
How Long Is Chicken Good In The Fridge After The Sell-By Date?
If you purchase the chicken past the sell-by date, it can be stored in the fridge for two days. When you are actually going to use it, check for signs of spoilage.
The methods of storage also determine how long the chicken can be stored. If you preserve it in the original packaging, then it lasts longer. Otherwise, you have to store it in an airtight container, which can prolong its freshness.
Chicken Sell-By Date Vs. Use-By Date
The sell-by date is for the store staff to indicate the last day the shopkeepers should sell the chicken. It is usually after one or two days of packaging the chicken. It does not refer to the safety date.
The use-by date is the time by which consumers can eat the chicken. It is not recommended to eat the chicken if it is past the use-by date.
Is Chicken Safe To Eat After The Sell-By Date?
It is ok to eat the chicken after the sell-by date. It can be consumed 2 or 3 days after the purchase if it is kept in the refrigerator or frozen. However, check for signs of spoilage of the chicken before consuming it.
Signs Of Spoilage For Chicken
The signs of a bad chicken are very conspicuous and if you find any indications that it has turned bad, toss it out immediately.
1. Appearance
The chicken would look slightly greyish in color, and it would have developed color patches on the surface.
2. Texture
The texture of the chicken would have become slimy or runny. It would have lost its sheen and looked slightly pale.
3. Smell
The smell of the chicken would be rancid and very repulsive. Sometimes it won’t emit or radiate any smell; you must take a whiff to confirm its freshness.
Spoiled chicken is inundated with bacteria and microbes, which indicates that it should be tossed out immediately. It would cause food poisoning, and hence discarding it is safe.
Freezing Raw Chicken
Freezing raw chicken in an air-tight container will prolong its shelf life longer. Use good freezer bags or plastic covers to freeze the raw chicken, and make sure it has no holes or leaks.
We have to ensure that the freezer bags are marked with the date when it is frozen. Refrain from dragging its usage for a long time, as retaining it for a long time is not advisable.
Vacuum sealing the bag in which the chicken is preserved can always keep the chicken fresh.
Can You Freeze Cooked Chicken?
Freezing the cooked chicken is allowed for 6 months and more. You have to freeze it in an airtight container or plastic bag. Vacuum sealing the bags where the chicken is kept also a healthy way of storing it.
What Is The Difference Between A Sell-By Date And A Use-By Date Vs. a Best-By Date?
These dates are categorically mentioned on the packets of the meat by poultry experts who are very calculative on how long a chicken stays fresh.
There could be a mix-up, or these dates tend to be tentative and not so precise. We can only avoid the risk of consuming spoiled chicken by just looking at the date and abiding by the rule it specifies.
1. Sell-By Date
As mentioned before, this is a date purely intended to notify the shopkeepers how long the chicken can be kept for display. It should be taken out of stock if the sell-by date has passed.
2. Use-By Date
The use-by date is to indicate how long the consumers can eat the chicken. The quality must have been compromised after this date. However, it would not be spoiled. You can consume the chicken after this date, but you have to check for signs of spoilage.
3. Best-By Date
The best-by date indicates how long the chicken can remain fresh. It would not be fresh after this particular time, and hence it is recommended to be cooked before this date lapses.
Can The Chicken Be Eaten 3 Days After The Sell-By Date?
YOu can eat the chicken after 3 days of its sell-by date without any issue. You have to make sure that the chicken you have preserved is stored intact with proper vacuum positioning and in sealed containers without the intrusion of any external air.
Can I Eat Chicken After 4 Days Of The Sell-By Date?
The chicken can be eaten after 4 days provided you have preserved it right. If you store it in the fridge in an airtight container or in a plastic bag with seals and covers, then there is no issue in eating the chicken after 4 days.
However, 4 days is a slight drag from the normal 1 to 2 days; hence, it has to be checked for any eventual spoilage.
Can The Chicken Be Cooked After 2 Weeks Of The Sell-By Date?
1 or 2 days is the permissible timeline for using a chicken beyond the sell-by date. 2 weeks is too much of a stretch. Although a sell-by date is not a dangerous threshold for the chicken to be used, 2 weeks duration is so critical.
It is advisable to toss it out even if you have preserved the chicken intact. If it is in the freezer, check the chicken for any spoilage, then use it without any issues.
Conclusion
Sell-by date, use-by date, and best-by date are timelines specified by poultry experts to specify how long the chicken can be used or purchased. Abiding by the timeline is helpful in most cases.
However, if you want to extend the leverage, the comfortable interval or span of usage can be followed without any hassles. This document should help you decide how long you can store the chicken and how safe you should guard it against outer air.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What does a sell-by date mean on the chicken?
The sell-by date is mainly notified for the retailers rather than for the consumers. It is to indicate to the shopkeepers the maximum time you can sell the chicken to retain its freshness. This product can be kept for display only until that time and not more than that.
How long is chicken good in the fridge after the sell-by date?
If you purchase the chicken past the sell-by date, it can be stored in the fridge for two days. When you are actually going to use it, check for signs of spoilage.
Is chicken safe to eat after the sell-by date?
It is ok to eat the chicken after the sell-by date. It can be consumed 2 or 3 days after the purchase if it is kept in the refrigerator or frozen. However, check for signs of spoilage of the chicken before consuming it.
Can you freeze cooked chicken?
Freezing the cooked chicken is allowed for 6 months and more. You have to freeze it in an airtight container or plastic bag. Vacuum sealing the bags where the chicken is kept also a healthy way of storing it.
Can I eat chicken after 4 days of the sell-by date?
The chicken can be eaten after 4 days provided you have preserved it right. If you store it in the fridge in an airtight container or in a plastic bag with seals and covers, then there is no issue in eating the chicken after 4 days.
