“How long can thawed chicken stay in the fridge” is an important question that needs a definitive answer. The longer it stays, the faster you have to throw it!
A measured timeline needs to be followed when you thaw a chicken. So let us venture into the journey of knowing the right answer to this question.
A thumb rule states that a raw chicken can stay in the fridge for at least 1 to 2 days and not more than that. However, a cooked chicken that is thawed can stay in the fridge for 3 or 4 days without any problem.
There are many loopholes to this thumb rule which is subject to change according to different factors.
In this article, we will further ponder what factors contribute to the duration of thawed chicken in the fridge. We will also get to know details about which is the best way when it comes to thawing and what factors relate to that.
How Long Can Thawed Chicken Stay In The Fridge?
As mentioned before, the allowed duration for the thawed chicken depends on many factors, including whether the chicken is raw or cooked. Another factor that might make a difference is how you have thawed the chicken in the first place.
Raw chicken – The thawed raw chicken can stay in the fridge for 2 days and not more than that. Of course, this rule applies only after the chicken has been completely defrosted. It does not work otherwise.
The raw chicken, once purchased, should be immediately placed in the freezer.
Cooked chicken – Cooked chicken, on the other hand, will last a little longer than raw chicken. Cooked chicken lasts in the fridge for 3 to 4 days once it is thawed. If you want to retain the cooked chicken for longer, it can be stored in the freezer.
A spoiled chicken should be discarded immediately before contaminating all neighboring food items.
How To Tell If The Chicken Is Spoiled?
There are different ways to examine whether the chicken has gone bad. This would apply to both raw and cooked chicken simultaneously. It also does not matter if it is stored in the fridge or freezer.
1. Use-By Date
This is a very important factor in deciding whether you must use the chicken or toss it out. If you have passed that date, then it is better to discard it immediately, without a doubt.
Risking your health at the cost of trying an expired chicken is not worth the harm it is going to inflict on your body.
2. Smell
This is an obvious indication. If the chicken is spoiled, you can identify that from miles away. The smell would be obnoxious and repulsive in nature.
You could not bear taking a whiff of it. The smell would be similar to rotten eggs or fermented sulfur, which is extremely unappetizing.
3. Appearance
The chicken would have developed some patches which are gray or white. It would also become faded, and discoloration would be tangible to your eyes. If any of the above signs seem prominent, it is better discarded.
4. Texture
The spoiled chicken would have developed a dryness, or it would look slimy irrespective of whether it is raw or cooked.
Methods Of Thawing A Chicken
People thaw a chicken at room temperature or even in hot water. Both these methods come across as dangerous as bacterias tend to breed on the surface when you follow these steps.
The best way to thaw a chicken is to keep it in the fridge or place it in cold water. If none of those options render conducive for you, then you can choose to microwave it.
1. Refrigerator Thawing
Thawing the chicken in the refrigerator means placing the frozen chicken in the fridge. It has to be kept in the fridge until it gets defrosted fully. Once it is defrosted, then the above timeline of a thawed chicken to be in the fridge would hold well.
The duration taken to thaw the chicken depends on the size of the meat. If you have a smaller piece of chicken, it takes about a day to get it thawed. If it is a boned chicken, it might take 2 days to defrost it fully.
The thawed chicken can be kept in the fridge for additional 2 days after that and not more than that.
2. Cold Water Thawing
This is an effective way of thawing a chicken, especially when you are strapped for time. The chicken is placed in ice-cold water until it is fully defrosted. After it has been thawed, you can take it and prepare it.
It takes 1 to 2 hours to thaw a chicken in cold water. You must remember to change the water every 30 minutes to keep its temperature steady and cold.
A whole chicken has to be submerged in cold water for a specific duration until it has been completely defrosted.
3. Microwave Thawing
This is the fastest method of thawing a chicken. There is a defrost mode in the microwave, which can be leveraged to its full potential.
Of course, you need to watch it as it may get overcooked. The defrost mode works according to the instruction in the manual, and it befits you if you simply follow the protocols properly.
The defrost mode works per the meat’s weight, and the time it specifies. A halfway flipping is recommended if you need the meat to be evenly heated.
One thing you have to be very careful about when using this method is that you must cook the microwave-defrosted chicken immediately. It cannot be rested in the fridge after this process, even for some minimal time.
How Do You Freeze A Chicken?
The below steps edify you with the right methods to freeze a chicken.
- Use a freezer bag or an air-tight container to keep the air out.
- Date the bag or the container with the exact date you place it.
- Press and suck all the air out from the package.
- Try submerging it in the water to suck all the air out from the package.
Can Frozen Chicken Be Cooked?
This is a very rare phenomenon that people are still ignorant about. You have to be sure that it takes more time for the chicken to be cooked if it is not thawed perfectly.
The temperature has to reach 160 degrees F if you are cooking it. If you can follow the above pointers, cooking an unthawed chicken is not an issue.
How Long Is Frozen Chicken Good?
Chicken in a freezer also has a timeline and cannot be kept in the freezer indefinitely. Pieces of small chicken can be kept in the freezer for up to six months and not more than that. A whole chicken can be kept in the freezer for a year.
Cooked chicken cannot be kept in the freezer for 4 months. After this span, it would dry out and get spoiled. Pieces of thawed chicken can be warmed up when it is frozen, or they can be thawed in different methods.
Steps To Be Followed To Keep The Thawed Chicken In The Fridge
The below practices to keep the thawed chicken in the fridge helps a great deal.
- If the chicken is frozen, keep it in the fridge and let it stay there for one to two days.
- You can also submerge the chicken in cold water and let it thaw for a few hours.
- If the meat is thawed, it can be kept in the fridge for an additional day.
- Chicken thawed in the microwave should not be placed in the fridge. It has to be cooked immediately.
- How long the thawed chicken can be kept in the fridge depends on how it has been thawed or the size of the chicken.
Conclusion
This article will be a perfect guide to make you aware of the duration of the thawed chicken in the fridge. It would definitely give you some insights into the allowed timeline and practices that need to be followed when thawing a chicken.
Have a read and get acquainted with all possible pointers that help preserve a thawed chicken.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How long can thawed chicken stay in the fridge?
A thumb rule states that a raw chicken can stay in the fridge for at least 1 to 2 days and not more than that. However, a cooked chicken can stay in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
How to tell if the chicken is spoiled?
Use-by date, smell, appearance, and texture are the signs to indicate that the chicken is spoiled. Sometimes the signs are obvious and we will know that the chicken is spoiled.
What are the methods of thawing a chicken?
The chicken is thawed in the refrigerator, in the cold water, or even in the microwave. It has to be completely defrosted before it is cooked or reheated.
Can frozen chicken be cooked?
This is a very rare phenomenon that people are still ignorant about. You have to be sure that it takes more time for the chicken to be cooked if it is not thawed perfectly. The temperature has to reach 160 degrees F if you are cooking it. If you can follow the above pointers, cooking an unthawed chicken is not an issue.
How long is frozen chicken good?
Chicken in a freezer also has a timeline and cannot be kept in the freezer indefinitely. Pieces of small chicken can be kept in the freezer for up to six months and not more than that. A whole chicken can be kept in the freezer for a year.
