Chicken meat is one of the best-selling products in food industry stores. It is dietary, so it can be eaten by those who are watching their figure. However, few people think about how long defrosted chicken can be stored in the refrigerator. More information about how long chicken can be stored in the refrigerator and in the freezer will be discussed in this article.
Permitted storage
You can find out the exact temporary preservation of a chicken delicacy if you know what the temperature is inside the refrigerator. You should also consider how fresh the bird was when placed in it.
Overall
Only high-quality and fresh chicken is allowed to be stored. If you buy it in reserve, the part of the product that is not needed for cooking should be placed in the freezer. If you put the pieces on a shelf, they will be stored for no more than 4 days.
To keep the whole carcass fresh, choose the optimal container. This can be a special foam base wrapped in cling film. You can also store it in a glass container with an airtight lid. To increase shelf life, wrap it in a napkin made of natural fabric, which is pre-moistened in vinegar. Then you need to put the meat in a bag. In this form, the shelf life of frozen chicken in the refrigerator is about 6 days. You can rub the carcass with allspice and salt. In this case, the shelf life will be about 5 days.
In the butchered
The safety of cut poultry should be the same as that of the whole product. If you remove all the bones first, it will last longer. Try to protect it from contact with other products.
After defrosting
In order for meat to be stored better after defrosting, it is necessary to divide it into parts. Place each individual piece into different bags or containers. Cover the container with a lid and fill the remaining space with ice.
The shelf life of chilled chicken is no more than 4 days. The optimal temperature is from -2°C to 0°C. If the temperature ranges from +7°C to +10°C, the product can be stored for no more than 2 days.
Fillet
Chicken fillet can be stored in the chamber for no more than 3 days. Place the meat in an airtight container first.
What are the dangers of eating spoiled chicken?
Eating spoiled chicken can cause foodborne illness, also known as food poisoning.
Eating chicken has a high risk of food poisoning as it may be contaminated with bacteria such as Campylobacter, Salmonella and others ().
Typically, these bacteria are removed when you thoroughly cook fresh chicken.
However, you should still avoid cooking and eating spoiled chicken. Although heating or cooking food can kill the bacteria present in it, it will not eliminate some of the toxins produced by the bacteria, which can cause food poisoning if you eat it ().
Food poisoning can cause unpleasant and sometimes dangerous symptoms, including high body temperature (above 38.6°C), chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bloody stools and dehydration ().
In some cases, severe food poisoning can require hospitalization and even lead to death (,).
If you suspect your chicken is spoiled, do not eat it. It's always best to discard chicken if you suspect it has gone bad.
Summary:
Eating spoiled chicken can cause food poisoning, even if it is thoroughly cooked.
Depending on the cooking method
After cooking, you can store the chicken for a short time. Bacteria can develop inside, which can worsen your health. More details about the optimal shelf life of the finished product will be discussed below.
Boiled
How long can you store boiled chicken in the refrigerator? The shelf life of boiled chicken is no more than 3 days. Provided that the temperature in the chamber is maintained at about +4°C. You can simply leave the product indoors for 3 hours.
Knowing how long boiled chicken can be stored in the refrigerator, when placing the meat in the refrigerator, first wrap it in foil. Then place in a plastic or glass container and cover with an airtight lid. You cannot store it in bags, as the product will be sticky.
Fried
If you fry a bird, it is better to eat it right away. This way you can experience the full spectrum of taste. If there are pieces left after dinner, put them in a container with a lid and put them in the refrigerator.
How long does chilled fried chicken last in the refrigerator? No more than half a day. You can freeze the dish, but it will be tough afterwards.
Baked chicken in the oven
After baking, chicken can be stored in the refrigerator in the same way as a fried dish. The optimal period is no more than half a day.
Smoked
If you bought smoked meat, the shelf life of smoked chicken in the refrigerator is no more than 24 hours. If you pre-pack it in a vacuum bag, the shelf life increases.
After purchasing in a vacuum, it can be stored for no more than 7 days. In this case, the temperature inside the refrigerator should not exceed +7°C.
Grill
Many people prefer to buy poultry from street stalls. It is better to eat it immediately after purchase so that harmful bacteria do not have time to develop in it. Try to buy the product only in trusted places where you are confident in the quality and freshness.
If you are unable to eat it right away, place it in the refrigerator. At a temperature of about +6°C it can be stored for no more than 48 hours.
Pickled
If you have already marinated the meat, but did not have time to cook it, you can put it in the refrigerator. It can be stored for no more than 24 hours.
Stewed
If you have dried the product, but were unable to eat it completely, you can put it in the refrigerator for storage. The optimal storage period is no more than 48 hours. Bring the meat to a boil before serving.
From kfc
Many people love to visit KFC to try their delicious chicken wings. It’s better to eat the product right away, because it tastes much better when it’s fresh. If you haven't finished eating it, wrap it in foil and place it in the refrigerator. Shelf life – no more than 24 hours.
How to choose
Before buying, you need to take a good look at the bird, paying attention to its appearance. The skin of the chilled chicken should not have bruises, dark spots or damaged areas. Her normal color is white. Poultry that is too fat may have a slightly yellowish tint. A fresh, pleasant smell is the best recommendation for this product (a faint smell of bleach or vinegar indicates that they tried to “reanimate” the meat).
Frozen chicken should not be covered in ice. It can only appear if the bird has been frozen twice. It is better to avoid such chicken meat. At the same time, it is best to try to buy only chilled poultry, since frozen ones may be initially stale.
Features of preserving meat in the freezer
If you want to preserve the taste and freshness of meat longer, place it in the freezer. At the same time, take into account the temperature regime, which affects the optimal storage time:
- from -19°С to -26°С – no more than 12 months;
- from -15°С to -18°С – no more than six months;
- at -10°C – about 150 days;
- at -7°C – about 60 days.
To freeze chicken, follow these guidelines:
- Do not wash the meat beforehand to prevent a crust of ice from accumulating on it.
- Cover the container with meat with a tight lid.
- If you have stored meat in the refrigerator for about 2 days, you should not freeze it.
You can put meat in plastic bags. First cut the carcass into pieces and package them in separate bags. You can buy ziplock bags at the hardware store that are designed for airtight storage of food. Some housewives store it in plastic containers. You can put not only individual pieces of meat in them, but also chicken broths. Remember that the container must be sealed tightly to prevent the meat from chapping. Place stickers on each container indicating the packaging date. This will allow you to better control expiration dates.
Is it possible to eat meat that has expired?
Many people think that products should never be consumed after the expiration date. However, experts clarify that this is not entirely true. Fish and meat, for example, really cannot be eaten after the expiration date. But if there is an urgent need, dry foods can be consumed for another 7-10 days.
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Additional tips and tricks
Before freezing chicken meat, it must be cleaned of film and feathers. In most stores you can buy chicken carcasses that have leftover feathers on them. They should be removed so that pathogenic bacteria do not develop inside. If you have a pet chicken, you first need to remove the entrails. It is recommended to store them separately.
When you take the chicken out of the freezer or refrigerator, be sure to boil it. Under the influence of heat treatment, all pathogenic bacteria will be destroyed.
Now you know how long you can store chicken in the freezer or refrigerator. It is best to cook and eat meat immediately. However, if this is not possible, it is better to place meat products in the freezer. Try to keep fresh or cooked chicken in the refrigerator for no more than 24 hours to enjoy the subtle flavors of the dish.
Rules
You can buy chilled and frozen chicken on store shelves. When purchasing, be sure to inspect the product from all sides. Make sure that the skin of the carcass is white, without bruises or damage. If frozen chicken is covered in ice, it has been reprocessed. Refrain from buying such a carcass. Try to use frozen chicken as little as possible. Give preference to chilled chicken. In this case, you will be confident in the freshness of the product and correctly calculate the shelf life.
The packaging in which the chicken is sold deserves special attention. It must be moisture resistant, airtight and durable. Keep in mind: if you do not plan to cook the chicken in the next few days, it is better to freeze it immediately. It is advisable to first divide the meat into portions and put it into bags.
Do you use expired food for cooking at home?
Yes, the main thing is to process it if it is meat or expired kefir for pancakes.
27.29%
No, it is very dangerous and not useful.
35.46%
If the products have fungus or mold, then we throw them away; if they are a couple of days past their expiration date, we use them for food, even without heat or other treatment.
37.25%
Voted: 2411
How many days can I store for incubation?
Farmers with an incubator often face the problem of storing eggs. To achieve savings, you need to put the maximum possible number of eggs in the incubator. But what to do if they cannot be collected in one go? You have to put them aside until you get the required amount.
Experts have also found that the best hatching percentage of chicks is obtained if the eggs are laid for 5-7 days after laying. This is the plan of nature itself. Under natural conditions, the female lays eggs for several days, and only after that begins to hatch them .
They are naturally cooled. To begin with, it should be noted that the development of the embryo begins when the egg is inside the bird. After the egg is laid, it cools and at the same time the development of the embryo stops. This is a completely natural process. It is harmless to the fetus.
If the laying of an egg and its placement in an incubator are separated by a large period of time, then irreversible processes occur in it. The egg ages and becomes unsuitable for the development of the chick.
What processes are taking place?
- The protein loses its layering and the consistency becomes more watery. Lysozyme breaks down and is responsible for the antibacterial effect. Cells, nitrogenous compounds and vitamins break down in the yolk. Fats decompose. It is important to store eggs within the correct temperature.
If the temperature drops below zero, the eggs freeze and the future life inside dies. Above 20 degrees, the development of the embryo does not stop, but it does not develop correctly, with pathology, and soon also dies.
You can learn in detail about the incubation mode of chicken eggs in different periods, as well as see tables of optimal temperature, humidity and other factors by day here.
