Contents

Know more about this
(or any other) subject?

Show off your know-how at Quamut Wiki.

Learn more with these titles from Barnes & Noble

Joy of Cooking: 75th Anniversary Edition

How to Cook Everything: Simple Recipes for Great Food

New Cook Book

Betty Crocker Cookbook: Everything You Need to Know to Cook Today

The Bon Appetit Cookbook

Previous:
How to Buy Chicken

Next:
Chicken Safety Guidelines

How to Store Chicken

Guidelines for storing chicken depend on whether the chicken is fresh, frozen, or cooked.

How to Store Fresh Chicken

Fresh poultry is perishable because it's an ideal breeding ground for bacteria (providing food, moisture, and a low level of acidity). The best way and amount of time to store fresh chicken depends on its form:

Whole chicken: Can be stored for 2–3 days in the refrigerator. It’s best if you remove the chicken from its packaging, wipe it with a damp cloth, and remove the giblets from inside the bird. Place the poultry on a plate and cover it loosely with waxed paper or aluminum foil, then put it in the refrigerator.
Chicken pieces: Can be stored in the refrigerator for 2–3 days. Chicken parts can be stored in their own packaging.
Ground chicken: Ground chicken remains good in the refrigerator for only 1 day.
Giblets: Can be stored in the refrigerator for 1 day.

How to Store Frozen Chicken

Store frozen chicken in its original packaging. The length of time for which you can store frozen chicken depends on whether it's whole, in pieces, or ground:

Whole chicken: Can be stored in the freezer for up to 12 months. Remove the giblets from the whole chicken before wrapping and freezing.
Chicken pieces: Can be stored in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Ground chicken: Can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Giblets: Can be stored in the freezer for 3 months.

How to Store Cooked Chicken

Never leave cooked leftover chicken out at room temperature for more than 2 hours. Ideally, refrigerate uneaten cooked chicken as quickly as possible—don’t give the chicken time to cool to room temperature. You can store cooked chicken in a closed container or on a plate under foil or plastic wrap for up to a week in the refrigerator. You can also wrap cooked chicken thoroughly in plastic wrap and store it in the freezer for 3–4 months.

Acknowledgments & Disclaimer