How Long Can Chicken Be Refrigerated After Thawing

How Long Can Chicken Be Refrigerated After Thawing

Thawing chicken is a common kitchen task, A method that, if not done correctly, can lead to food poisoning. After you’ve thawed chicken, how long does it have before it needs to go in the fridge?

Thawed chicken can stay for 2 days in the fridge before it needs to be cooked or frozen again. If it was still fresh when frozen, it could go up to 2-3 days. If you’re unsure how long the chicken has been in the fridge, it’s better to cook it sooner than later.

In this blog post, I will discuss how long chicken can be refrigerated after thawing and offer tips on how to thaw it properly.

How Long Can Chicken Be Refrigerated After Thawing

You can store thawed chicken in the fridge for up to 2 days before cooking. Sometimes chicken can last up to 3-4 days if it was still fresh when frozen. You want to make sure that it is properly thawed before cooking. If it is not thawed, it will not cook evenly and could cause bacteria growth to form.

chicken defrost
chicken thawing in micro oven

Factors That Determine How Long Thawed Chicken Can Be Refrigerated

Here is a detailed discussion of how long thawed chicken can be refrigerated.

Defrosting Method

How you defrost the chicken will affect how long it can be stored in the fridge. If you use the microwave thawing, the meat should be cooked immediately.

If you thaw the chicken in cold water, it can last up to 2 days in the fridge before cooking. Using a refrigerator can last up to 3-4 days before it needs to be cooked or frozen again.

Storage Time

Once thawed, the length of time the chicken can last will also depend on how long it was kept in the freezer. If it was only in the freezer for a short period, it would last more than when it was stored for a long time.

Type of Chicken

The type of chicken will also affect how long it can be refrigerated after thawing. Frozen fresh chicken will last longer than frozen bad chicken which is already spoiled by harmful bacteria.

Bony parts of poultry meat will not last as long as chicken breast. Internal organs like Liver, gizzard, heart spoil quickly.

How to Thaw Chicken Properly

There are a few different ways that you can thaw chicken:

In the Fridge

This is the safest way to thaw chicken. You’ll want to place the chicken meat in a covered dish and put it in the fridge. Smaller pieces of chicken will thaw overnight, while larger pieces may take up to 2 days.

In Cold Water

You’ll want to place the meat in a sealed bag and then submerge it in cold water. Change the water every 30 minutes to keep it cold. Smaller pieces of chicken will thaw in about an hour, while larger pieces may take up to 3 hours.

In the Microwave

You can use the microwave to defrost raw chicken, but you’ll need to cook it immediately afterward. Place the frozen meat on a plate and defrost it on the “defrost” setting for 1-2 minutes per pound.

Tips for Thawing Your Chicken Properly

Here are a few tips to help you thaw your chicken properly:

Never Thaw Chicken at Room Temperature

You should not thaw poultry meat at room temperature. Bacteria can start to grow on the chicken within 2 hours.

Use Frozen Chicken within 3 Months

You’ll want to use frozen poultry meat within 3 months for the best quality. After that, it may start to dry out or develop freezer burn.

Label Your Poultry meat

Be sure to label your chicken with the date it was frozen. This will help you keep track of how long it has been in the freezer.

Use a Food Thermometer

Make use of a food thermometer to ensure that your poultry meat is cooked all the way through. Chicken is safe to eat when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

How Long Can You Keep poultry meat in the Freezer?

You can keep an entire chicken in the freezer for up to 1 year. When stored properly, it will stay safe to eat but may suffer from some quality loss, such as drying out or freezer burn.

How to Tell if the Chicken Has Gone Bad

There are four main ways of telling if the poultry meat has gone bad:

Check Best by Date

The best-by date is the date that the meat was packaged. The chicken will be safe to eat after this date but may not be of its best quality.

Look for Changes in Color

It is probably bad if the chicken has started to turn green, gray, or blue. You will not eat it, if it has changed color.

You can also check the chicken for mold. If there is any mold growing on the poultry meat, it should not be eaten.

Smell the Chicken

The chicken should smell fresh and clean. If it smells bad, it is probably bad, and you will not want to eat it.

Feel the Chicken

The chicken should feel firm and smooth. Slimness and a loss of firmness may indicate that the poultry meat is bad.

How Long Can Chicken Be Refrigerated After Thawing | FAQs

How long can poultry meat be refrigerated after thawing?

Chicken can be refrigerated for up to 3 days after thawing.

Can chicken be cooked while frozen?

Chicken can be cooked while frozen. However, you have to note that it will take 50% longer than it would take to cook the poultry meat if it were thawed first.

Can I refreeze poultry meat that has been thawed?

You can refreeze chicken that has been thawed, but it will not be as good as the chicken that was never frozen.

Final Thoughts

Thawed poultry meat can be refrigerated for up to 3 days. The time will depend on how the chicken was thawed and the size of the pieces. I hope this article was helpful in answering your question. If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask. Thanks for reading.

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply