Shelf Life Tips
- How long does fried chicken last in the fridge or freezer? The precise answer to that question depends to a large extent on storage conditions - refrigerate chicken within two hours of cooking or purchasing.
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To maximize the shelf life of fried chicken for safety and quality, refrigerate the chicken in shallow airtight containers or wrap tightly with heavy-duty aluminum foil or plastic wrap.
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Properly stored, fried chicken will last for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator.
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To further extend the shelf life of fried chicken, freeze it; freeze in covered airtight containers or heavy-duty freezer bags, or wrap tightly with heavy-duty aluminum foil or freezer wrap.
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How long does fried chicken last in the freezer? Properly stored, it will maintain best quality for about 4 months, but will remain safe beyond that time.
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The freezer time shown is for best quality only - fried chicken that has been kept constantly frozen at 0°F will keep safe indefinitely.
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How long does fried chicken last after being frozen and thawed? Fried chicken that has been thawed in the fridge can be kept for an additional 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator before cooking; chicken that was thawed in the microwave or in cold water should be eaten immediately.
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How long does fried chicken last at room temperature? Bacteria grow rapidly at temperatures between 40 °F and 140 °F; fried chicken should be discarded if left for more than 2 hours at room temperature.
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How to tell if fried chicken is bad? The best way is to smell and look at the chicken: signs of bad chicken are a sour smell and a slimy texture; discard any chicken with an off smell or appearance, do not taste first.
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