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Chicken leftovers are a great way to reduce food wastage, but experts say there are three key warning signs the meat is past its best
Storing leftover chicken is a touchy subject among Brits – it’s a meat that can spoil quickly, and the impacts of eating gone-off chicken are just hideous.
If you’re always having leftovers or would rather batch cook to save some of your time, and chicken is one of your go-to protein sources, you might want to take notes on how to store it safely.
We’ve all had our doubts whenever we’ve pulled out a cooked chicken from the fridge from a few days ago. When it comes to cooking, after storage, certain foods can give you a stomach ache and even food poisoning.
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How long does cooked chicken last in the fridge
According to Real Simple, cooked chicken can stay in the fridge for up to four days. After it’s been a few days, simply assess the condition and decide whether it’s safe for you to eat it. When examining the chicken, you must check for three things, it says.
It explained: “If the chicken is not yet showing any signs of spoilage (poor smell, smile, or discolouration), you may still be able to eat it or freeze it to preserve it longer.”
You can check if the chicken (and any meat) has gone bad by smelling it and also checking its colour. Spoiled chicken has an unpleasant smell and a slimy texture, and it might also have turned grey or green. If in doubt, just throw it away
If the chicken is still okay to consume, the site said to thoroughly cook it again to an internal temperature of 73 degrees Celsius to make sure that it’s safe to eat.
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Can you store raw chicken in the freezer?
Many households are trying to find different ways to extend the shelf-life of their freshly-store-bought produce.
If it has been a couple of days since the raw chicken has been sitting in the fridge, and you’re worried about it going bad, freezing it is an option to prolong its consumption.
As per the website, raw chicken can last up to nine months when stored in the freezer. However, it’s important to freeze it within a day or store after bringing it home from the supermarket. To do so, use a vacuum-sealed bag or an air-tight container.
Also, make sure to package it correctly to maintain its freshness and quality and labelling it accordingly can help you know when it’s time to finally chuck it out – or whether it’s still ok to eat.
