Raw chicken in the fridge...

[sen2two]

How long can a completely thawed whole chicken stay “safe” to eat if kept in a refrigerator? Google states 1 or 2 days… That seems extremely short to me.


I have had 2 complete birds in the Zip-Loc bag they were originally placed in fully thawed for 3 days. Today would be day 4, which is when I finally have time to throw them both into the Croc-Pot. Am I taking a risk at potentially 4 days thawed? Well… actually 3 since it probably took a day or so to fully thaw out in the fridge.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

I think you should be safe to eat it today. If it doesn't smell bad or look bad and you're also going to be slow cooking it in a Crock-Pot so it will cook off even more of the potential bacteria.
Also if it's your own processed bird I'm sure you were more cautious in how you processed and stored it before it was even thawed.
I'm sure Google is referring to grocery store chicken that may have been refrigerated, frozen, then refrigerated again and who knows what else it went through.
Regardless of where I get my meat, I do try to use it within 3 days but that doesn't mean I've never pushed that a bit when it looks and smells fine, lol.

 

[Molpet]

I have gone 7 days with birds I processed and taken out of the freezer....and they were fine

 

[123RedBeard]

Depends partly on what temp your refrigerator is at ... I keep mine at 35-37 degrees ...

If chicken looks/smells/feels fine, I'd use it ...

 

[Compost King]

I was about to ask this, I have chicken I processed Tuesday and need to finish it up. I get the feeling its still good to eat tonight... if I suddenly stop posting I guess it wasn't. FYI its the chicken in my avatar.

 

[Molpet]

actually it is common to hang game birds at 55f to age for over a week https://honest-food.net/on-hanging-pheasants-2/
cooking will kill the bacterial any way

 

[RUNuts]

I know where and how my processed chicken was. 7 days properly stored, no issue.

I've seen grocery story birds with the plastic blown up like a balloon. I'd say those weren't good and didn't buy ANY from that case. And this was my preferred meat store. I also don't like the hamburger in the toothpaste tubes. What evil lurks?

As with all things, check. Smell, feel and looks. If it smells off, feels slimy or slicker than normal or is off color to green. Chances are it will kill you at worst, but probably just make you wish you were dead for a week. If it questionable, cooking will kill most things. Don't skimp and serve it under cooked.

 

[pintail_drake2004]

actually it is common to hang game birds at 55f to age for over a week https://honest-food.net/on-hanging-pheasants-2/
cooking will kill the bacterial any way

I have had chicken in the fridge for 5-6 days no problem. I routinely hang quality pheasants, ducks and geese for 4-10 days before processing.