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Properly storing chicken meat is crucial to keeping it fresh and safe for consumption. Check out this article by Mytour to find out how long chicken meat can be stored and how to store it properly in your fridge. Let's dive in!
1. How Long Can Chicken Meat Be Stored in the Fridge?
Chicken meat is a rich source of protein, which is essential for cell structure and influences weight, height, and brain development. It contains low fat and is rich in omega-3, vitamins A, E, C, B1, B2, PP, as well as iron, phosphorus, and more, providing essential nutrients for health.
Whether raw or cooked, improperly stored chicken meat poses a high risk of bacterial contamination. Storing chicken meat in the fridge is a common practice among many housewives. But how long should chicken meat be stored in the fridge?
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), raw chicken and other raw poultry can be stored for 1-2 days in the refrigerator's cool compartment at temperatures ranging from 0 to 5 degrees Celsius. Cooked chicken, on the other hand, can be stored for 3-4 days.
When stored in the freezer, the storage time can extend up to 9 months for raw chicken. As for processed chicken, the storage time in the freezer ranges from 2 to 6 months.
Find out more: Guide to Properly Storing and Preserving Meat in the Refrigerator
2. How to Identify Spoiled Chicken Meat
Here are some ways to identify spoiled chicken meat:
- - Color Changes: If the chicken meat turns grayish-green, pale, or develops green or gray mold spots, it's a sign that the chicken meat has spoiled, and you should absolutely avoid eating it.
- Odor Changes: Spoiled chicken meat can easily be identified by a sour, rotten smell.
Eating spoiled chicken meat is absolutely detrimental to health because the bacteria causing illness from the chicken meat will enter the body through digestion. This can lead to food poisoning due to bacteria strains like Salmonella, Campylobacter, etc.
Although these bacteria strains can be eliminated by thorough cooking, it's still important to avoid using rotten or spoiled chicken meat. Even reheating may not completely kill bacteria on the surface, leading to food poisoning or, worse, death.
Read more: Common Mistakes to Avoid When Storing Meat in the Refrigerator
4. How to Store Chicken Meat in the Refrigerator
4.1. Storing Chicken Meat Without a Refrigerator
If you don't have a refrigerator, you can still store chicken meat at room temperature. However, proper storage practices are necessary to prevent bacterial contamination and extend shelf life:
- - Firstly, thoroughly wash the chicken meat and let it drain.
- Then, place it on a clean plate or rack and store it in a cool, dry place. You may use a clean cover or container to prevent dust, flies, mosquitoes, insects, etc., from settling on it.
4.2. Storing Raw Chicken Meat in the Refrigerator
- - Firstly, wash the chicken meat thoroughly and let it drain.
- Place the chicken meat in a plastic container with a tight lid and store it in the freezer compartment or cool compartment of the refrigerator.
4.3. Storing Cooked Chicken Meat in the Refrigerator
When it comes to processed chicken meat, it's important to let it cool down before placing it in the refrigerator. Putting hot cooked chicken meat into the fridge can lower the quality of other foods and also prevent the fridge from deteriorating.
Additionally, you should put the chicken meat in a plastic container with a tight lid or use food wrap to cover it tightly. When stored in the refrigerator with many other foods, chicken meat can easily absorb odors, affecting the taste of the dish.
5. Key Points for Storing Chicken Meat in the Refrigerator
To better preserve chicken meat in the refrigerator, you need to consider the following issues:
- - Proper Wrapping: Whether it's raw or cooked chicken meat, wrapping it tightly not only helps keep it fresh but also reduces odors and prevents cross-contamination.
- Know the appropriate temperature: For the refrigerated compartment, the suitable temperature for storing chicken meat is 0 - 5 degrees Celsius. The ideal temperature for the freezer compartment is -25 degrees Celsius.
Explore some top-quality, best-selling refrigerators available at Mytour.
