In everyday life, chicken is a common staple on many dinner tables. However, when you’re unable to consume it right away, proper storage becomes essential. Storing chicken isn’t as simple as it might seem—incorrect methods can not only reduce the quality of the chicken but, in more serious cases, compromise food safety, putting you and your family at risk of illness.
This article will explore common mistakes made when storing chicken and offer helpful tips to ensure your chicken remains safe to eat.
Chicken Storage Temperature
Temperature plays an important role in the proper storage of chicken. If stored in unsuitable conditions, especially at higher temperatures, bacteria and other microorganisms can multiply rapidly. Consuming chicken stored this way puts you at risk for food poisoning, or the chicken may spoil before being eaten, leading to unnecessary waste.
Maintaining the right temperature not only extends the shelf life of the chicken but also slows bacterial growth, ensuring food safety and minimizing health risks. Typically, chicken can be stored either in the refrigerator or the freezer, depending on your needs.
Refrigerating Chicken
If you plan to eat fresh chicken shortly after purchasing it or want to store leftover cooked chicken for later, refrigeration is the best option for short-term storage. The ideal temperature for storing chicken in the fridge is between 32°F and 40°F (0°C to 4°C). These cooler temperatures help slow the growth of microorganisms and reduce the risk of spoilage. Fresh chicken can stay good for about 1-2 days in the fridge, while cooked chicken can last around 3-4 days.
Freezing Chicken
If you want to preserve chicken for a longer period, freezing is the best option for long-term storage. The ideal freezing temperature for chicken is 0°F (-18°C) or lower. These extremely low temperatures not only inhibit the growth of microorganisms and slow down enzyme activity but also reduce the oxidation of fats in the chicken, effectively preventing spoilage. At this temperature, raw chicken can be stored for up to a year, while cooked chicken can last between 2 to 6 months.
Chicken Storage Packaging
If you don’t finish all the raw chicken and simply toss it into the fridge in an open container or unsealed plastic bag, you’ve already made a common mistake. Proper packaging is essential when storing chicken, as it plays a crucial role in maintaining both its quality and safety. Always ensure the chicken is sealed properly before storing it. You can place it in an airtight container, or wrap it securely using plastic wrap or sealable bags. Doing this offers several benefits, from preserving freshness to preventing contamination.
Preventing Cross-Contamination
Sealing the packaging helps prevent the chicken from being exposed to air, reducing the risk of bacterial contamination and ensuring its safety. It also helps prevent the chicken from absorbing unwanted odors from other items in the fridge.
Preventing Moisture Loss
When chicken is placed in the fridge or freezer without proper sealing, it is exposed to air, which can lead to moisture loss, causing the chicken to dry out and its texture to become tough. In the freezer, this can also result in freezer burn, where the chicken develops grayish or brownish spots and becomes rough in texture. Properly sealing the chicken helps retain its moisture and maintain its quality.
Reducing Oxidation
Sealing the chicken and removing as much air as possible from the packaging helps slow down the oxidation of fats in the meat, which in turn extends the chicken’s shelf life.
Chicken Storage Placement
The placement of chicken in your fridge is just as important as proper packaging. Do you simply toss the chicken into any corner of the fridge without considering what else is stored nearby? If so, you might be making a critical mistake.
It’s not just about keeping the chicken safe from bacterial contamination—it’s also essential to prevent cross-contamination with other foods. Avoid placing raw chicken near or above other foods, especially cooked or ready-to-eat items, as raw chicken juices can drip onto them, spreading harmful bacteria. If these contaminated foods aren’t properly handled or cooked, they could cause foodborne illness.
To minimize this risk, always store chicken separately and keep it properly sealed. The bottom shelf of the fridge is an ideal spot for chicken, as it prevents any liquid from dripping onto other items.
Portioning Chicken for Storage
Let’s say you have a large piece of raw chicken left and want to freeze it for later. Should you place the whole chunk in the freezer as is? If your answer is yes, you’ve made another mistake.
Freezing a large piece of chicken all at once isn’t a good idea. When you need only part of it for cooking later, you’ll realize that frozen chicken is difficult to cut. You might think, “I’ll just thaw the whole thing and portion it afterward.” While this sounds like a solution, it’s not ideal to repeatedly freeze and thaw chicken. Every time chicken goes through this cycle, its texture, taste, and nutritional value degrade, and bacteria can multiply, increasing the risk of foodborne illness.
The best practice is to portion the chicken before freezing it. Divide it into serving sizes that make it easy to grab what you need. Smaller pieces freeze faster, which minimizes the negative impact on texture. Plus, this approach avoids the need for repeated thawing, ensuring the chicken stays safe and flavorful.
Conclusion
To ensure the quality and safety of stored chicken, it’s crucial to avoid common storage mistakes. Whether it’s managing storage temperature, proper packaging, placement in the fridge, or portioning, any oversight can lead to spoilage or bacterial contamination, posing health risks. Understanding and avoiding these errors is essential for maintaining safe and high-quality chicken.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How long can raw chicken stay in the fridge?
Raw chicken should be stored in the refrigerator for 1-2 days at 40°F (4°C) or below. If you do not plan to cook it within that time, freezing it is the safer option.
2. Should you wash raw chicken before storing it?
No. Washing raw chicken is not recommended because splashing water can spread bacteria to sinks, countertops, utensils, and nearby foods.
3. Can chicken be stored after a power outage?
It depends on how long it was without safe refrigeration. An unopened refrigerator keeps food safely for about 4 hours. Perishable food such as chicken should be discarded if they have been above 40°F (4°C) for too long.
4. Does freezing chicken kill bacteria?
No. Freezing stops or slows bacterial growth, but it does not necessarily destroy harmful bacteria. Once chicken thaws, surviving bacteria can become active again, which is why safe handling and cooking remain important.
5. Can raw chicken be stored in a marinade?
Yes. Chicken can be marinated in the refrigerator for up to about 2 days. It should be kept covered and refrigerated rather than left at room temperature.
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About The Author
Evan Wang
I am Evan Wang, the General Manager, Marketing Director, and SEO Expert at Sunnyda Cold Room. I have over 20 years of experience in the refrigeration industry, and my expertise is in commercial refrigeration solutions.
I’d be delighted to share practical ideas about refrigeration products, project selection, export trade, SEO, and marketing.
Let’s connect!
