With the help of ready-roasted and prepared chicken available from grocery stores, roast chicken has become a firm staple in many households. And who could argue against them? They’re cost-effective, ready to eat, their skin is always seasoned just right, and so versatile. But before you go out and buy a bunch (yes, we’re thinking of the Sunday chicken deals from Woolies), know what you’re getting yourself into first.
Discover safe storage tips and signs to look out for that indicate when the chook is past its prime.
Shelf-life
How long a cooked chicken can last in the fridge depends on how it was prepared. Chicken products like chicken mayo, fresh chicken nuggets and patties, and whole roasted or fried chickens can last between 3 and 4 days in the fridge. Whereas cooked chicken sausages and deli meats can last up to 1 week (the salt used to preserve them also helps extend their shelf-life).
Storage tips
The most important aspect of safely storing cooked foods, especially meats like chicken, is safely cooling down the food first before placing it in the fridge. When warm foods are placed in the fridge, they are at risk of growing harmful bacteria and going off quickly.
In the food world, all cooks and chefs are drilled on safe cooling methods for foods. Rushing the process could mean storing foods that are still warm (even hot) in the centre, while unnecessarily prolonging the process could mean storing foods with high bacterial growth in the fridge (which can spread and affect other items in the fridge). The problem here is known as the “Danger Zone”: foods at risk of harmful bacterial growth between 4ºC and 60ºC.
To cool down cooked chicken safely, cool it down withing 1 to 3 hours (not longer), ensuring it’s in a well-ventilated area and completely covered (we don’t wannt flies and ants interferring here). Once cooled, immediately store in an air-tight container or zip-lock bag in the fridge. Don’t forget to label it with the date it went into storage, to help you keep track of how many days you have left to enjoy it.
Signs that chicken is past its prime
While the go-to shelf-life is 3 to 4 days, cooked chicken may last a day longer or go off earlier. To prevent any instances of food poisoning, look out for these signs:
- Appearance: when the chicken has a grey or green colour, or any signs of mould, it’s gone bad and needs to be thrown out
- Smell: It can get tricky if the chicken was marinated or tossed in a healthy amount of herbs and spices. Give it a sniff; if it smells acidic or foul, it’s time to say goodbye.
- Texture: If you can’t see anything or sniff anything unusual, your last bet is to look at the texture. Spoiled chicken becomes slimy, and nothing you do will turn back time (don’t try washing it off or heating it).
Cooked chicken is a fantastic way to save time in the kitchen, but it needs to be handled with care. Store that two-for-one roast chicken deal in the fridge within 2 hours after it’s done cooling down. Remember to label it and keep an eye on any changes in colour and texture.
Check out our 1 Ingredient, 4 ways: Whole roast chicken for ideas on how you can get the best out of it throughout the week!
