How long does raw chicken breast last?
The pack you meant to cook Tuesday is still sitting on the bottom shelf, and now it's Thursday. Here's how long raw chicken really keeps, and how to get it into the freezer before you have to wonder.
By Justin and Mary KatzmanOne to two days in the fridge and nine months in the freezer. Keep it in the fridge, not the pantry.
The freezer turns two days into nine months.
Raw chicken breast, case by case
After cooking
Three to four days in the fridge. Cool it within two hours, then store it in a covered container. Reheat leftovers to 165°F (74°C) before eating.
After thawing
One to two days in the fridge if you thawed it there. Cook it within that window. If you thawed it in cold water or the microwave, cook it right away.
Left out at room temperature
Two hours at most, or one hour if the room is above 90°F. After that, bacteria multiply fast, and cooking does not make it safe again. Throw it out.
Past the date on the package
Cook or freeze it on or before the sell-by date. Raw chicken only keeps one to two days in the fridge, so the date matters. If it smells sour or feels slimy, throw it out.
Signs raw chicken breast has gone bad
- It smells sour or like ammonia when you open the pack.
- The meat feels slimy or tacky.
- Pink flesh has turned grey or yellow-green.
- The pack is puffed up or leaking.
Before you toss it
Past its best but still safe? Try one of these.
- Not going to cook it in the next day or two? Freeze it now, before the deadline. Wrap it tightly or use a freezer bag with the air pressed out.
- Cook it today and use it later. Poach or bake it, then slice it for sandwiches, salads or fried rice, and refrigerate the cooked chicken for three to four days.
How to store raw chicken breast
- Not cooking it by day two? Freeze it. Wrap it tightly or press the air out of a freezer bag.
- Thaw it in the fridge overnight or in cold water, never on the counter.
Raw chicken breast by the numbers
The average American goes through about 1.2 lb a week. If your household eats less than that, buy smaller and less ends up in the trash.
A pound at $4.20 keeps about two days in the fridge. Frozen, it keeps nine months. Buy the bigger pack only if you'll use it in time.
What raw chicken breast costs now
$4.20 a pound (boneless breast), up 37% since January 2020. Its price barely moves with the seasons.
National average price per pound (boneless breast), monthly. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Cook it before it turns
32 Haivenly starter recipes use raw chicken breast. Here are a few to start with.
Questions about raw chicken breast
How long does raw chicken breast last in the fridge?
One to two days from purchase, going by USDA FoodKeeper guidance. Your fridge temperature and how fresh it was when you bought it can change that, so check it before you use it.
Can you freeze raw chicken breast?
Yes. USDA says raw chicken parts keep their best quality for about nine months in the freezer, and they stay safe indefinitely at 0°F (-18°C). Wrap them tightly to limit freezer burn.
Should you rinse chicken before cooking it?
No. USDA advises against it because rinsing splashes bacteria around your sink and counters. Cooking to a safe temperature kills it.
What is the safe cooking temperature for chicken breast?
165°F (74°C), measured with a food thermometer in the thickest part. Color alone is not a reliable guide.
Is it safe to thaw chicken on the counter?
No. Thaw it in the fridge, in cold water changed every 30 minutes, or in the microwave if you will cook it right away. Counter thawing lets the outside warm into the danger zone while the middle is still frozen.
Is a grey or slightly pink chicken breast bad?
Color alone does not tell you much. A sour smell, slimy film or sticky surface are the real warning signs. When in doubt, throw it out.
Use every last bit of your raw chicken breast.
The average American tosses about $40 of chicken a year. Haivenly learns how fast your household goes through it, so you hear about it while there's still time to cook it.
More foods to check
Ground beef
Meat & poultry- Fridge
- 1–2 days
- Freezer
- 3–4 months
- Pantry
- Keep cold
Bacon
Meat & poultry- Fridge
- 1 week
- Freezer
- 1 month
- Pantry
- Keep cold
Cooked chicken
Leftovers- Fridge
- 3–4 days
- Freezer
- 2–3 months
- Pantry
- Keep cold
Eggs
Dairy & eggs- Fridge
- 3–5 weeks
- Freezer
- Not advised
- Pantry
- Keep cold
Milk
Dairy & eggs- Fridge
- Use-by date
- Freezer
- 3 months
- Pantry
- Keep cold