It's important to follow food safety guidelines when dealing with chicken.
Chicken, turkey and other poultry require special safety precautions, especially when raw but also if cooked. The amount of time chicken will keep in the refrigerator depends on various factors. Follow the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service's safety guidelines for preparing and storing chicken. Add this to my Recipe Box.
Instructions
1. Determine whether the chicken is raw or cooked. You must be much more careful with raw chicken than cooked chicken. Cooked chicken can be kept longer than raw chicken in the refrigerator.
2. Cook refrigerated raw chicken, bought before its expiration date, within one to two days of purchase.
3. Cooked chicken can safely be stored in the refrigerator for three to four days. However, if the chicken is covered with sauce or gravy, it should be eaten within one to two days. Likewise, chicken nuggets or patties should be eaten within one to two days.
4. Keep chicken in the freezer if you plan on keeping it for extended amount of time. A fresh, whole chicken can be stored in the freezer for up to a year, while uncooked parts can be frozen safely for up to nine months. Cooked chicken can generally be kept in the freezer for up to four months.
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